On March 12, 2011, the AD/UPM Council West’s DGA AD/UPM VFX/Digital Technology Committee presented From TRON to TRON: Legacy: Game-Changing Moments in the Art of VFX. The packed crowd in DGA Theater Two welcomed directors Steven Lisberger (TRON), Joseph Kosinski (TRON: Legacy) and key members of their DGA and VFX teams, for an engaging panel discussion that took a look back at the iconic visual achievements pioneered in both films which revolutionized the visual effects landscape.
Following a welcome from DGA President Taylor Hackford who stressed the crucially important work ADs and UPMs perform on set, VFX/Digital Technology Committee Chair Susan Zwerman took the stage to introduce the morning’s program and presented a retrospective clip of some of TRON’s groundbreaking work.
Director Steven Lisberger shared with the audience the intricate complexities of the creative process for TRON, which crossed the bridge from analog to digital at “an idealistic time for artists to start experimenting with new computer technology.” Under Lisberger’s visionary leadership, TRON’s VFX Team, including VFX Supervisor Harrison Ellenshaw, Computer Animation and Storyboard Artist Bill Kroyer, and Visual Effects and Computer Graphics Supervisor Richard Winn Taylor II created a breakthrough in digital compositing and was responsible for introducing the world to computer-aided graphics. 1st AD Lorin Salob reflected on the challenges and innovations of creating a digital world with primitive technology. The only way they were able to pull off the impossible was because of their incredibly talented team of ADs, UPMs and VFX artists who could imagine things long before they were visible.
VFX/Digital Technology Committee Co-chair Brian Frankish introduced the second part of the program with the TRON: Legacy DGA team: director Joseph Kosinski, 1st AD Bruce Franklin, UPM Justis Greene, Producer Jeffrey Silver, and members of the VFX team including VFX Supervisor Eric Barba, VFX Producer Steve Gaub, and Head of Animation Steve Preeg. “We went into the project with a solid aesthetic basis,” said Kosinski. “The important thing was to embrace the spirit for the original film. The film was way ahead of its time, conceptually, artistically and socially.” It took 30 years for technology to catch up to the original film and, as Kosinski said, “the time was right to bring it back.”
The TRON: Legacy team expressed their awe over what Lisberger and his crews were able to achieve, but the work on Legacy proved every bit as exhaustive in complexity. 80% of TRON’s digital world was done in previs and 68 weeks were dedicated to postproduction, which relied heavily on such sophisticated technology as digital human synthesis. The digital bar, first set by Lisberger’s team on TRON, was raised to new heights with Legacy. “No matter how technology advances,” said VFX Supervisor Eric Barba, “We will continue to push ourselves just as hard.“
Frankish concluded the discussion by asking Lisberger and Kosinski the key thing they learned from the experience of directing a first feature. “There’s a price to pay for being first,” said Lisberger. For Kosinski it was the realization that “directing isn’t just about lining up shots. You absolutely have to love the day-to-day.”
Click the first thumbnail for full video coverage of the event.
