ST What Will ILM Work On First?

When ILM starts/started working on Episode VII, do they start off with certain sequences? For example, would they be working on scenes that would form part of the first teaser? Do they prefer to get the heavy-effects sequences out of the way first?

 

It's an interesting question as I honestly have no idea how they determine the priority of the scenes and the order in which they are to be done. My guess would be that the most demanding scenes are done first, so that if something goes wrong there is still enough time to fix it.

 

I can't wait for someone who works in film to chime in, as I'm actually pretty interested in knowing the answer.

My guess would be whatever film can gets dropped on their desk first is the one they work on... But I don't know poop about the film industry, lol.

 

I'd guess they start with the easiest and cheapest ones as there might be rewrites and throwing out elaborate, time consuming and expensive pieces would be wasteful.

 

Truth to that as well. I guess the easiest ones are being done by sort of "auxilliary teams" so to speak. The big and important ones are handled by the "main teams" of the company, so both are being done at the same time. Still, I don't think it's a good idea to leave the toughest things to do last when you have a set release deadline that cannot be budged even a day or two. If something goes wrong and you need 6 more hours to render that final shot... you're properly screwed.

 

What does International Ladies Men have to do with this? Is that not what ILM stands for?

 

JJ Abrams might point out scenes that are virtually set in stone, they might work on them too. But until the reshoots they will be cautious with their scheduling.

 

I think initial model building, some kit bashing would factor in there...

 

They usually work on heavy-duty stuff first, like big battles or scenes with lots of particles and physics. Also scenes for the teaser trailer.

 

ILM has probably been slowly working on stuff for a few years now; I'm pretty confident that their gears were already in motion before Lucas sold Lucasfilm. Naturally, the heavy duty workload comes with the completed, ready-to-shoot-script and when reels finally starting coming in.

How they delegate workload and priorities once they have film to work with, I am unsure.

 

I would assume that they probably have teams working on different things at the same time.

 

Mod edit: Removed image containing disallowed language.

 

Yes sir...... can I finish my drink first?

 

kegs202 : Really?

 

ILM has been working on Episode VII since even before filming began. JJ likes having completed (or near-complete) effects to show his actors, so ILM has been doing stuff for about a year now. Even Kevin Smith saw completed sequences put together when he was there.

 

Sorry, it was just a bit of humour.

 

Right, but please watch the language in images too. Thanks.

 

No problem

 

If J.J is anything like Spielberg, he's probably editing the film as he shoots and then sending the footage immediately to ILM to get to work. But ILM will likely be just one of several VFX houses working on the movie to get it ready in time for December 2015 release date.

 

I hope ILM gives us more than the usual two-dimensional outer space scenes Star Wars is notorious for. Maybe 'Interstellar' will light a fire under ILM.

 

Maybe, MAYBE, Star War Ep. 7 will win an Oscar for Best Visual Effects, let alone be nominated for one.

 

The 3D models for things like ships were built before filming started, likely during pre-production. In fact they probably used them to help produce the props on set for the X-wings and so forth.