Emmy Award for VFX in Dinotopia

Mike McGee, VFX Supervisor, from Framestore CFC picked up the prestigious Emmy Award in Los Angeles last month for Best Visual Effects, for his work in Dinotopia. Dinotopia was an immense project involving over 1,700 effects shots including 13 different species of dinosuars mixed with live-action actors. It had the kind of visual effects budget normally associated with the big screen not a TV mini-series. First aired on ABC in the US in May, it is next being shown in Europe. Key to the success of mixing CG dinosaurs with live action sets and actors, was the use of motion control and the ability to pre-visualize all the scenes on set. Using Softimage to generate the CG and control a Milo motion control rig, as well a Framestore's unique M-rig (used as a giant model mover to carry upto 20 people), the Director of Photography could instantly see how the dinosaurs and humans were interacting during filming.