Sean Cunningham Part 2, From Digital Domain to Indie Film and Rooster Teeth | TVAP EP29

The VFX Artists Podcast

In the second installment of our interview with veteran VFX Artist and filmmaker, Sean Cunningham we go into detail about the process used on the 1990's action movie True Lies for the missile sequence - featuring some of the earliest uses of Nuke digital compositing at Digital Domain as well as an early version of SideFX Houdini (Prisms).
We talk about his role supervising on Strange Days and working on Oh Brother Where Art Thou with the first use of full DI on feature film. We discuss how he raised funds, produced and distributed two indie feature films and his return to VFX.
It's a great tour for VFX artists interested in some of the early history of digital FX and the tools we use everyday as well as a case study in indie filmmaking.
Full timestamps below:
00:00:05 : The Team on True Lies
00:00:05 : Marker 1
00:03:34 : The origin of the name "Nuke"
00:04:42 : Nuke always planned as a commercial project
00:06:43 : Th Pixel was sacred
00:07:56 : Talking through the workflow on a missile shot
00:09:09 : The use of Amigas at DD for playback
00:10:45 : Everybody would have to queue up their tests
00:21:39 : How FVX work teaches you to think about things
00:32:46 : Running out to film
00:33:30 : First time as Supervisor and the fear
00:35:00 : O Brother Where Art Thou - first film with end to end DI
00:35:31 : Working with Roger Deakins
00:41:13 : Presentation to PETA
00:42:28 : From Hollywood to indie filmmaking
00:45:50 : Fundraising first indie feature film
00:49:47 : Shooting in a small town
00:56:02 : Distribution
01:00:09 : After release - back to VFX
01:02:03 : A kidnapping
01:03:18 : Sick Boy - finally making a horror movie
01:08:06 : The response to Sick Boy
01:24:37 : Working at Rooster Teeth
01:28:12 : How to get out of a creative rut
01:29:44 : Remote work opportunities
01:32:31 : Final words and advice
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Chapters

1. Sean Cunningham Part 2, From Digital Domain to Indie Film and Rooster Teeth | TVAP EP29 (00:00:00)

2. The Team on True Lies (00:00:05)

3. The origin of the name "Nuke" (00:03:34)

4. Nuke always planned as a commercial project (00:04:42)

5. The Pixel was sacred (00:06:43)

6. Talking through the workflow on a missile sho (00:07:56)

7. The use of Amigas at DD for playback (00:09:09)

8. Everybody would have to queue up their tests (00:10:45)

9. How FVX work teaches you to think about things (00:21:39)

10. Running out to film (00:32:46)

11. First time as Supervisor and the fear (00:33:30)

12. O Brother Where Art Thou - first film with end to end DI (00:35:00)

13. Working with Roger Deakins (00:35:31)

14. Presentation to PETA (00:41:13)

15. From Hollywood to indie filmmaking (00:42:28)

16. Fundraising first indie feature film (00:45:50)

17. Shooting in a small town (00:49:47)

18. Distribution (00:56:02)

19. After release - back to VFX (01:00:09)

20. A kidnapping (01:02:03)

21. Sick Boy - finally making a horror movie (01:03:18)

22. The response to Sick Boy (01:08:06)

23. Working at Rooster Teeth (01:24:37)

24. How to get out of a creative rut (01:28:12)

25. Remote work opportunities (01:29:44)

26. Final words and advice (01:32:31)