Unexpected Media

InSync @ the BFI: Building Tools, Telling Stories, Making Movies at Pixar

In a special event at the BFI South Bank, InSync is presenting one of the leading figures responsible for revolutionizing the animation industry over the past two decades.

Michael Johnson heads the team which designs, develops and supports the pipeline for film development, story, and editorial at Pixar. He has been responsible for the creation of tools and applications which have transformed film production and helped Pixar to the winning of seven Oscars.

Dr. Johnson first came to Pixar Animation Studios in May 1993, where he worked on custom tools for production. He wrote and developed a previsualisation system for ‘A Bug’s Life’, completed additional pre- visualisation work and wrote lighting tools for ‘Toy Story 2′, created animation tools for ‘Monsters, Inc.’ and ‘Finding Nemo’.

He designed animation, review and story tools for ‘The Incredibles’ and for ‘Cars’. For the studio’s latest release, ‘Ratatouille’, his team redesigned the entire story/editorial pipeline, moving it over to a completely digital one.

In a presentation of his work and in discussion with the audience, he will explore creativity and collaboration, art vs. craft, design vs. engineering in constructing Pixar’s unique entertainment experiences.

The event will be chaired by Matt Locke, Commissioning Editor for Education and New Media at Channel 4.

There will be drinks afterwards in the BFI Delegate Centre.

Date:            July 16th, 2007
Time:            3:30pm – 5:00pm
Venue:           BFI South Bank, Belvedere Road, Waterloo, SE1 8XT

To register for the event please email insync@01zero-one.co.uk