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On the 8th of June we were happy to see the fruits of our labour come to fruition! It was an exciting day of perspectives and talks on AI in general, showcasing tools that are being used now in the aid of filmmaking, and talks of what to expect in the future. After half a year of planning it was nice to experience the collected reasoning, assurances and viewpoints, and see the creative industries gather and disguss. Truly inspiring!

After a brief introduction by Morten Moen, head of the VFX assosiation, Morten Goodwin took us through the inner workings of AI and machine learning, explaining how the technology has been pushing boundries and how it has developed in the last six years. It was a fascinating talk on how machines learn and adapt and how information is handled in an AI model. Theodor Groeneboom showcased how he works with different AI tools in various productions and how those tools help him develope ideas and preproduction material. Groeneboom gave us a greater understanding of the significance of open source contributions and the way they can shape our industry. There was so much information regarding said tools that I think that would make a cool article in itself! Jan Christian Frugård showed us his plans for the future of filmmaking, demonstrating how he intends to create a shortfilm using many new AI tools to test and develop new ways of making film, and widen the path that we tread today. He was looking for audience partisipation and was open to help and input from the entire industry, having already secured some finances from NFI. Johannes Skoog showed us how virtual production is a big part of the future of filmmaking and how AI and VP can go hand-in-hand. He gave us examples of projects passed, and spoke of how AI can streamline some processes. He wrapped up his talk with a Q&A session with many insightfull points about his work.

After the seminar we had a paneldebate consisting of important figures in the industry, discussing the future, with their thoughts on AI and the way forward. As it turns out, the panel was in agreance on most points and the debate was less debate-y than first antisipated. In a way we all agreed with the points made and concluded somewhat in unison. AI is a tool to be used, but we will have to take caution on the road to fast results.

After feedback from you, our audience, we are happy to announce that the talks during the AI seminar-day will be in English. With this change, we hope that we can reach an even wider audience, and inspire everyone with a footing in the creative industry to come, regardless of language!

Johannes Skoog is one of the founders of VP Nordic, offering flexible solutions in Virtual Production (VP) throughout Scandinavia. Virtual Production is a technology where digital environments and visual effects are created and manipulated in real time during filming, giving filmmakers the unique opportunity to see and interact with these elements directly on set. This results in greater creative freedom and efficiency in film production.

Our roster is full and our program is available here! We are very excited to be joined by Johannes Skoog amongst others to fill our day with mind expanding knowledge and perspective! Get your tickets today!

Mr. Groeneboom brings 20 years of visual effects for feature films, broadcast projects and commercials. He is known for several awards (VES, Amanda ++) for work on Gravity, Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy, among others. Groeneboom is founder and supervisor at Rebel Unit in Bergen – a small creative boutique with an emphasis on creative visual development and exploration with procedural and algorithmic computation.

We are up in the clouds! So excited to see Groeneboom present his talk on the creative usage of of AI in visual effects. Cant wait! Can you?

With over 20 years of experience in the film industry, Jan Christian Frugård will share his insights and demonstrate how he uses ChatGPT4, Midjourney, and his own bots to conceptualize and visualize projects in his work as a director at our seminar.

Another thrilling catch for our seminar day, with an interesting bag of knowledge and a diverse set of skills and experience! We are looking forward to Frugård talk and enrich our future at the seminar, on the 8th of june. Have you gotten your tickets yet?

As a director with over two decades of extensive experience in film production, I am deeply committed to advancing the integration of Artificial Intelligence within the industry. My career spans a broad spectrum of responsibilities overseeing creative processes from inception to completion.

My hands-on experience as a 1st AD and Editor has endowed me with a profound understanding of film set dynamics and the intricacies of post-production. 

Currently, I am exploring the use of AI in film production. My venture, 'Kreativ KI', is dedicated to developing tailored AI solutions that streamline production processes and enhance creative outcomes. I envision these tools as future essentials for the industry, transforming conventional workflows into more efficient, innovative practices.

-Jan Christian Frugård

Morten Goodwin is a professor of Artificial Intelligence, an important figure and a captivating voice in the intersection of AI and everything else! We are ever so happy and excited to share that Goodwin will be coming to our VFX seminar! (TicketCo)

He co-founded and is the lead researcher at AI Experts and serves as the deputy head at the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research. He is recognized as one of Norway's foremost experts in artificial intelligence. Goodwin seamlessly juggles roles as a professor, educator, public debater, communicator, author, and CTO. With over 15 years of academic experience, a Ph.D., and more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, he is a dedicated researcher focusing on deep neural networks. 

 -mortengoodwin.no

We are thrilled to announce his participation in our endeavour to enlighten us all about AI and our very own future! Exploring how AI will change and redefine our creative processes, Goodwin’s presence at the seminar promises to offer invaluable insights into artificial intelligence and culture. His unique perspective and knowledge makes him a compelling figure in the ever-evolving dialogue surrounding AI’s role in our professional landscape.

At our first meetup of 2024, we had the pleasure of reminding you of our 2023-events, and the success we have had at bringing people together. We also talked about the future and how we are planning five VFX meetups for 2024 and a large AI seminar in May, followed by our very own award show. It was a great year for VFX in norway, and 2024 has already started with a bang!

And undoubtably the best part of the evening:

Thanks to Håvard Munkejord, Torbjørn Nymark and the Storm Studios crew for making yesterdays meetup so magical. The stories of ropes with hairs, badly lit bluescreens and the boyancy of corpses will live on in infamy! You had everyone well engaged in the material. There were questions from the audience and roaring laughter scattered amongst the moments of deep consentration and awe from the audience.

Håvard Munkejord and Torbjørn Nymark will be taking us through parts of their work on a production needing lots of ships, oceans, multiple CG cities, floating corpses, and lots more.

The first Emmy for norwegian VFX has come home, and Espen Nordahl at Storm Studios is the winner! Two of Storm Studios own, Espen Nordahl and Håvard Munkejord were both nominated for each their own project in the same category, “Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Season Or A Movie”, which is a remarkable impressive feat! Congratulations to the both of them and to Storm Studios for this tremendous achevement!

We are shamelessly enclosing links from other news articles depicting the win!

Nordmann vant Emmy i natt tv2.no
Nordmann tok imot Emmy: Utrolig gøy! VG
Historisk Emmypris | Rushprint
Utrolig kult å bli anerkjent! NRK

With In-camera visual effects (ICVFX) in an LED Volume, the industry gets the opportunity to get close to the technology and explore the possibilities. There will be demos, two-day courses, and seminars on VP. Check out more about the program and registration here: https://www.ledhub.no/no/courses

VP Demo

Short demos focusing on how the tool works and the possibilities inherent in the technology. Demos will take place in groups.

Two-Day Course (January 18th – 19th)

Introduction to Virtual Production for all professional groups. The course covers basics of terminology, workflow, tracking, and lighting. Participants will work hands-on in an LED Volume (maximum 12 participants).

VP Seminar (January 20th)

Presentations and demonstration of Virtual Production in an LED Volume. Panel debate with leading actors, emphasizing the competency gap in VP in Norway.