Race To Finish ‘The Hobbit’

The Deadline Team :

Peter Jackson says he and his team are working ’round the clock to finish post-production on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in time for its world premiere Wednesday November 28 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Comment by Peter:

It worries me when films are rushed to be finished in order to screen on a certain date. I have no doubts the film(s) will be just as enjoyable as the LOTR trilogy but it makes me wonder if we’ll be seeing the final product on Dec. 14th or will we have to wait for the extended editions again on discs?

I think Peter has something here.

Animal Logic buys Fuel VFX →

By Ian Failes:

In a sign of good news for the visual effects community, Sydney-based Animal Logic has bought Fuel VFX, which had been in voluntary administration. A new entity will be formed called Animal Logic Fuel and carry out short form VFX and advertising work out of Fuel’s building in Newtown, Sydney. The new company is opening immediately.

This is good news. It shows good work is always needed.

Fear envelops visual effects biz

Karen Idelson, David S. Cohen writing to variety.com:

The Siggraph computer graphics conference earlier this month should have found the visual-effects biz on top of the world: Visual effects blockbusters and CG-animated family pics dominate the annual box office, and vfx have become the strongest marketing hook for the majors' biggest pictures.

But beneath its justifiable pride, the business is full of fear.

Everyone's feeling squeezed. Vfx companies say the major studios are shaving their margins down to nothing, but fear retaliation if they try to form a trade organization. Artists, who receive no health or retirement benefits, say salaries are falling though demand for their craft increases, but worry that vfx companies would retaliate if they try to unionize.