Key Takeaways
- **Creating Enchanting Visual Effects:** Learn how visual effects supervisor Jay Redd and his team brought to life the whimsical and visually stunning world of Underland in “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”
- **Balancing Whimsy and Physics in Animation:** Discover how the team achieved a delicate balance between cartoon-line whimsy and believable physics in the animation of characters and environments.
- **Preserving Performances with Blended Techniques:** Explore the innovative combination of live-action footage and CG animation used to preserve the performances of actors, while allowing for exaggerated and whimsical movements.
Imagine a world where the impossible becomes possible, where characters come to life with breathtaking detail, and where the boundaries of reality are blurred. This is the world of Jay Redd, the Visual Effects Supervisor who has brought to life some of the most iconic films of our time, including Alice Through the Looking Glass.
Jay Redd’s Journey into the World of Visual Effects
Jay Redd’s journey into the world of visual effects began in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he studied music, photography, film, and astronomy. His passion for storytelling and his technical expertise led him to Rhythm & Hues, a renowned visual effects studio, in 1993. There, he honed his skills as a Lighting Technical Director, working on projects such as CONTACT and THE HAUNTED MANSION.
Creating the Enchanting World of Underland
In 2013, Jay Redd joined Sony Pictures Imageworks to work on ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. Director James Bobin envisioned a world where live-action and digital effects seamlessly blended together. Jay Redd and his team embraced this challenge, creating a visually stunning Underland filled with whimsical characters and awe-inspiring environments.
Conjuring the Stormy Seas and the Pirate Chase
One of the most memorable sequences in the film is the pirate chase, set against a stormy ocean. To capture the intensity of the scene, the team employed a 150-foot motion rig, surrounded by rain machines, water towers, and strobe lights. Double Negative, a visual effects company, meticulously added sails, masts, rope ladders, and digital doubles, bringing the pirate ships to life.
Reimagining Beloved Characters with Enhanced Detail
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS brought back many beloved characters from the first film, including the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, and the Tweedles. Jay Redd and his team meticulously enhanced the CG models, increasing detail, efficiency, and performance. They also created younger versions of the characters for a time-travel element in the film.
Preserving Performances with a Unique Blend of Techniques
For the Tweedles, the team employed a combination of live-action footage and CG animation to preserve the brilliant performances of Matt Lucas. This approach allowed the actors’ nuances and expressions to shine through, while also enabling the animators to create exaggerated and whimsical movements.
Enhancing the Red Queen’s Presence with Visual Tricks
The Red Queen, played by Helena Bonham Carter, underwent a transformation in ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. Her head was scaled up to be 40% to 65% larger than her actual head in various shots, creating a visually striking and imposing presence. The team also enhanced the fur work on the characters, creating new undercoats, textures, and grooms.
Striking a Balance Between Whimsy and Physics
The animation in ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS faced unique challenges. The team had to strike a delicate balance between cartoon-line whimsy and believable physics. They created complex rigs and simulations for the various characters, ensuring that their movements were both visually appealing and grounded in reality.
Bringing Time to Life with Compositing and Quirks
Sacha Baron Cohen’s portrayal of Time was brought to life through a combination of compositing tricks and mechanical quirks. The team used compositing to make his skin look less real and to add subtle mechanical movements to his body, creating an otherworldly and enigmatic character.
Creating Time’s Castle and the Oceans of Time
Time’s castle was a vast and intricate environment, filled with impressive rooms and intricate details. The Underlandians Living and Underlandians Deceased rooms were particularly challenging, featuring thousands of pocket watches representing each life in Underland.
Collaborating to Create the Chronosphere
The Chronosphere, a device that allows one to travel through time, was designed by Production Designer Dan Hennah and his team. They collaborated closely with the team at Double Negative to share assets and work on various sequences, ensuring a seamless integration of live-action and digital elements.
Overcoming Sleepless Nights with Passion and Dedication
Jay Redd’s journey on ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS was not without its challenges. He often worked through sleepless nights, driven by his passion for cinema and his commitment to creating something truly special. His dedication paid off, as the film’s visual effects were widely praised for their beauty, innovation, and technical prowess.
Bonus: Jay Redd’s Inspiration and Favorite Films
Jay Redd credits four films with inspiring his passion for cinema: RASHOMON by Akira Kurosawa, STAR WARS by George Lucas, BLADE RUNNER by Ridley Scott, and AMADEUS by Milos Forman. These films, he says, opened his eyes to the power of storytelling and the magic of visual effects.
Jay Redd’s work on ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS is a testament to his artistry, his technical expertise, and his unwavering dedication to creating unforgettable cinematic experiences. His contributions to the film helped bring Tim Burton’s vision to life, creating a world that is both enchanting and visually stunning.
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