Science of the Movies Episode 10: ILM, Pirates of the Caribbean, and… McStrong!

Tonight on Science of the Movies, I wonder the halls of Industrial Light & Magic (the legendary FX house created by the great George Lucas) in a nerdvana induced haze. Oh, and I learn the uber tech behind the spectacular sea battles in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End! ILM does some of the best VFX work in the world — don’t miss this.

If that’s not enough, I’m joined by my buddy Erik Beck of Indy Mogul for another one of my indie film passion projects! This time it’s a hard boiled cop saga called… McStrong! Erik’s DIY wizardry adds a bit of the ultra violence when we construct some homemade squibs (and top it off with gaff tape mustaches.)

Speaking of gaff tape, what the heck is a Gaffer? If you’ve ever pondered this question as the credits rolled, then you’ll love our look at the art of lighting at legendary movie lamp manufacturer Mole Richardson with Jim Plannette — he’s the guy who made E.T.’s heart glow, dude.

Finally, the digital artists at Flash Film Works have a special treat for me — they’re inserting me into a helicopter crash scene from the sci-fi remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still! …Wait… Whaa???

It’s an action packed, no holds barred, locked and loaded episode of Science of the Movies — Thursday at 8pm on Science Channel!