SIGGRAPH, LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The upcoming movie The Time
Machine from DreamWorks SKG and Warner Brothers used LightWave 3D extensively
for designing the actual time machine, announced NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of
industry-leading 3D animation and video products. The Time Machine is
scheduled to be released in December, 2001, and is directed by Simon Wells,
great grandson of author H.G. Wells, who also directed Prince of Egypt for
DreamWorks SKG.
Tim Wilcox, Digital Illustrator on The Time Machine and Co-Designer of the
actual time machine prop, created the initial conceptual model of the machine
in LightWave 3D. A practical scale model was built from this file and was
used for finessing the design. Once Production Designer, Oliver Scholl, and
Director Wells had approved the final design it was rebuilt in LightWave as a
final camera ready model. Matt Sweeney, of Matt Sweeney Special Effects,
Inc., then received the pieces of the digital model output from LightWave and
used CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machinery to create the sections in
aluminum and plexiglass for the full scale machine used in the film. The
final digital model was then shipped to Digital Domain for use in the digital
effects shots of the film.
"With the time and monetary demands of feature film production, we really
couldn't have accomplished all that we did with the creation of the time
machine in the short amount of time that we had without the digital tools that
LightWave gave us," Wilcox said. "We were able to push the limits and really
explore all of the design process thoroughly in a digital environment before
Matt started constructing it for real. Being able to then hand off the same
digital model to Digital Domain so that they could use it was just icing on
the cake."
Tim Wilcox has previously worked as a digital illustrator on films
including Jurassic Park III, A.I., Mission to Mars, Deep Impact and Contact.
"The design work done in The Time Machine with LightWave 3D shows yet
another facet of the software's abilities," said NewTek's executive vice
president of 3D graphics, Brad Peebler. "The fact that the actual time
machine was first created in LightWave 3D and then sent out to a CNC machine
for real-world representation opens up new doors for design and architectural
usage. We are excited about The Time Machine as well as about future
opportunities with Tim, and we hope to continue to push the design process to
new levels with LightWave 3D."
LightWave 3D is versatile enough to make the transition to and from all
kinds of projects. Proven for years in television, film, and games, LightWave
3D is also being used to create graphics for print, web, industrial design,
architecture, medical imaging, and anywhere else a 3D package is needed. A
full, robust program, LightWave 3D includes soft-body dynamics, particles,
hair and fur, plus unlimited render nodes; LightWave 3D ships with all the
tools an artist needs to create.
Pricing and Availability
LightWave [7] is available immediately for a suggested retail price of
US$2495. LightWave [7] is available for Macintosh OS 9 and OS X-native, and
for Windows 98, 2000, Me and NT4 on AMD, DEC Alpha and Intel processors.
Product is available through NewTek's channel of authorized resellers and
distributors worldwide.
About NewTek
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of
full-featured video editing, animation and special effects tools including the
Video Toaster, LightWave 3D and Aura. NewTek launched the desktop video
revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary Video Toaster. The
company's products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to
feature film. Recent film and television projects using NewTek software
include Driven, A.I., Final Fantasy, The Time Machine, How The Grinch Stole
Christmas, The 6th Day, Jurassic Park III, Charlie's Angels, X-Men The Movie,
Pitch Black, Dracula 2000, Star Trek: Enterprise, Roughnecks: Starship
Troopers, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The X-Files, The
Family Guy, Ally McBeal, Dune: The Miniseries, Dawson's Creek and Family Law.
Recent game titles include Deus Ex, Serious Sam, Twisted Metal: Black, Quake
3 Arena, Moto Racer World Tour, Giants for PS2, Baldur's Gate II, EverQuest,
Planescape: Torment, Dead To Rights, and Escape From Monkey Island. Contact
NewTek at 5131 Beckwith Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78249. Phone: 210-370-8000,
fax: 210-370-8001, website: http://www.newtek.com or
http://www.lightwave3d.com .
NOTE: LightWave 3D is a trademark of NewTek. All other products or brand
names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.
SOURCE NewTek, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.newtek.com
CONTACT:
NewTek, Inc., +1-210-370-8000, or
info@newtek.com; or Hollie Wendt of Wendt Communications,
+1-831-688-1193, or hollie@earthlink.net, for NewTek, Inc.
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