Alan McFarland will host the Hack Chat on Wednesday, January 20 at noon Pacific Time.
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If they were magically transported ahead in time, the moviegoers of the past would likely not know what to make of our modern CGI-driven epics, with physically impossible feats performed in landscapes that never existed. But for as computationally complex as movies have become, it's the rare film that doesn't still need at least some old-school movie magic, like hand props, physical models, and other practical effects.
To make their vision come to life, especially in science fiction films, filmmakers turn to artists who specialize in practical effects. We've all seen their work, which in many cases involves turning ordinary household objects into yet-to-be-invented technology, or creating scale models of spaceships and alien landscapes. But to really sell these effects, adding a dash of electronics can really make the difference.
Enter Alan McFarland, an electronics designer and engineer for the film industry. With a background in cinematography, electronics, and embedded systems, he has been able to produce effects in movies we've all seen. He designed electroluminescent wearables for Tron: Legacy, built the lighting system for the miniature Fhloston Paradise in The Fifth Element, and worked on the Borg costumes for Star Trek: First Contact. He has tons of experience making the imaginary look real, and he'll join us on the Hack Chat to discuss the tricks he keeps in his practical effects toolkit to make movie magic.
Hi everyone, welcome to the Hack Chat. I'm Dan, and as usual I'll be moderating. Today we welcome Alan McFarland to talk about his job making movies believable. Hi, Alan - care to start us off with a little about yourself?
