For anyone that’s ever wondered how filmmakers make movie magic happen, the 2005 VES-VFX Festival of Visual Effects (June 23-26 at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica) reveals the wizardry behind today’s hottest films, television shows and even commercials and games. Tickets and festival passes are available online at www.vesfestival.org and run from $20 for an individual show ticket to $300 for an all access pass with admittance to all three days of screenings, panels and events.
Highlights of the festival include an enlightening panel with the geniuses from ILM responsible for creating the over 2000 visual effects in STAR WARS III and the Double Negative team who created the effects for BATMAN BEGINS. MADAGASCAR, SIN CITY and LORDS OF DOGTOWN are among the other features at the fest. Television’s hottest one-hours including all three CSI’s, LOST and ALIAS are also part of the line-up. Special highlights include a family-friendly morning of visual effects fun on closing day (Sunday, June 26) kicking off with an interactive puppetry presentation, a screening of HERBIE FULLY LOADED and a special appearance by the infamous “Lovebug,” Lindsay Lohan’s sidekick in this summer’s highly anticipated family-friendly comedy.
The 2005 VES-VFX Festival of Visual Effects schedule follows:

Friday, June 24
1PM – 2:30PM THE ARTISTRY OF MODELS & MINIATURES IN TODAY’S DIGITAL WORLD Panelists include Matthew Gratzner (New Deal Studios), Dave Jones, Lorne Peterson (ILM) and Robert Spurlock discussing models & miniatures in visual effects.

3PM – 4:30PM MADAGASCAR
Featuring the creative team from DREAMWORKS behind this summer’s animated sensation
5PM – 6:30PM ANATOMY OF “CSI”
The creative teams behind ALL THREE “CSI” shows (Vegas, Miami, New York) discuss the use of groundbreaking visual effects in television’s hottest one-hours

6:30PM – 7:30PM Break for Dinner

7:30PM – 10:30PM SPECIAL PRESENTATION (Details to Follow)


Saturday, June 25
9AM -- 10:30AM VISUAL EFFECTS PARADISO -- 700 YEARS OF VISUAL EFFECTS
Distinguished Visual Effects Supervisor Mike Fink takes us on a tour of the evolution of visual effects. JUST ADDED!

11AM – 12:30PM SIN CITY
Panel featuring the visual effects teams from CafeFX and The Orphanage and Hybrid who brought Robert Rodriquez’ vision to life

12:30PM – 1:30PM – Break for Lunch

1:30PM – 3PM STAR WARS III
From 300 visual effects in the original STAR WARS to over 2000 in the current installation, this panel will feature the visual effects wizards from ILM who created the magic in STAR WARS III

3:30PM – 5PM VES INSIDERS
Academy Award® winners Jim Rygiel and Richard Edlund in an open-ended conversation

5PM – 6:30PM NEXT GENERATION: THE FUTURE OF GAMING
VFX leaders who create the industry’s hottest games talk about this rapidly expanding and money-making area of the visual effects industry. Moderator Richard Taylor leads a lively conversation with panelists that include Lorne Lanning, Glen Entis (Madden, NFL Football, Underground) and others to be confirmed.

6:30PM – 8PM – Break for Dinner

8PM – 11PM BATMAN BEGINS
Screening preceded by panel with Visual Effects Supervisors Janek Sirrs and Paul Franklin from Double Negative


Sunday, June 26 – FAMILY FRIENDLY DAY OF VISUAL EFFECTS FUN!
9AM – 10AM THE ART OF PUPPETRY
An interactive panel featuring Master Puppeteer and Animatronic Supervisor Dave Barclay who created the puppets used in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, brought “Yoda” to life in STAR WARS and much more, demonstrating the artistry of puppets used in visual effects

10:15AM – 12:30PM HERBIE FULLY LOADED
Screening and panel with the visual effects team including VFX Supervisor John Van Vliet, VFX Producer Lynda Thompson, Special Effects Coordinator Matt Sweeney and Supervising Puppeteer Robert (Bob) Short.

12:30PM – 1:30PM Break for Lunch

1:30PM – 3PM “LOST” and “ALIAS”
A discussion with the creative teams behind two of television’s hottest shows utilizing visual effects. Creator J.J. Abrams just confirmed!
3:30PM – 5PM 30-SECOND STORY TELLING: VFX IN COMMERICALS
A revealing look at the art of creating visual effects in the short form.

5:30PM – 7PM INVISIBLE EFFECTS REVEALED
The intricacies of creating visual effects that can’t even be seen. Panelists include director Catherine Hardwicke (LORDS OF DOGTOWN), Visual Effects Supervisor Gray Marshall and the visual effects team from Gray Matter
The 2005 VES-VFX Festival is presented by the Visual Effects Society (VES), a professional, honorary society, dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of visual effects and to improving the welfare of its members by providing professional enrichment and education, fostering community, and promoting industry recognition. The VES is the entertainment industry’s only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos and games. Comprised of a diverse group of over 1,250 global members, the VES strives to enrich and educate its own members and members of the entertainment community at large through a multitude of domestic and international events, screenings and programs.