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.
Disney Pledges $15 million In L.A. Fire Aid As More Celebs Learn They’ve Lost Their Homes
The Pacific Palisades wildfires torched the home of "This Is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia, perhaps most poignantly destroying the father-to-be's newly installed crib.
CBS cameras caught the actor walking through his charred house for the first time, standing in what was once his kitchen and looking at a neighborhood in ruin. "Your heart just breaks."
He and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, evacuated Tuesday with their dog and they watched on security cameras as the flames ripped through the house, destroying everything, including a new crib.
"There's a kind of shock moment where you're going, 'Oh, this is real. This is happening.' What good is it to continue watching?' And then at a certain point we just turned it off, like 'What good is it to continue watching?'"
Firefighters sought to make gains Friday during a respite in the heavy winds that fanned the flames as numerous groups pledged aid to help victims and rebuild, including a $15 million donation pledge from the Walt Disney Co.
More stars learn their homes are gone
While seeing the remains of his home, Ventimiglia was struck by a connection to his "This Is Us" character, Jack Pearson, who died after inhaling smoke in a house fire. "It's not lost on me life imitating art."
Mandy Moore, who played Ventimiglia's wife on "This Is Us," nearly lost her home in the Eaton fire, which scorched large areas of the Altadena neighborhood. She said Thursday that part of her house is standing but is unlivable, and her husband lost his music studio and all his instruments.
Mel Gibson's home is "completely gone," his publicist Alan Nierob confirmed Friday. The Oscar winner revealed the loss of his home earlier Friday while appearing on Joe Rogan's... Read More