The Filmumentaries Podcast Jamie Benning

In this episode of the Filmumentaries podcast, host Jamie Benning interviews Nilo Rodis-Jamero, a designer and production designer known for his work on films like The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Johnny Mnemonic.

They discuss Nilo's experiences working with George Lucas, Phil Tippett, and Joe Johnston, as well as his collaborations with other renowned designers like Eiko Ishioka and Hayao Miyazaki. Nilo shares insights into his design process and the importance of simplicity and iconicity in his work. The conversation also touches on Nilo's involvement in the design of the character Buz Lightyear in Toy Story and his experiences as a production designer on Johnny Mnemonic.

In this part of the conversation, Nilo discusses the challenges of working on movies with hard deadlines and limited budgets. He shares his experiences working with George Lucas and John Hughes, and how their approaches to filmmaking differed from the Hollywood norm. Nilo also compares working on Johnny Mnemonic and Explorers, both of which faced production difficulties. He highlights the importance of creative freedom and the impact of budget constraints on the filmmaking process. Nilo also shares insights into the differences between the film and video game industries, particularly in terms of discipline and the lack of a hard deadline in game development.

This is only part 1 of a long conversation. Part 2 is coming up soon!

Takeaways
Nilo Rodis Jamero has had a diverse and influential career as a designer and production designer in the film industry.He has worked on iconic films like The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Johnny Mnemonic.Nilo has rubbed shoulders with renowned designers and filmmakers, including George Lucas, Phil Tippett, Joe Johnston, Eiko Ishioka, and Hayao Miyazaki.His design process focuses on simplicity and creating designs that are easily recognizable and memorable.Nilo's work on the character Lunar Larry (who became Buzz Lightyear) in Toy Story showcases his ability to bring a character to life through design.His experiences as a production designer on Johnny Mnemonic highlight the challenges and dynamics of the filmmaking process. Movies are often made with hard deadlines and limited budgets, which can pose challenges for filmmakers.Working with directors like George Lucas and John Hughes, who prioritize creative freedom, can provide a different filmmaking experience.Films like Johnny Mnemonic and Explorers faced production difficulties, which affected their final outcomes.The film and video game industries have different approaches to discipline and deadlines, with games often lacking a hard deadline.Budget constraints can impact the creative process and the ability to achieve the desired vision for a film.Sound Bites
"I like design that are very simple to digest and then reward the viewer with more details as they zoom in.""I work in an increment of a month. So, if, you know, can we agree on my terms?""The essence of that character is right there. Facially, like his expressions, his costume, his stance, like it's all there.""Movies are literally backed into a hard date, which is the release date.""The way Hollywood movies are made, it's the opposite of that.""I learned how to do movies the way George makes movies."
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Hi, this is a bonus episode. 

Sometimes I get invited to interview a particular behind the scenes artist and I've decided I should say yes to them and get them out as bonus episodes. 
So in this bonus episode, I spoke with stunt coordinator, Krista Perry. Krista is a, native Californian, who grew up travelling the country at the age of eight for competitive swimming. Finishing out her career as an All American Swimmer in the state of California. She is now a stunt performer and stunt coordinator, most recently working on Killers of the Flower moon and the series Reservation Dogs. 

So here's my conversation with Krista. I hope you enjoy it.

Takeaways
The stunt industry is male-dominated, but Krista found her way into it through her background as an athlete.Discipline and teamwork are crucial in both athletics and stunts.Body awareness is important in stunts, and technology allows performers to analyze their form and make improvements.Working with actors who lack physical awareness can be challenging, but having a double provides a backup plan.Script breakdown and casting for stunts involve finding the right people with the necessary skills and background.The adaptation to VFX in stunts has allowed for more creative possibilities.Trust and relationships are key in the stunt industry, and working with familiar team members fosters a sense of shorthand and communication.Working on both big and small productions offers different experiences and opportunities for learning.There is a potential for Oscars for stunts to recognize the hard work and contributions of stunt performers.

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Episoe 104 - This time I chat with Ahsoka producer and ILM VFX Supervisor, Richard Bluff along with his colleague Matthew Wood, Supervising Sound Editor.

Key takeaways:
The collaboration between sound and visual effects departments is crucial in creating a cohesive and immersive experience for the audience.Early involvement of sound in the production process helps inform the visuals and enhances the storytelling.The use of practical effects, such as miniatures, can provide a unique and grounded look to the visuals.Designing and creating sound for ships in the Star Wars universe involves a balance between familiar elements and new, unique sounds.The organic and mysterious nature of the Eye of Sion and the witches' voices in Ahsoka adds depth and intrigue to the storytelling.The balance between using technology and practical effects is a constant consideration in visual effects production. The use of LED screens allowed for interactive lighting and realistic reflections in the visual effects of 'The Mandalorian' and 'The Book of Boba Fett'.Collaboration between the visual effects and sound departments was crucial in creating the desired effects and atmosphere for the shows.The Howlers were created using a combination of motion bases, horses, and visual effects to achieve a realistic and dynamic performance.The creative team is constantly looking for new techniques and technologies to improve the visual effects and sound design of the series.
Ahsoka is available to watch on Disney+.

Enjoy!

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My guest for this second episode of May 2024 is production designer Nathan Crowley. If you don’t know his name, you will definitely know and most likely love, his work..

Behind Enemy Lines (2001)Insomnia (2002)Batman Begins (2005)The Prestige (2006)The Dark Knight (2008)John Carter (2012)The Dark Knight Rises (2012)Interstellar (2014)Dunkirk (2017)The Greatest Showman (2017)First Man (2018)Tenet (2020)Wonka (2023)
Nathan is an incredibly talented artist that is able to create amazing worlds on screen. He’s also a great guy and very easy to talk with. We had a great conversation just a week or so ago. It’s avery fluid chat, but we do cover a few of the milestones in his career. Starting with Spielberg’s Hook and finishing up on Wonka and Wicked. With much chat about Chris Nolan’s films in between. Enjoy!

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For this episode, number 102, I am speaking to to gentleman that worked on the visual effects for Masters of the air, the Apple TV series which is a continuation of Band of Brothers and The Pacific. This time tackling World War Two airmen and their various missions.  So I chat with Xavier Bernasoni  who was one of the vfx supervisors on the show for DNEG and also two Steve jelly of Dimension studio who is responsible for a lot of the virtual production stuff, the big volume that you'll know from shows like The Mandalorian. Well it's now of course being used in many different ways in many different productions and not necessarily the ways that you would imagine...

I hope you enjoy the conversation.

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In April 2024, I embarked on an unforgettable journey to California, starting with a visit to Skywalker Ranch, Lucasfilm and Rancho Obi Wan. And unfogettable three days.

While at Skywalker Ranch I met with Sound Supervisor, Mac Smith and legendary Model Maker, Lorne Peterson.

This episode is a report from those three days.

Full written report with photos

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Skywalker Ranch Archives Fly-through from the blu ray boxset

Archives Tour with Don Bies from the laserdisc boxset