Archive for July 20th, 2012

ORIGINAL SCORE BY BAFTA AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER JESPER KYD
TWO-DISC SET NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER, IN STORES AUGUST 14

New York – July 20th, 2012 – Sumthing Else Music Works proudly presents DARKSIDERS® II Original Soundtrack featuring Jesper Kyd’s highly anticipated original music score from the upcoming action/adventure video game title DARKSIDERS II developed by THQ’s in-house studio Vigil Games™. DARKSIDERS II Original Soundtrack is scheduled for release on August 14th to retail outlets worldwide through Sumthing Else Music Works www.sumthing.com and for digital download at www.sumthingdigital.com, Amazon MP3, iTunes® and other digital music sites. The 2-CD soundtrack album is available now to pre-order on Amazon.

BAFTA award-winning composer Jesper Kyd, renowned for his iconic musical scores in the Assassin’s Creed and Hitman series, has crafted a thrilling original score for DARKSIDERS II, the sequel to the critically acclaimed action/adventure title developed by THQ’s in-house studio Vigil Games. Kyd’s emotionally dynamic score for DARKSIDERS II combines dark ethereal themes and melodic fantasy that enrich the player’s cinematic journey through each of the game’s unique realms.

Track Listing:

CD 1
01 The Makers Theme
02 Into Eternity
03 Makers in the Outlands
04 Story of the Makers
05 The Corruption
06 The Makers Overworld
07 The Makers Fight Back
08 The Floating City
09 Crystal Spire
10 Trouble in Eden
11 Stains of Heresy
12 The Abyssal Plains
13 The Rod of Arafel
14 The Crowfather

CD 2
01 The Dead Plains
02 The Plains Await
03 Supernatural Desert
04 The Eternal Throne
05 City of the Dead
06 The Crypt
07 Death Brings Hope
08 Plains of Death
09 Demon Realm
10 Into the Shadows
11 Lord of the Black Stone
12 Dead Plains Reprise.

DARKSIDERS II follows the exploits of DEATH, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, in a weaving tale that runs parallel to the events in the original Darksiders game. This epic journey propels DEATH through various light and dark realms as he tries to redeem his brother WAR, the horseman who was blamed for prematurely starting the Apocalypse in Darksiders. DARKSIDERS II is scheduled to be available for console and PC on August 14th, 2012 in the United States. For more information on DARKSIDERS II visit www.darksiders.com.

For more information on Sumthing Else Music Works and its complete catalog of video game soundtracks, visit www.sumthing.com and www.sumthingdigital.com, follow Sumthing Else Music Works on Twitter http://Twitter.com/SumthingDigital and become a fan on http://Facebook/SumthingElseMusicWorks and Google+.

About Sumthing Else Music Works
Since its creation in the late 1990s by the world-renowned songwriter, musician and record producer, Nile Rodgers, Sumthing Else Music Works has become the acknowledged industry leader in licensing and distributing video game soundtracks. Possessing full in-house services worldwide, from retail marketing and sales through physical and digital distribution, Sumthing is partnered with the world’s leading video game developers and publishers including BioWare, Bungie, Capcom, Crytek, Eidos-Montreal, Epic, Gearbox, Microsoft, Sega, Sony, Square-Enix and THQ. Their catalog of titles includes the best-selling video game soundtrack of all time, Halo 2: Volume One, as well as award-winning and critically acclaimed titles including: Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Gears of War 3, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, Halo: Reach, Fable III, God of War III, Uncharted 2, Halo 3: ODST, Dark Void, Borderlands, InFamous, Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV, Halo Wars, Halo Trilogy, Gears of War 2, Fable II, Crysis, Advent Rising, Fable, Gears of War, Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 Volume Two, Halo 3, Hitman: Blood Money, Hitman: Contracts, Jade Empire, Kameo: Elements of Power, Mass Effect, Red Steel, Freedom Fighters and many others.

Sumthing Else Music Works and Sumthing Distribution logos are copyright of their respective companies.

Darksiders II © 2012 THQ Inc. Developed by Vigil Games. Darksiders, Vigil Games, THQ and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

VFX studio a52 teamed up with longtime partner Wieden+Kennedy and Director Andreas Nilsson on three TV spots as part of a Back To School campaign for Target. VFX Supervisor Jesse Monsour led the a52 team on the effort, tapping the studio’s extensive brand knowledge from several past Target campaigns to inform the work, which included extensive stop motion animation.

Each spot features a teacher’s amusing performance about Target’s back-to-school offerings as a52′s effects crawl seamlessly over the screen. A music teacher lets loose with a song about backpacks and denim as jeans and bags meld into the classroom’s backdrop. An English teacher rocks out with her students about notebooks and pencils on a glimmering, confetti-laced stage covered with instruments made of school supplies. A science teacher raps about hair gel and binders in a magic lab filled with colorful chemical explosions and pencil trees emerging from pots.

The studio worked closely with the agency throughout the production process, continuously generating ideas and tweaking concepts as the shoot progressed. For example, in “Music Teacher,” what was originally envisioned as jeans erupting in a sort of kaleidoscopic montage became a comped-up version of denim cascading down the wall using stop motion effects.

“We can adapt to the needs of any project,” stated a52 EP Jennifer Sofio Hall. “Jesse and the rest of our crew did a great job producing top-quality work that flawlessly complements Furlined’s live-action production.”

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Credits
Client: Target
Spot Titles: “English Teacher” :30 Broadcast + Cinema, “Science Teacher” :30 Broadcast, “Music Teacher” :30 Broadcast
Release Date: July 13, 2012

Advertising Agency: Wieden + Kennedy
Creative Director(s): Guy Seese, Julia Leach
Art Director: Patty Fogarty
Copywriter: Dan Kroeger
Product Specialist: Katie Reardon
Business Manager: Teresa Lutz
Account Executive: Kara York
Account Supervisor: Adam Craw
Broadcast Producer: Hayley Goggin
Art Producer: Eugenie Frerichs

Production Company: Furlined
Director: Andreas Nilsson
President: Diane McCarter
Executive Producer: Eriks Krumins
Head of Production: Merilee Newman
Line Producer: Pete Vitale

VFX Studio: a52
VFX Supervisor: Jesse Monsour
Lead CG Artist: Kirk Shintani
CG Artist: Christopher Janney, Joe Chiechi
Executive Producer: Jennifer Sofio Hall
Producer: Meredith Tomasulo, Heather Johan

Editorial Company: Joint Editorial
Editor: Katie Turinski
Assistant Editor: Steve Sprinkel
Producer: Lisa Ashe
Executive Producer: Patty Brebner
About a52
Established in 1997 as a destination for the latest high-end photoreal visual effects, a52 has become home to the industry’s most innovative and talented artists. What began as an extension of award-winning editorial company Rock Paper Scissors, and drawing on the talented directorial roster of Elastic, a52 is now a full-service studio in Santa Monica, led by industry leaders Patrick Murphy and Andy Hall. Best known for seamless visual effects integration, the studio consistently works with top directors, agencies and clients earning not only an Emmy for Outstanding Commercial achievement, but recognition from numerous award shows including: AICP, Andy, BDA, Belding, Clios, British Design and Art Direction, International Monitor, International Automotive Advertising, London International Advertising and One Show awards.

More info: TRUST 646 452 3388 (NY) 310 451 5153 (LA) trustcollective.com

Billerica, Massachusetts – Broadcast Pix™ today announced the release of its Video Control Center™ 3.1 software. A free download for current Granite™ and Mica™ customers, V3.1 is available now and delivers PowerAux™ multi-screen support for 1 M/E systems, Multi-Lingual Fluent-View features, support for Grass Valley K2 servers, and additional enhancements.

“Broadcast Pix has built its reputation on helping our customers create live video with confidence,” said Ken Swanton, Broadcast Pix CEO. “With this upgrade, you can create three different video compositions at once, and create in your own language.”

Using a system’s program output and dual PowerAux outputs, three “programs” of different content can be generated using a 1 M/E Granite or Mica system, and each can have up to six key layers on top. It is ideal for driving any combination of image magnification (I-MAG) screens, Internet feeds, and live television productions, because the multi-screen technology maintains one frame of constant delay across all outputs for continual lip sync throughout the presentation.

Multi-Lingual Fluent-View is a local language user interface that provides support for English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, and other languages, and enables users to easily add languages. All production controls are displayed in the selected language, including the entire Fluent-View “top page” layout, menus, messages, file names, source names, and Fluent™ Macro names. Plus, Broadcast Pix Translation Assistant software allows users to add other languages or dialects. V3.1 also provides Unicode support, enabling file names and other data to be viewed in character-based languages like Chinese.

Also new with V3.1 is optional remote control of and recording to Grass Valley K2 Solo and Summit video servers, as well as enhanced control of video servers from 360 Systems, Harris, and Omneon. The new option enables Broadcast Pix systems to control up to four channels of playback. It supports auto-start of clips when brought to air and integration with Fluent Macros. Plus, clip names are displayed on the panel’s PixPad. Remote control of up to 12 AJA Ki Pro recorders is included on all Granite and Mica systems.

About Broadcast Pix Broadcast Pix is the leader in live video production systems. Its Video Control Centers™ empower operators with patented techniques that combine cameras, clips and graphics to create compelling live video. The integration of a multi-format switcher, clip store, graphics system with a Harris or Chyron CG, and device controls provides the lowest cost of ownership at a fraction of the cost of a conventional control room to buy, staff and operate. Systems range from compact systems controlled by a touch-screen or voice-automation to sophisticated 2 M/E control panels. Customers include leading broadcast, corporate, education, religious, government, webcast, entertainment and mobile studios in more than 110 countries. Learn more at www.broadcastpix.com.

Broadcast Pix, Granite, Mica, Fluent, PowerAux, and Video Control Centers are trademarks of Broadcast Pix, Inc. Patented.

As the Platinum Sponsor of SIGGRAPH 2012, Christie®, the first in the world to publically demonstrate 3D High Frame Rate (HFR) projection technology using a single projector, is proud to host the SIGGRAPH HFR Panel, “High Frame Rate Cinema, Impacts on Art and Technology,” to be held Wednesday, August, 8 at 10:45 a.m., at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Hall K. The panel will feature 10 cinema industry leaders, led by Gordon E. Sawyer Academy Award winner Douglas Trumbull and Dennis Muren, Senior Visual Effects Supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic. It will be moderated by Paul Salvini, chief technology officer (CTO) of Christie. SIGGRAPH 2012 will be staged August 5 – 9. (In late breaking news, Jon Landau, Academy Award-winning producer of “Avatar” and “Titanic” has confirmed his participation in the HFR panel.)
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Filmmaker and Visual Effects legend Douglas Trumbull’s photographic effects credits include groundbreaking films such as “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Blade Runner,” and “The Tree of Life.” Douglas Trumbull pioneered work on High Frame Rate cinematography and projection with his Showscan process of 70mm film photographed and projected at 60 fps, and is now exploring 3D at 120 fps. Dennis Muren is the recipient of eight Academy Awards for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, with credits that include “Star Wars” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.”
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“The SIGGRAPH HFR panel will explore the technology behind high-frame-rate cinema, and look at what it will mean to producers of content and to the audience experience,” noted Paul Salvini. “The panelists are pioneers in their fields, addressing the challenges of HFR across the entire workflow, to provide the post-production and visual effects communities with important guidance regarding the challenges and rewards of developing HFR content for the exhibition community.”
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Additional panelists include:
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• Jim Beshears, Head of Post-production at DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., oversees all aspects of the studio’s self-contained editorial and post-production facilities. Jim has been instrumental in creating a solid support system capable of simultaneously managing multiple feature-length animated projects and multiple short projects.
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• Matthew Cowan, co-founder of Entertainment Technology Consultants and currently Chief Scientific Officer at RealD, of California, developed RealD’s successful 3D cinema system and is respected in the post-production community for his knowledge and application of human perception to 3D systems, color, and transfer functions in digital cinema.
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• Darin Grant, Chief Technology Officer, Digital Domain Media Group, is responsible for the overall technology strategy for the company and its many subsidiaries. He is the former head of production technology at DreamWorks Animation.
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• John Helliker is Founder/Director of Sheridan College’s SIRT Centre, a research and training facility focused on digital workflow innovations including HFR and virtual production. Based at Pinewood Toronto Studios, SIRT’s leading edge work is based on a unique set of partnerships with major industry guilds and associations, individual companies, as well as government and academia.
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• Luke Moore, Director of Special Projects at Canada’s Side Effects Software, in Toronto, is responsible for identifying and addressing the unique technical challenges faced by studios using the popular Houdini VFX and Animation software. Luke brings first-hand knowledge and anecdotes regarding challenges of managing large datasets necessary to enable higher temporal and physical resolution to meet the needs of new challenges in modern production environments.
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• Phil Oatley is Head of Technology at New Zealand-based Park Road Post Production, where his visionary talents have guided the company through incredible growth, including establishing key partnerships to promote HFR research and development.
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• Dr. Lincoln Wallen, Head of Research and Development at Dreamworks Animation, in California, and formerly CTO at Electronic Arts Mobile, where he was instrumental in shaping EA’s approach to the mobile business, creating a strong portfolio of mass market mobile games, as well as games delivering a next-generation consumer experience.
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“As the first licensee to market digital cinema projection based on Texas Instruments’ revolutionary DLP Cinema® technology, Christie has remained an industry leader, helping the post-production and exhibition communities with the latest-generation products, service, and technical expertise,” noted Paul Salvini. “We are proud to moderate this panel, which brings together true industry visionaries to discuss HFR, the next phase of the digital cinema revolution.”
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Salvini added: “Christie continues to forge alliances in Hollywood with powerful proponents of HFR such as James Cameron, as well as partnering with leading post-production facilities such as Park Road Post Production and Weta Digital Ltd., to ensure a seamless transition to HFR and a superior movie-viewing experience.”
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Among the movies on the horizon to feature HFR is the sequel to James Cameron’s “Avatar,” as well as Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit,“ both of which will also be presented in stereoscopic 3D.
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Salvini noted that Christie recently affirmed its HFR leadership with the world’s first and only single-manufacturer DLP Cinema projector and Integrated Media Block (IMB) combination that meets the DCI specifications in both the 2K and 4K mode of operation. It’s the best combination for producing the brightest and sharpest image and the most reliable HFR solution.
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“Christie has earned a solid reputation for accelerating innovations in digital projection technology that includes the first to market a fully stereoscopic 3D DLP projector, in addition to providing leadership in the development and implementation of visualization and immersive technologies,” said Salvini.
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To register for the conference, visit SIGGRAPH 2012. Also visit Christie at SIGGRAPH 2012 Booth #1123.