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Post by sunshinedna on Feb 19, 2007 6:59:17 GMT -5
Anita Dhillon is the woman behind the Icarus II Mission Patch... She also designed all of the graphics you see on the monitors all throughout the ship- including the Icarus mainframe operating system- and all of the labels and 'quality control' stickers which appear on every bit of equipment and every panel in the ship. There will hopefully be a video about Anita coming out soon (but now that everything has gone so mixed up crazy with the videos, I can't guarantee it)... Some of Anita's work can been seen: Here. Here. And in the Comms Room of the Explore site. She's currently working on The Bourne Ultimatum, but has agreed to answer questions from you about her work on 'Sunshine'!
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Post by brittany on Feb 19, 2007 9:49:56 GMT -5
What were some of your inspirations when creating some of the graphics, especially the labels on the spacesuit cover and the Icarus II mainframe on the Flight Deck?
I know for me, I like to listen to music to get my "creativeness" going. Based on this, what music do you listen to or does music have no significance in your work?
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Post by chero on Feb 19, 2007 9:56:11 GMT -5
Can you explain your thought process behind the design of the Icarus II Mission Patch? Was this design the first one you created, or were there "rejects"?
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Post by thisisliz on Feb 23, 2007 1:16:55 GMT -5
How much research went into creating the graphics for the film? How accurate are the details?
On a more general level, how did you get into doing graphics for films?
And just for fun, I've heard of this happening in films, did you slip anything random into any of the graphics?
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Post by sunshinedna on Feb 23, 2007 12:55:25 GMT -5
I've got loads of questions now, so I'll lock this thread until I get Anita's answers back. Thanks, everyone!
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Post by sunshinedna on Mar 15, 2007 18:09:57 GMT -5
Yay! I've got Anita's answers to your questions...
What initially attracted you to work on Sunshine? - chero
Anita: Some films just jump at you and say "work on me I’m gonna be fun!" and that’s what happened with Sunshine – the fact that it was a ‘sci fi’ film really made me feel there was going to be a lot there to get my teeth into. Also my brother, who is an Astrophysicist, would have killed me if I did not do it!
How does your work on Sunshine compare to your previous and current [if you’re allowed to disclose it]) projects? Was it the most difficult, educational, etc? - chero
Anita: Doing graphics for films is always pretty challenging - that's one of the reasons I got attracted to this job in the first place: you constantly have to think on your feet . Although you are given a brief at the beginning of the job, almost invariably in films, things can change quite suddenly, and you have to be adaptable and be able to think on the fly - this film was no exception.
The toughest challenge on Sunshine was the logistics of producing the screens to fit onto the numerous monitors whilst juggling the general ship graphics as well. It was a lot of work! The numbers of screens grew as the film progressed and each screen had a specific visible ratio, which had to be worked out before I could even think about making up the graphic. It was great to see it all up and running on set.
It is hard to compare previous and current graphics, they vary on each job from period style, to realistic to complete fantasy - wallpaper and tiles to book jackets and corporate identities! Each job is different.
Did working on Sunshine leave an impression on you, as a person and/ or as a crew member? - chero
Anita: Working on a project for that length of time, 7 months, will invariably leave an impression on you - both the subject matter of the film and the crew you are working with is all you know during production time - you literally eat, breathe and s.hit the film... its an intense job to be doing.
What were some of your inspirations when creating some of the graphics, especially the labels on the spacesuit cover and the monitors on the Flight Deck? -Brittany
Anita: Obviously, my first port of call is doing a bit of research on actual existing things in the real world - then I take what appeals to me the most, or what seems to "fit in" with the style of the film and work from there. On films you often do not get as much time as you would like to research the subject that you are focusing on. Graphic turnover has to be very quick sometimes you need to get something on the set in half an hour from being asked to produce it! So it is a steep, quick learning curve on a subject, head down and get on with it!
How much research went into creating the graphics for the film? How accurate are the details?- thisisliz
Anita: Some things are easier to research than others - but it really depends on what the graphics are for - I have to mock up and make a wide variety of stuff for films- from fake newspapers to shop signs; passports and visas to cereal boxes and web pages. But all of this stuff has to look believable - even if it is fake
Its sometimes also more tricky that you think - for example if I have to make paperwork for a fake company, we need to check the company name isn't used - there are all kinds of legal issues involved - a lot of stuff has to be cleared through the legal department, to make sure we're not misrepresenting a company which may actually exist... Most of the research is good fun to do - and it’s a constant learning experience - I'm constantly challenged and learning about all sorts of stuff.
For Sunshine I tried very hard to make the graphics as detailed as possible. For instance where we needed specific mathematics for screens etc I used friends and family and researched into scientific and aeronautical engineering to get the right details so that the screen were as realistic as possible, to the point where I now feel like I could pilot that ship!!!
The computer graphics look complex but also kind of retro (green wireframes, some stuff almost DOS looking), that and a lot of the ship looks very utilitarian. can you talk about the displays/other ship technology and how they differ from present technology? - spiraltime
Anita: Sometimes this kind of stuff is effectively "chosen" by the director/art director - they may have an overall view or vision of how they want the graphics to look - and I, by trial and error sometimes, have to put their vision on paper/screen for them - I may do 20 different "styles" of graphics for something and then one is chosen by the Director. I am guided by the Director's personal visions - saying that, sometimes they haven't even really considered the minute detail of how a particular screen may look and I’m guided by my own aesthetics or by my interpretation of how the graphics will work in context with the film.
With these screen graphics I needed to approach the screens as if I was creating the computer system for a real spaceship! We decided that the ship needed an interface, like a new version of Linux. I had to work out how the complex ship supercomputer would behave and how the crew would interact with it. Once this format was established it made it easier to produce them all.
Can you explain your thought process behind the design of the Icarus II Mission Patch? Was this design the first one you created, or were there "rejects"? - Chero
Anita: Again – I go through a process, as you do with any art, where I may have a germ of an idea when I start on something (and sometimes no clue at all!) and I have to work through the idea - and through this process I get momentum up and sometimes loads of different variations come out - then its a case of picking out the most appropriate designs. Sometimes I get the design out first time, and it is the first one I did…..other times it takes a lot longer... In this particular case I looked at existing mission badges and made a load of different versions, they were great to do as it is quite obvious what has to be on the badge, however there is so much scope as to how the elements are placed. Danny picked the most appropriate from quite a wide selection!
Why is Cassie “Cassidy” on the crew patch? -Kim
Anita: Because Cassidy is her full name - Cassie is the name everyone calls her... like you may well be a Kimberly right?
I think mission patches in Sci-fi movies are one of the coolest memorabilia. So Anita, how did you start designing the mission patch? What idea did you want to convey? And about all the other designs, do you have any favorite or memorable design? - k-milo
Anita: Yeah - I agree, I love all that stuff - stickers, patches - logos logos logos - they are great fun to do.. I took my inspiration from existing mission patches because we wanted the design to look like one of them. In terms of most memorable designs it has to be the screen interface because it was the most satisfying part to work out and so integral in the story.
On a more general level, how did you get into doing graphics for films? - thisisliz
Anita: Totally organic really - I have worked on film sets on and off in different capacities – from doing scenic painting and Art Directing pop promos and low budget films to Standby on set.
I was trained in graphics and animation at Central St Martins in London – pre computer era!! So doing this kind of made sense - it involved my love of films and also my love of graphics - so really a natural progression - though I must admit I didn't "set out" to do film graphics...
I know for me, I like to listen to music to get my "creativeness" going. Based on this, what music do you listen to or does music have no significance in your work? -Brittany
Anita: I love music - all kinds of stuff - and I do really get inspiration from it - It can keep me going... it has so much power - it can affect the way you think, the way you feel - it can give you inspiration and also get you in a kind of "space" where you are clear of all outside peripheral stuff like "what am I going to eat for dinner tonight" "I haven't paid my phone bill" "my boyfriend is pissing me off" kind of stuff - so yeah - music is very important to me... I couldn't live without it!
And just for fun, I've heard of this happening in films, did you slip anything random into any of the graphics? - thisisliz
Anita: Yeah - weirdly enough you should say this - but yes I do.. It’s a nice way to kind of make your own mark on something which is effectively unreal; that exists in its own universe, as films do. They are alternate universes that many people will visit for a few hours then leave - they never change - stuck in the same time zone for an eternity…we will all grow old and change, but the film and its characters will always remain the same.
So, I've taken to adding little things in - not so that anyone except for me or my friends would notice or even care about - so for example photographs of friends' kids and pets often appear as friends or family of the character as a framed photo or on the cover of a newspaper or magazine….there are always places that you can have fun and add names, special phrases and pictures.
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Post by kaliszewski on Mar 15, 2007 18:14:35 GMT -5
Did I phrase it backwards, Gia? I meant to ask why Cassie was "Cassie" and not "Cassidy" on the patch. Or am I halluskinatin' now...?
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Post by Amanda on Mar 15, 2007 18:17:40 GMT -5
That was a great and very interesting read. Thanks!
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Post by sunshinedna on Mar 15, 2007 18:44:54 GMT -5
Did I phrase it backwards, Gia? I meant to ask why Cassie was "Cassie" and not "Cassidy" on the patch. Or am I halluskinatin' now...? Hmmmm... not sure. She *is* Cassidy on the patch though... so maybe the question was changed round to reflect that..?? (It's almost midnight here. I'm a bit vague right now!)
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Post by kaliszewski on Mar 15, 2007 21:02:34 GMT -5
I managed to lead myself in a circle. (Wouldn't be the first time!) I was thinking back to the crew names in the promo photos and the IMDB cast list and whatnot-- Cassie is "Cassie" and not "Cassidy" when all the others are labeled with their last names. Never mind: I stumped myself with the question about the patch...!
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Post by chero on Mar 15, 2007 21:06:33 GMT -5
Anita sounds like a very down-to-earth person. Her brother is an Astrophysicist! Cool!
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Post by colin on Aug 6, 2007 5:44:27 GMT -5
Good read. Sounds like a great job
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Starshine
Pilot
There will be nothing to show that we were ever here - but stardust.
Posts: 297
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Post by Starshine on Aug 17, 2007 9:29:13 GMT -5
WoooW amazing work for an amazing movie!
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Post by knots349 on Apr 29, 2010 2:51:10 GMT -5
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