Robotskin part deux

Here is the translation of my interview with Matthieu Poirier for the Robotskin TV ad.

1) Could you tell us about Wizz and your work ?

I am in charge of postproduction at wizz and my job is to gather talented people for specific projects.

Wizz is a postproduction and graphic production company

We work with 3D digital compositing tools and traditional 2D animation (Cartoons)

Our customers are ad agencies, TV networks and movie production houses

2) What scenes or elements did you work on and how long ?

All shots needed fixing in postproduction. We touched up the set, which wasn't fully finished in some parts.

All lighting on the robot was done in 3D (except for the hair) as well as the cables coming out of her back at the beginning of the film.

Her neck was animated in 3D on the last shot.

3) What effect was the hardest to do.

This film didn't have any difficult special effects. The hardest to do is to capture the universe of the director and bring out images that do not betray the rushes. The effects should never try to upstage the actual footage. A flashy effect is by all means a failed effect.

4) What effect are you most proud of

The fact that we did not insist on making the robot in 3D. It was very tempting, and the director had a very good idea.

5) Many people cannot believe the robot wasn't fully done in CGI. Does this surprise you ?

That is a great compliment ... to create doubt about what you see on the screen, is proof you are doing a good job.

6) In the 1927 film Metropolis, actress Brigitte Helm, already played a state of the art female robot, wearing a plastic-wood costume painted in bronze. Today between virtual images and real robots like ASIMO or the ACTROID, is it still realistic to use an actress wearing a costume in 2007 ?

YES, all depends on the talent of the filmmaker. This shows that Fritz Lang is a better director than Michael Bay and that Ridley Scott created the best Alien without CGI.

7) If we gave you full creative control, what would you change ?

I don't think there will be towels in the future

(Personal note, I don't think Douglas Adams would agree)

8) Would you like a personal shaving robot ?

I don't shave that much at the moment.

10) Did we forget to ask you an important question ?

The postproduction time ?

As usual we didn't have much time to finish the effects, three weeks in all.

And also a brief look at the making of the clip :

Making of pub TV
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