When it comes to technology and movies I am a total geek! So when I had the opportunity to meet with the Director of Photography, Patrick Lin and Pixar’s Lighting Artist, Angelique Reisch you can see my level of excitement was like a little kid at an Ice Cream shop! This was an all expense paid trip to visit Pixar to learn about the movie. I can assure you that I learned SO much that I am unbelievably excited and I want to learn more about computer animations!
Inside Out is the new Pixar film that is coming out this June. In the film the viewers get to experience two different worlds: the world of the main character and little girl, Riley and the world of her Mind. Her mind is where she stores memories and has different feelings.
I first met with Patrick Lin he is very talented as Pixar’s Director of Photography in Inside Out. He talked to us about the process of creating a movie on the camera side of it all:
- Layout
- Visual Language
- Visual Progression
Patrick explained to us that it is Camera, Action, and THEN Lights. It is no longer “Lights, Camera, Action” like you might be use to hearing. He went into detail about the two different departments that he works on: Camera and Staging.
Virtual Camera: Like a REAL camera
Staging: Framing, Composition, and Blocking of when and where the cameras go. Staging happens with the use of storyboards that they use as a guide.
Shot Building: Timing and positioning of the camera
Work with editorial.
Adding Animation on the top of Overlay the Difference in Photography
| Inside the Mind Camera | Outside the Mind Camera |
| Mind | Human |
| Virtual and Perfect | Real and Imperfect |
| Ultra Prime Minimal Distortion | Pronounced Distortion |
| Spot on focus | Imperfect Focus |
| Filmed with a dolly and in and out on tracks | Used Zoom stead and edgy, and/or handheld cameras |
Staging:
Riley is always positioned in the center of her parents until they move and she feels like she is disconnected with them. Then you might notice that the camera shots will have Riley outside of her parents. This is on purpose like every single part of the film.
Camera Intensity:
Depending on Joy’s Emotional Arc this is how Patrick and his team of 10 would map out the the intensity of the cameral. He went into the details in the three different acts of the movie and how the camera and photography changed. I found this really interested and AMAZING to be learning about this first hand. Next year, I get to learn computer graphics and teach it to a team of high school students and I can’t wait to share my experiences that I learned in the brief time of sitting with Patrick. Even during our presentation Patrick explains out Inside Out is the “most exclusive camera capture from any other Pixar film ever!”
Lighting:
When it came to lighting and the lights with Joy we met with Angelique Reisch, Lighting Artist. She talked about how there were some scenes that had 175 lights in ONE SCENE only. Each light, lamp, character who had their own light source would need to create shadows of some sort. She would have to have daily walk throughs during creating the film and then discussed with us the principles of lighting!
Principles of Lighting:
- Directing the viewer’s eyes
- Creating depth
- Enhancing mood, atmosphere and drama
- Conveying the time of day
- Revealing personality and feeling.
The one question that I asked Angelique during the interview was “HOW” I mean HOW did you do this what type of software did you use or did you have to actually color in each and every shadow? I mean there was just too much information and I was about to go into geek-info-overload. What I learned is that Pixar uses a proprietary software program to create lights called Lumos. It was creating in and for Pixar.
So YEAH! All that information about creating ONE Pixar movie is what I learned! I can’t wait to see how popular this movie becomes because the work that went behind it was amazing. Everything from the story to the intricate details of creating the film! So what is your part as a viewer?? You get to the ENJOY IT! I am taking my little girl to see this movie on opening day and I really hope that you do the same! What a FUN way to teach your kids about emotion, love, and family!
“Inside Out” opens in theaters on June 19, 2015!!
Your family will LOVE this movie! I can’t wait to take my 5 year old to see this movie! It is a GREAT way to teach kids about feelings and what happens in their mind. Watch the trailer below: