Archive for November, 2010

Burlesque

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on November 30, 2010

When a small town girl named Ali with a big voice and dreams of super stardom moves to Hollywood and meets a retired burlesque dancer who owns a fledgling nightclub, both women’s lives soon change forever. This is the premise of the film Burlesque that opened on Thanksgiving. Burlesque stars Cher and Christina Aguilera and was written and directed by Steve Antin. Zoic Studio was responsible for creating visual effects for the film.
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Behind the Scenes: Famous Footwear

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on November 24, 2010

The holiday season is officially upon us and typically this is the time of year when we visit with our family and friends, exchange gifts, share stories, and reminisce. I was lucky enough to already experience some of what the holidays have to offer back in August when I went behind the scenes of the Famous Footwear “Neighborhood” spot.  
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LIVE: Inside Zoic Studios!

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on November 18, 2010

Today is the big day. It’s our FIRST live broadcast. Join me at 4pm inside Zoic Studios when I interview Andrew Orloff, VFX Supervisor for such shows as CSI, V, True Blood, Fringe and many others.

Inside Zoic Studios

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ACTION!

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on November 17, 2010

There is a lot going on today around the office. Besides all of the day to day activity, there is a shoot happening right outside the studio. I spoke briefly to Andrew Orloff, VFX Supervisor and Executive Creative Director at Zoic to give me the scoop about what the shoot was all about. “The shoot taking place is part of a photographic virtual set where people are being shot on green screen. The art direction of the actual set made it a lot bigger and more expansive so we needed to duplicate more people in the background to fill the screen.” So essentially the staff here at Zoic became extras for the day. James Hattin, Lead Compositor, directed his colleagues and you can see all of the hijinks that ensued below

Also I am about to head to set for a big commercial spot that we are working on. Can’t say much, but I can say it’s up the street and is bound to be a lot of fun on set.

Finally the biggest news of the day is TOMORROW November 18th at 4:00pm Zoic Studios is having it’s first LIVE BROADCAST. Yours truly will be interviewing VFX Supervisor Andrew Orloff on Ustream about the latest and greatest in Visual Effects for such shows as V, Human Target, and CSI. So join me as I take you Inside Zoic Studios:
Inside Zoic Studios

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Zoic Studios Heads to the Big Apple

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on November 16, 2010

On November 11th 2010 Zoic Studios presented 3D Stereoscopy, a presentation about the ins and outs of 3D Stereoscopic production at the Crosby Street Hotel. Leslie Ekker, VFX Supervisor and Creative Director of Commercials at Zoic Studios, presented an informative and entertaining discussion on 3D Stereo in which close to one hundred people attended.


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November Playlist of the Month: Art Rock and African Beats

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on November 12, 2010

This month the playlist belongs to Creative Director and Visual Effects Supervisor of the Commercial division at Zoic Studios, Leslie Ekker. Ekker’s musical taste is incredibly eclectic and diverse as evidence by his musical selections below:

My playlist reflects my diverse interests and eclectic nature I guess. All of these tracks speak to my soul, even more than my mind and it makes me feel deeply connected to my ancient genetic pattern. African music has always been so attractive to me, and that’s part of the reason I started the Culver City Drum Circle.

African rhythms are such a part of our music. I hear the ancient traditional songs everywhere! “Art rock” appeals to the designer in me, and I especially love David Byrne, Brian Eno and Phillip Glass. It’s a trip to the sonic art museum for me. Beethoven’s 9th evokes the grand soaring rush of love. Love is a huge part of my life. We (my amazing partner Diane and I) strive to create it. We allow it into our loves and it grows every day. We hear that in this passionate piece.

My favorite version of Beethoven’s 9th was the first time the East German orchestra played with the West German orchestra. The combined orchestra’s temporarily re-named it “Ode to Freedom” instead of “Ode to Love,” which was it’s original title. I hope you like this mix, it’s pretty extreme!

Leslie

Ali’ Farka Toure’ & Ry Cooder: “AMANDRAI”
from Talking Timbuktu

Talking Heads: “MEMORIES CAN’T WAIT”, and “THE GREAT CURVE”

PHILLIP GLASS: “MISHIMA”

BEETHOVEN’S 9TH SYMPHONY: “ODE TO FREEDOM, BERNSTEIN IN BERLIN”

BRIAN ENO & DAVID BYRNE: MY LIFE IN THE BUSH OF GHOSTS “HELP ME SOMEBODY”

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