600 yards from that huge wet blob we call the Pacific Ocean, lies the future of humankind's so called visual effects industry. A pirate flag flying half-mast symbolises the total uniqueness of an effects house set to bring the world into the 21st century- Digital Domain.
Founded by director extraordinaire James Cameron, animatronics whiz Stan Winston, and ex ILM executive Scott Ross in 1993, Digital Domain have grown into the worlds most successful visual effects house. D2 (Digital Domain) have given what have been thought of as the worlds best and biggest effects houses like ILM and PDI a run for their money. With feature films like True Lies, Apollo 13, and The Fifth Element behind them D2 are constantly getting more and more top jobs. Amongst many things D2 do are commercials, which are widely thought of as "amateur jobs", perhaps this is why D2 aren't quite as famous as they could be?
Digital Domain's success can be put down to many things, but amongst them all one thing stands out, and you can read it without trying- talent. "People better get out of the way if they don't have a ramp on their backs because we're coming!", explains James Cameron, chairman of the board at D2; and it's true! D2 are giving people quite a scare, they are a baby in a sense, only 4 years old, and they're the best in the world, with 2 Oscar nominations in 2 years. This is quite embarrassing for companies like ILM who have been in the business for 20+ years.
The attitude of D2 differs widely from that of other effects houses. Maybe this is another reason D2 is so successful? They don't care how you dress, how you look, who you've worked for, who you haven't worked for, or whether you like your mother or not! If you've got talent, and they have a job opening, they want you. "No suits, We're not that kinda place.... [We want] talent not seniority."
D2 does not only deal with CG effects for feature films, they have a model shop, they do character animation, rotoscoping/rig removal, compositing, and much much more, but perhaps they are more well known for the latter. The CG special effects department is probably one the most skilled in the world, "Effects animators are charged with a myriad of responsibilities, including duplicating, altering, or creating reality from scratch." They need the best, this is why they want you for your talent, not your experience.
Traditional techniques are used at D2 just as much as new ones. The model shop at Digital Domain built models for Apollo 13, True Lies, The Fifth Element, Titanic and more, they employ highly skilled, professionals from all walks of life. "We have modellers who come from the kit-bashing competition world, radio control specialists, submariners, navy seals, marines, jewellers, designers (especially industrial ones!), greens experts, artists, sculptors, welders, engineers, magicians and self-taught miracle workers."
FEATURE FILMS
One year on since the effects house was opened, D2 were working in the feature film industry. Working alongside Cinesite and PDI they produced some fantastic harrier jet sequences for James Cameron's True Lies. They did the sequence when the Harrier's blew up a bridge- and in particular, the missiles for that part of the movie. They removed the jets real missiles and replaced them with CG ones. They animated them, adding the most believable missile trails ever seen. Joe Viskocil detonated the bridge and the finished sequence is fantastic. A real eye opener and a big achievement for digital domain.Another of D2's famous feature films is Apollo 13, where they were praised by people from all over the world for their fantastic sequence of the rocket taking off. A model and CG rocket was built, they were composited and animated superbly, and the smoke is fantastic. The public response was incredible too; "I remember what it was like to be a proud American. You have helped us to remember. And I thank you", was just one of many positive responses D2 received.
The Fifth Element and Dantes Peak are D2's most recent feature films. For The Fifth Element Digital Domain handled 220 shots. The shots ranged from creating the New York skyline, 250 years in the future, to space sequences. Digital Domain created both CG and model miniature effects for The 5th Element's many flying car sequences and skyline shots. Sequences were highly detailed, with many buildings, lights, bridges and mist in the distance. D2 created some of the most colourful, magical effects ever brought to the big screen- unfortunately the poor story-line was a major set back in what could have been one of the best visual effects movies of 1997.
For Dantes Peak Digital Domain handled some of the most complex shots in the whole movie, and as a result, created the best lava sequences ever seen- running rings around ILM's earlier Congo effects. Dantes Peak- just like Independence Day- used model miniatures composited with CG elements extensively. But some of the most fantastic effects in the movie are the ones that leave the audience saying, "what effect?" The effects from smoking buildings, shot from fast moving cars and cranes, jumping and jerking whilst looking at the fantastic pyroclastic smoke. The compositing here is amazing, and D2's digital unit deserve a huge pat on the back for these sequences.
COMMERCIALS
The effects industry has long looked upon commercials as freelance work; work for small companies wanting to break into the industry as a big name. Digital Domain certainly do not think this, they have a whole division devoted to producing top effects for commercials. D2 have produced effects for clients like Mercedes, Budweiser, AT&T, Nike and Jeep. Large effects houses are now starting to see that there is work in the commercial industry for them, but D2 lead the way.
One of the best Digital Domain commercials has got to be the timex commercial where the statue of liberty lights up her torch and looks at her watch. A combination of live-action, miniatures, prosthetics, and CGI- fantastic! The animation is like a dream and the watch is splendid.
D2's Randall Rosa explains that, "This commercial is a testament to the caliber of 3-D animation that D2 can deliver, even with production schedules tougher than rhino skin." The Mercedes, "Rhinos" commercial is another triumph. Those CG Rhino's run rings around ILM's Jumanji creations.
Commercials produced by D2 are just as good as the feature films the effects house produces- excellent in quality and incredibly realistic. The Budwieser "ants" commercial has some incredibly simple CGI that could have been done by any freelancer. However, without Digital Domains original approach to the commercial it would not have been as successful. It just goes to show- Digital Domain put just as much effort into commercials as they put into feature films.
TERMINATOR 2 3D
At Universal Studio's, Florida lies many huge attractions making extensive usage of visual effects. Back To The Future, Earthquake, Jaws etc. But nothing is more popular than Digital Domain's Terminator 2 3D. This unique film was hot in 3 dimensions and uses state of the art visual effects and on set elements such as smoke to engage viewers in the film, to make it an experience, not just a good film.Using CGI, animatronics, model miniatures and a whole host of compsiting- T2 3D is the only film of it's kind in the world, and it was created by Digital Domain- that's an accomplishment! "Nary a show goes by without a standing ovation and the call for encores. Maybe it's the live action performers. Maybe it's the 3D CG third act. Maybe it's the Harley. Could just be Arnold and Eddie. But people are going nuts for this one", they boast, and they have every right to.
THE FUTURE
So, as we bring our journey through the world of Digital Domain to a close, we ask what's next. Well, Digital Domain are working on another of Cameron's movies- Titanic, a tale of the most famous ship and it's first and final voyage. D2 have created some monster effects including the best ever CG ship, and they even filled it with CG people. This movie will be released on the 19th December.While the effects dept. and the model shop are busying themselves with that, D2 are recruiting. "We need people to share our passion with, our dreams, our madness. If we can dance to your tune, if we can fall into your dream, if we can swim in your idea, we need to have you here with us. No whiners, No wannabes, just people who ache for greatness. Leave your doubts behind and bring us your passion and drive. Who wants to be marched over, anyway?"
"We are looking for talented artists to join our award-winning team. Positions are available for creative users of 2-D and 3-D tools such as Prisms, Alias, Softimage, Elastic Reality, Lightwave, Amazon 3D Paint, Matador, Renderman, Photoshop, Flint, Flame and Inferno. We also have positions for software engineers, new media designers, developers and programmers."
Please send your reel and resume to:
Digital Domain
Attention: Recruiting Manager
300 Rose Avenue
Venice, CA 90291
digital_hiring@d2.com
www.d2.com
This article was made possible thanks to Digital Domain [Bob Hoffman], and some images come courtesy of VFX HQ - www.vfxhq.com
Paul Younghusband is a digital artist and Chief Editor of Visual Magic Magazine. He lives in North-East England and can be contacted by email at paul@visualmagic.awn.com.