Swedish OISTAT CENTER in cooperation with Special Effects
invites you to a trip to Hollywood and Las Vegas for special effect techniques.
Are you interested in special effects? Have you, like me, read all there is about the big boys, seen their photos and read their stories, and wished you could get closer to the action?
Well… How about a special effects trip to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, with behind-the-scenes visits at Disneyland, Universal studios, Warner Brothers – and many more? Meet the FX people, talk to the prop makers, monster makers, gun specialists, and show managers at the biggest shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. See monster slime, look at cryo cannons, test air squibs and see the fantastic gadgets that will kick-start your creativity in your own business when you go back home.
So, in early November 2012 we went for a journey that was so exciting and positive that we are now asked to make a ”repeat” trip. People loved visiting behind the scenes and we got guided tours no one thought were possible. We saw ”wheel of death”, hydraulic sets, saw rain bars, fired blanks, bought books, met actual performers, saw how they rigged stunt shows, visited magic performances, saw how magic carpets are rigged to fly and met a load of people that wanted to share their ”secrets” with us. We got lectures from people explaining how the biggest effects were created, and even how some rigs went wrong, why they failed - and how the effects were finally solved.
We also visited shops unheard of outside the U.S. – with everything from metal cutters to software. And don’t forget the places that make ”superhero” costumes for the big films – with a plethora of mechanical solutions that has my mind spinning a year after the actual trip! And despite being a pyro technician, I had no idea Disneyland shoots fireworks the way it does!
Now – we ARE planning another trip for 2014. We can’t promise that we’ll go to the exact same places as in 2012, but expect to be blown away with a wider range of behind-the-scenes-visits at places like several amusement parks, stage shows, prop houses, special effects houses, in both small family owned shops, and larger business with dozens of employees. See how you can rig ”head shots” in a shootout, test ”soft glass shards” and see how shieves are made. Count on learning a lot from meeting these pros – but also expect to meet and talk to your colleagues during this trip. Finally – I’d say that the best part of this trip is that you get new ideas, and a ”kick in the butt” regarding what can be done. I came home much more positive, with a feeling that ”anything is possible” and that is really important if you, like me, have a small firm.
Note that the special effects we will learn more about here are mechanical special effects for film, TV and theatre, not computer animated effects, nor projections or special makeup effects. (We will not see people mixing foam rubber or making wigs.)
The trip 2014 is scheduled for November 1-11, with 6 days in Los Angeles and 4 days in Las Vegas. We will visit the most popular tourist attractions, with exclusive backstage visits.
The program consists of a visit to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Park where we will stay until late night to see World of Color and fireworks, but we will also make visits behind the scenes at Disneyland. There will also be visits to Universal Studios in Burbank where we get a private VIP tour and direct access to all the attractions. We will also go to Warner Bros. where Vice President Michael Walbrecht will show us around all the studios and show us their workshops where all stage construction manufactured.
We will also meet with some of Hollywood's best special effects creator. There will be an exclusive lecture in Swedish or English by a film veteran who has worked behind the scenes on including Terminator 2, True Lies, Last Action Hero, Stargate and Titanic. Take note of the stories that may not be publicly distributed and set specific questions about what you've always wondered about. Participants will be given a list of movies that you should see before travel.
Other planned activities include visits to the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
We will also go on at least two performances of Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, with backstage visits to some of the performances.
The program is preliminary so far and the price is estimated to 24500 SKr. The price includes accommodation including breakfast (shared double room, surcharge for single rooms), travel to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, transportation in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, entrance fees and theater tickets, costs for guides during the study visits.
Transatlantic return flight to/from Los Angeles, U.S. ESTA visa and meals (except breakfast) are at your own cost.
Does this sound exciting? Contact us to find out more!
I, Olov Nylander, am a long-time member of OISTAT (Organization International of Scenographers, Architects and Theatre Technicians) and in 2011 I was asked by this association to arrange a trip to California for 15 Swedish film and theatre technicians. They all wanted to learn more about special effects in the US, focusing both on stage effects and movie effects. When I worked in the US I met many nice people, so together with my Swedish friend Anders, who is now a U.S. citizen with over two decades of Hollywood experience, we put together a 10-day program with the most interesting visits we could imagine.
My colleague Ulf Nielsen at ”StageVision Oresund AB” is planning and arranging the bookings for this trip. This is a unique way of meeting FX professionals in California.
For more information contact:
Ulf Nielsen, +46705-370 260, ulf.nielsen@stagevision.se
Olov Nylander, +4670-339 18 01, olov@special-effects.se
FACTS:
1 to 11 November 2014
Los Angeles 6 nights, Las Vegas 4 nights
Price: SKr 24 500: - + supplement for single room (excluding travel to/from the U.S, ESTA visa and meals)
Definite entries: August 20, 2014
On the following link: http://event.redmarker.se/?id=412
NOTE: Limited seats, maximum 15 participants
