The Previsualization Society, a non-profit, interdisciplinary organization dedicated to the advancement of previsualization (“previs”), has been formally launched. Founded by previs practitioners for those who produce or use previs, the Previsualization Society will build a community to maximize the current and future capabilities as well as contributions of the previs medium.
The Previsualization Society includes members from many different disciplines and markets, just as the previs process does, and is already comprised of a number of charter members from the motion picture industry. The Previsualization Society will focus on producing and publishing information and resources to promote effective previs through key activities such as promoting standards, education, workflow development and practical knowledge exchange. As inspired by the recently completed ASC-ADG-VES Joint Technology Subcommittee on Previsualization, co-chaired by David Morin and Ron Frankel, The Previsualization Society will also provide a platform for ongoing interchange and learning among all contributors that engage with previs, which has become a more common practice and carries greater weight as content production continues to evolve in the digital age.
“When I started my career in previs 15 years ago, I used to always have to explain why productions might need previs,” said Previsualization Society president Colin Green, who is president/founder of the shop Pixel Liberation Front. “Now producers simply call saying ‘we need previs.’ Despite the popularity of the process, there are still many different views of what previs is, and how it should all work. The Previsualization Society will be a great way to bring expertise into a common forum for everyone to share.”
Membership in The Previsualization Society is open to previs professionals (previs supervisors and practitioners), associates (directors, producers, storyboard artists, cinematographers, art directors, production designers, editors, studio executives and other industry personnel) and academics (students and educators). General interest memberships will also be offered.
Founding members of the Previsualization Society are: Green; David Dozoretz, founder, director and VFX supervisor, Persistence of Vision (POV) Previs; Chris Edwards, CEO, The Third Floor; Ron Frankel, president/founder, Proof; Daniel Gregoire, owner, Halon Entertainment; and Brian Pohl, CEO of POV Previs.
The charter membership of Previsualization Society currently includes directors, cinematographers, visual effects supervisors, production designers, art directors, editors and technology developers, as well as previs artists and supervisors whose credits collectively span from pioneering previs on films like Judge Dredd, Mission: Impossible, the Star Wars prequels and Minority Report to recent movies such as Avatar, Star Trek, Alice in Wonderland, and Iron Man.
Funding for the Previsualization Society is provided through membership and sponsorship. A prime charter sponsor is Autodesk–, a leading provider of media and entertainment technology. Autodesk products include a family of 3D applications that are core tools for previs and pre-production of movies, commercials and video game cinematics.
Inquiries for membership in the Previsualization Society may be made through the Previsualization Society Website, www.previssociety.com. Applications submitted now will be considered for membership induction in January 2010. Also in January, the Previsualization Society expects to launch a purpose-built content site to be populated with public articles, professional forums, handbooks, tutorials, definitions, archives, real-world previs examples, databases and downloadable tools. The web portal will also offer targeted advertising, promotional and continuing education opportunities.
The Previsualization Society is headquartered in Los Angeles, with chapters in Europe, Latin America, Australasia and other regions.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More