ILM's Visual Effects for Transformers: DOTM Part 2

ILM has posted another "music" video that explores the visual effects layers they created for the fantastic visuals in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. It is fascinating to see just how much of Chicago and many elements were nearly 100% computer generated. Part one can be found here, part 2 below.

ILM, Digital Domain Special Effects Behind the Scenes Musical Montages

ILMDigital and Digital Domain have each posted around 3 minute musical montages that show how some of the effects were created for Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Ever since this was done for Superman Returns way back when, I have been a huge fan of these edits that when done well (like these), can relay a lot of information in a very short video. Enjoy.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D Out Today; Trailer & Effects Clips

In the United States, today is the official release day of Transformers: Dark of the Moon3D Combo pack and Limited Edition Trilogy set. To help promote the release, the DOTM twitter and Facebook accounts have released two more clips from the special features disc. The first clip discusses Optimus Prime trailer and the second discusses some of the practical effects (explosives, etc) used in the film.

ATT-ATT | Sentinel Prime Design | Chicago Set Prep | 3D Effects | Sentinel, Chicago Skydiving | Driller, The Moon, Design

Transformers: DOTM Featurette Clips: Driller, The Moon, and TF Design

Below are three more clips to promote the January 31st in US (Feb. 13th in UK) release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D Combo pack and Limited Edition Trilogy set. The clips come from the DOTM twitter and Facebook accounts. The first video is a look at the challenges of Driller, the second is focuses on re-creating the Moon, and the last is designing the Transformers.

Transformers: DOTM Featurette Clips: Casting Sentinel, Chicago, Skydiving

The official twitter account for DOTM has posted three new clips (below) to promote the January 31st release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D Combo pack and Limited Edition Trilogy set. The first clip provides a look at the inspiration and casting for Sentinel Prime, more from filming in Chicago, and a look at the sky diving stuntmen. The clips and links to other released featurette clips below.

ATT-ATT | Sentinel Prime Design | Chicago Set Prep | 3D Effects

Transformers: DOTM Featurette Clip on 3D Visual Effects

Engadget has posted the lastest clip to promote the January 31st release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D Combo pack and Limited Edition Trilogy set. In the clip Michael Bay and his team discusses in shooting style and editing that filming in 3D required.

ILM Behind the Magic - DOTM Tilted Building

ILM has posted a video that provides a look at some of the challenges that they overcome in creating the visual effects for the tilted building sequence in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. This is unrelated to the upcoming Blu-ray features, but a nice bonus that ILM occasionally posts.

New Dark of the Moon Featurette Clip

Superherohype has posted a new clip (below) from the extra features that will come with Transformers: Dark of the Moon Limited Edition Trilogy and 3D combo pack. This section focuses on the practical effects and set built for a scene that was used as a devastated Chicago, the part in the movie where Epps and Sam are getting ready to enter Chicago when Prime and company arrive. Both sets will be out on January 31st in the States and Februrary 13th in the UK. Other clips are here and here.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon Unboxing, Sentinel Prime Feature Teaser

The proper release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon on Blu-ray is just a little under two weeks ago. The other day, we were introduced to ATT-ATT and today we get a teaser look at the design of Sentinel Prime thanks to MovieWeb. Not sure why, but Paramount decided to gift YouTuber FilmFanPete (yep I am jealous) a copy of the Limited Collector's Edition Blu-Ray trilogy set who posted an unboxing video. The result is the best look yet for anyone still on the fence about buying the expensive set which Amazon is currently selling for $89.99.

DOTM Featurette: ATT-ATT

MTV has posted a sneak preview at one of the special features that will be part of the upcoming release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D set. The video, called ATT-ATT, stands for All The Toys, All the Time which describes all the equipment and tech that production needs ready for whatever Michael Bay needs when inspiration strikes for a scene. The set will be out on January 31st in the States and Februrary 13th in the UK.

Visual Effects Behind DOTM Chicago's Destruction

Below is another special effects behind the scenes video from Transformers: Dark of the Moon that focuses on how some of the effects were done for battle damaged Chicago. The video was actually released five months ago from The Daily (an iPad app) to help promote the movie but this is the first I have seen it. Thanks to Feris Othman for the find.

ILM Behind the Magic - DOTM Transformations

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) have posted a brief video that explains the differences in the transformation designs between the Autobots and the Decepticons in Transformers: Dark of hte Moon.

Michael Bay on the Sounds of Dark of the Moon

In a brief article from The Hollywood Reporter, Transformers: Dark of the Moon director Michael Bay discusses the sound effects of the movie citing how complex they are including how an orangutan played a part in the sound effects.

The Hollywood Reporter: You have quite a large below-the-line team.
Michael Bay: Roughly 3,000 people worked on this Transformers. Some have been with me since 1995's Bad Boys. The people I work with are animals. They're passionate. It irks me that VFX and VFX movies aren't considered art. It's a different type of art, but it's definitely art.

Scott Farrar's BBC Interview

BBC has posted an interview with Transformers: Dark of the Moon Visual Effects Supervisor Scott Farrar as he answered a few questions about the effects in the movie as part of promoting the home video release of the movie in the UK on Monday. He gave an overview of how complext executing some scenes in the movie were, his role in the movie planning and seeing the final outcome many months after all the initial work. The video can be found here.

Visual Effects Details for Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Scott Farrar, Visual Effects Supervisor on Transformers: Dark of the Moon, continues to make the rounds in the Europe market to promote the upcoming November 28th release of the movie there. In the latest from WhatCulture.com, he continues to talk about the challenges of creating visual effects for Transformers. Below are highlights with the full article here.

Highlights:

Transformers Linkfest - Art and Memory

Another week, more news related to Transformers. Oddly there have been an uptick in Transformers: Dark of the Moon stuff with a concept art gallery and a new USB product. In addition, Transformers: Prime toys images are popping up and more teases of upcoming 3rd party toys. Last are a few videos with a video review, Ironhide tribute and Transformers in 1-D.

Ryan Church Concept Art
Hit the link to look at the latest concept art from Ryan Church for Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The main focus of the artwork is Shockwave both in his design and how might look during Chicago battle.

Transformers: Prime Galleries - Megatron | Arcee & Starscream | Cliffjumper
Hit the links to view galleries that show off the robot and vehicle modes of four figures from the Transformers: Prime toy line that should start hitting stores in time for Christmas.

5 Answers About Transformers Effects from Scott Farrar

In three videos below, Transformers: Dark of the Moon Visual Effects Supervisor Scott Farrar answers questions about creating the visual effects of the movie. The video is for Italian site Badtaste but Scott talks in English so pretty easy to infer what the 5 questions are. Most of the information isn't new but Scott did say that Paramount has approached him to do another movie and he is willing. He also reconfirmed the talks with Michael Bay.

Tech Behind Transformers 3 Race Scenes

While my knowledge of films is limited, I do enjoy reading about the tech that is created to help create the movies we love such as Transformers: Dark of the Moon's complex, dangerous vehicle chase sequences. Even though we often think in terms of digital effects, there is still a whole lot of tech required to create the practical shots of cars moving at high speeds for whatever a scene may require. These scenes require specialized equipment designed to get up close to capture the thrill of the chase. Two separate articles from Jalopnik and Gizmodo get into the details of this equipment seen on many sets of movies, TV shows and commercials.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon Official Photos

Transformers: Dark of the Moon set photographer Robert Zuckerman has posted a large gallery of images from the filming of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. His role is to gather the still images used for help in advertising the movie, for press and related products such as posters, toys and the like. The full gallery of images can be found at Zuckerman's website or at MichaelBay.com.

Dark of the Moon VFX From Digital Domain

The Society of Digital Artists website has posted an interesting article with key members of the Digital Domain crew that helped created the visual effects used in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Digital Domain was bought by Michael Bay after the first movie but has a long history working in Hollywood. Much like with Revenge of the Fallen, the company focused on certain characters and scenes while ILM focused on the key Transformers and larger scale effects.

The crew help created Brains, Laserbeak and the cannon fodder Decepticon protoforms. Key scenes the crew worked on include "Bird Men" (the Chicago skydiving sequence) and the Space Bridge jump from the Moon to Washington, DC. Below are a few highlights but best to read the details in the full article here. Note that references to "stereo" is referring not to sound but creating everything in 3D.