District 9 Trailer

The trailer for Neil Blomkamp's new film, 'District 9' has just been released and it looks great. The team at Weta worked on this while I was there and I was lucky enough to be a part of the Design Team and help out with some 3D modeling. Can't wait to see the finished product!


The trailer is here.

Rayguns goodies

I've been keeping you all out of the loop for a while, not through intention, but through laziness and world travel plans. BUT, here are some cool vids from Weta's Dr Grordborts world, created by Greg Broadmore.



and number two...

So long and thanks for all the Fish (and Chups)

So I've moved to Korea. It's random, I know...

The work that I was doing was great fun, I'd been doing Concept Art at weta for the last year or so, and was getting better every day. But I felt like my life needed a change. Apparently a big change.

Moving to Seoul is that change, and I'm feeling pretty good abut it. I have a lot more free time now to work on my own projects. Moth-City and Dead-Guy are progressing very well and I expect to have more time to work on personal illustrations and designs. Moving to a new city, especially one so different from Wellington, has really opened my eyes - like only traveling can, and I expect it to have a big influence on both my life and my work for years to come.

Have spotted some extraordinary pieces of design and architecture and I will post these up as soon as I get sorted.

Updates soon :)

Halo Adverts

I've tracked down a clip of the 3 halo commercials cut together to form an uber military sci-fi geekfest. You get to see a lot more of the Warthog that I worked on, and also some of the overlaid motion graphic (HDUs, security cam footage, Warthog camera systems, and Satellite/Chopper tracking Systems, and also the tracking system locking onto the falling asteroids) that me and a friend produced for the folks at Origami to integrate.

All up, I reckon it looks awesome. As always, there's a lot more work put into everything than will ever be seen (especially at you tube res), but I'm getting used to that.

Scott Spencer Workshops

One of the wizz kids of digital sculpting came and visited us here at Weta Workshop last week. We spent three hours every day for a week while he showed us Z-brush tricks and taught us various nifty things. He showed us a lot a things he's learnt but also some personal methods of his own that he will gift to the wide world in the form of a book written by the man himself.

I'm not sure when it's due out, but I expect it to be awesome.

The classes were interesting, I felt comfortable enough because of my 3d background, some of the traditional sculptors had to find their feet with the computers, but more than made up for it with the awesome sculpting skills and control of form.

Anyway, enough jibba jabba - here's what I did in one of the classes - I need to do more.

Weta Work: The Red Star

And here's even more stuff I've been up to at work (suddenly it's in a rush to get public eh?) - the latest edition of the uber-indi Red Star comics - The Sword of Lies issue 2 has just been released and is available at comic retailers now.





















Here's how Wikipedia describes it: "The Red Star is a graphic novel by Christian Gossett set in a sci-fi/fantasy world described by Gossett as "Mythic [Soviet] Russia". The "Lands of The Red Star" were inspired by both Russian folklore and military history. The series is thus heavily reminiscent of a post-WW II Soviet Russia mixing technology and sorcery."

Myself and some of the designers here cranked out all the digital painting work, working with the lovely pencils of Mr Gossett. I has been an awesome experience to work on a graphic novel and one of my life-long ambitions. I was very lucky to have been involved and hope that it will lead to more work in the comic industry in the future.

And did I mention that it was oarsome? huh?

Weta Work: Automaitre'D

Okay, so here's something I've done here at Weta Workshop. And you can see it finally... I've been wanting to show this to people for fricken ages.











And a hi-res image:





















He's a mechanical butler from the Rayguns universe - an Automaitre'D. He was designed by Dr Broadmore and 3D modeled by myself and is possibly one of the most complex 3d models I've created. I shouldn't show any images that haven't been posted on line already, but let me say that the back of this dude is a right jumble of extravagant detail and steam-powered, cog driven antics.

He joined the team at Comic Con in standee form, serving up comics and collectible for all and sundry. Hopefully one day he may join Weta's impressive set of collectibles.

Weta Work: New Raygun Revealed

This little puppy is my favourite Raygun to be revealed so far, the 'Victorious Mongoose 1902a'. I have held it in my arms and wish to caress it's sweet metallic finish again and again. ohhhhh baby.

"...despite its humble proportion, the pistol packs quite a whollop. Able to project a conical emission for up to seventeen yards, the Victorious Mongoose will obliterate four pounds of Budgerigars in three fascinating seconds."

For the Wetapage and details go here.

Weta Work: Comic Con 07

So we've got this bug at weta, she's called the 'weta bug' and she often dresses normally, but in light of the geekeness entailed in a comic convention she's dressed up. As her character - Weta Bug. But she doesn't really look like a weta or a bug, but she has antenna or antennae or whatever.

It's complicated.

Anyway, she's cranking out some youTube updates for all of us about the San Diego Comic Con. And they go like this:

Weta Work: Halo Warthog

Well, it's on the Weta Workshop site, so I'll take that to mean I can show you the images. Now if you think this looks cool, it's cooler. It's real, it has a turbo motor, it has 4WD, it 'Crabs' and it has a frickkin massive gun on the back. A frickkin gun!

Trust me, it is a thing of green beauty. The Weta details are here.

Weta Work: Halo - Arms Race

Well they released this earlier than I expected them to, but here's one of the projects I've had my little finger stuck into recently here at Weta Workshop. Note that my finger was only one of many (much more talented) fingers here also inserted into the pie that is the Halo: Arms Race thingie. I think it looks pretty tight, congrats to all fingers involved; Bungie Studios, director Neill Blomkamp, WETA Workshop and Origami Digital LLC

Rad.















And here's a dodgy youTube version:

Rayguns Promotional Transmission

Broadmore and Weta have quitre currently released a Rayguns Promotional Transmission to be discovered here. It is rather splendid, and I do rather recommend that you commence to check it out... what. You can even download it and share it with friends - I say!

Rayguns in Wired magazine

Wired magazine has published a lovely article about the Weta Rayguns with brand new images here. Lovely...

Weta Links 4

Weta-ian Lambert's website is here. I don't like Lambert much, he's good at things... lots of things, things he's never done before. You know those guys, the one's you pray never get interested in the things you're good at, lest they supersede you at them. If he starts designing toys I'll go CG Geek postal on his ass.

Weta Links 3

Weta-ian Pearce's website is here. Like everybody in this building he likes robots, guns and dinosaurs. I sense a pattern...

Jordu Schell at Workshop

So we've got a masters of sculpture and monster design hanging out with us at Workshop currently, Mr Jordu Schell. Understandably, I've been hanging out in the sculpting room picking up tit-bits like a bum picks up butts.

Anyway, his website is here.

Weta Links 2

Just thought I'd draw your attention to Weta-ian Beck and his website here.

He's really just a big kid - who no doubt dreams he's racing the A.P.C from Aliens in a demolition derby against '67 Mustang Fastbacks, while a 60-foot mechinoid jumping-spider (with machine guns embedded in it's legs) blows up explosive barrels near by... Nice guy tho'

New Weta Links

I've added some links to some of my Weta Workshop workmates for your perusal. They all insist that the websites haven't been updated in eons and that they are way cooler, more talented and better looking than their sites would suggest... but you know, whatever.... geeks...

So, in no particular order, here's Weta-ian Greer

Gun Porn

Grizzly Tang in no way condones or distributes pornography... but if we did it would look like this:













On the off chance you didn't believe the press, the 'Rayguns' are indeed full-size, and quite weighty might I add. wooorrrrrr..... peeeowww-peeoww

More images and details here.

Kiwi Film Watch #2

Black Sheep (sans Chris Farely)

Weta Workshop did some choice-a creature effects on this film about monster/zombie/genetically altered sheep. How could it not be cool?

The Website with images and trailer is here.