Todd Vaziri

I make visual effects for movies and talk about movies a lot.

Public Key

npub1l78qpn5l0cvl778e88d747juwgr0x5s5pdqecfxlf9afzrvncnkslm7kmq

NIP-05 Address

tvaziri_at_mastodon.social@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs0lrsqe60hux0l0runnkl2lfw8yphn2g2qksvuyn05j753pkfufmgxvz8jw

Author Public Key

npub1l78qpn5l0cvl778e88d747juwgr0x5s5pdqecfxlf9afzrvncnkslm7kmq

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Last Notes

2024-08-27 21:50:12

what the—
We are pleased to announce Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast, where we focus on the creative process of filmmaking and the art of visual storytelling. Hosted by ILM Chief Creative Officer Rob Bredow and ILM Compositing Supervisor Todd Vaziri, we share behind-the-scenes stories that illustrate the many crafts that come together to create a motion picture, TV series, or special venue project.
https://www.ilm.com/lighter-darker-the-ilm-podcast-launching-september-3-2024/

2024-08-26 17:17:41

🚨 RED ALERT 🚨
🚨 RED ALERT 🚨
New Every Frame a Painting Video
The Sustained Two-Shot
https://youtu.be/mn2Dcy-NDTw?si=bsxJqlLHKp0ujebH

2024-08-08 22:46:43

In hindsight, what was the most misguided piece of career advice you ever got from a trusted figure?
(No need to name names.)

2024-07-25 03:55:00

Watching “Children of Men” (2006) with two first-timers.

2024-07-22 06:18:10

I’ve never noticed this in all the times I’ve seen this 34-year-old movie.
32:26 into “Back to the Future Part III” (1990).
It makes me happy that it has never been painted out after all these years.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/828/683/289/238/579/original/5fb471e5bf9cea0b.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/828/683/791/283/615/original/60bf68edfa42016a.jpeg

2024-07-19 01:08:58

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@npub1eee…e209 i was stunned when i was using Google Docs and I used some markdown syntax and a popup told me “Markup Support Coming Soon” I was like daaaayum

2024-07-18 15:59:18

Jon Stewart having Bill O’Reilly as a guest on The Daily Show — I’ll say what I said all the times Stewart brought him on the show in the past: what the hell are you doing Jon

2024-07-11 17:10:07

From Oren Soffer, cinematographer of "The Creator", combating disinformation and misinformation about how movies are made. In this case, erroneous claims about how "MaXXXine" (2024) was made.
https://instagram.com/orensofferdp/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/768/961/947/556/632/original/d623e83439b1cb0e.png

2024-07-07 15:05:48

"Thelma" (2024) is exactly the kind of incredibly enjoyable, low-stakes movie we all have been asking for. This movie is so sweet and charming and thoughtful. A delight.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/745/823/924/040/434/original/e282076440c55c8a.jpeg

2024-07-06 16:10:24

https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/740/415/142/337/151/original/8568dd2ee9daf846.mp4

2024-07-04 19:15:07

I understand how juicy the “is Biden too old?” story is for The New York Times and the Washington Post but there’s also the story that one political party is promising to end democracy. They might want to write some more stories about that.

2024-07-04 03:08:02

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I think we all can agree that Screen Time has been abandoned by Apple.

2024-07-03 20:45:46

Managing Screen Time for a kid's iPad is a mess. That said, now the kid has an iPad *and* a Mac.
Is there a way to have different Screen Time restrictions on a kid's iPad and Mac? (It doesn't look like you have have different restrictions per-device.)

2024-06-26 00:57:20

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@npub1sy6…5dxr oh god!

2024-06-26 00:37:30

Has anyone had success with any of those fakey third-party USB-C "MagSafe" adapters for MacBooks that ONLY have USB-C ports?
I'm worried about using a cheapo piece of electronics hooked up to my computer most of the day.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/680/124/210/489/026/original/fe8b340a0c0bcd9e.jpeg

2024-06-22 17:54:49

My 12-year-old son has seen 23 movies out of the "AFI 100 Years 100 Movies" list.
https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies-10th-anniversary-edition/

2024-06-21 23:05:09

That interview with Mira Murati, the CTO of OpenAI, made me want to barf. Ghouls.

2024-06-15 01:52:03

I don’t know if you guys know this or not, but “Terminator 2” (1991) is still a masterpiece.

2024-06-14 22:55:12

It's 2024 and nearly every single restaurant website sucks so much.

2024-06-11 22:05:44

"Planet of the Apes" (1968), solid crash zoom movie.

2024-06-10 13:22:49

Guy Who Sucks At Being A Person Sees Huge Potential In AI
https://www.theonion.com/guy-who-sucks-at-being-a-person-sees-huge-potential-in-1850488022

2024-06-09 17:48:24

It's a huge argument that we have all the time on our films.
Realism comes into play but it's more of a question of art direction for the movie and for the sequence. There are plenty of reasons why we don't have to have the blackness of space appear to be 0 0 0.
https://mastodon.social/@foobarsoft/112584151889511205
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/587/918/553/829/822/original/de2719736494ff25.png

2024-06-07 21:47:41

My wife got me a Sony Alpha 7 IV for an anniversary present (two decades!!) and I'm really looking forward to using it!
What's the easiest way to automatically add location data on the photos, though? The Sony documentation sucks butt, and I guess I'm supposed to sorta use their shitty Creators' App on the iPhone, but I totally don't get it at all.

2024-06-04 14:49:02

"Her Name Was Moviola" (2024) trailer
https://youtu.be/Gf6kajt6TS4?si=nfUa-eMle1ILBJrx

2024-06-04 01:53:23

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@npub15x4…3p3l yikes

2024-06-03 15:16:16

What's a movie you've seen recently at home that you WISHED you could have seen in theaters as a first-timer?

2024-06-02 02:24:02

Another successful Full Media Blackout completed.
✅ “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (2024)

2024-05-28 01:33:21

Watching “Aliens” (1986) with a first-timer.

2024-05-26 23:36:28

“why couldn’t they just do it for ‘real’”
It’s all pretend, folks.
https://tiktok.com/t/ZTLneYBf5/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/510/014/874/872/296/original/301c523ba84c55c1.mp4

2024-05-23 19:13:20

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@npub15ml…2w4s WHAT

2024-05-23 04:10:55

“Shadowlands” (1993), starring Debra Winger and Anthony Hopkins, nominated for two Oscars and five BAFTAs, 97% on the Tomatometer,
Not available to rent, buy or stream on any digital platforms.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/488/444/163/666/473/original/4b60769bd99b250e.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/488/444/816/071/039/original/edbdc1949fa66837.jpeg

2024-05-19 21:40:44

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@npub1hvd…9sq9 macho bullshit is absolutely an ingredient

2024-05-18 23:52:53

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@npub1eee…e209 how DARE they not have the remote/mic in the photos
(thanks!)

2024-05-18 23:27:23

deeply fucked up that Apple doesn't still sell these puppies
these things are so damn reliable
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/464/680/697/818/649/original/4c391345dd8b63ae.jpeg

2024-05-17 19:43:43

This is pretty good.
Can The Lord of the Rings Ever be Remastered?
https://youtu.be/zkNFZkUHeKQ?si=uke50AhTXZWxV_Mf

2024-05-12 23:54:02

an oscar winner almost ran me over

2024-05-09 20:34:15

BREAKING: Apple apologizes for "missing the mark" when they discontinued their line of Wi-Fi wireless routers, admitting "boy, we should never have stopped making AirPort products.”

2024-05-08 22:26:20

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@npub1238…g63g i dunno seinfeld says it's all unfunny woke shit nowadays

2024-05-08 14:47:15

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@npub1238…g63g I think I've done four rounds of Veep and could do another one right now

2024-05-06 18:01:27

If anyone happens to be on a Full Media Blackout™ for "Superman" (2025), be extremely vigilant today.

2024-05-06 15:05:28

Someone on the other site praised Davy Jones' visual effects from "Pirates 2” and rhetorically asked “How the fuck did this come out in 2006?”
Some of the reasons why Davy Jones looked so good, according to bozos over there:
- VFX was unionized in '06 (nope)
- his eyes are real (nope)
- they shot every scene, stopped filming, finished all the VFX for that scene, then resumed filming (nope)
- easier because he's always wet (nope)

2024-04-29 22:45:46

And now, part four.
"No CGI" is really just Invisible CGI (4/4)
https://youtu.be/n8oQ1jV859w?si=SoN2xyjt_GxnjMVm

2024-04-25 18:17:15

I was feeling pretty blue today, and then I read the comments on this video and now I feel much worse.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NAW4qjLYVUY
(pretty much every comment at that URL comes from a place of literal ignorance)

2024-04-18 15:37:53

The more you watch making-of documentaries or listen to oral histories **produced decades after the production** the more you slowly realize that nearly every big action movie filmed in the 70's and 80's was a death trap.

2024-04-08 14:21:24

The cosmic ballet… goes on.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/236/041/290/231/267/original/e5ab293d29f7a945.jpeg

2024-04-06 00:20:49

After each episode of “Seinfeld” that we watch as a family, we rank the lead characters based of their ethical behavior in the episode.

2024-04-05 17:52:34

i want this cardigan
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/219/883/786/274/481/original/c5c9ee799fbff8db.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/219/884/159/021/920/original/a8399bc05ca5eb9c.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/219/884/465/511/183/original/71aeb86cb18fa58b.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/219/884/774/886/773/original/51fe971f3ff60348.jpeg

2024-04-03 02:01:00

MOVIES ARE GOOD

2024-03-31 17:53:40

i will pay someone real money to make a supercut of movie creatures yelling with rage into the air with strings of saliva connecting between their teeth as evidence that we can really slow down on this trope

2024-03-31 15:00:34

“Between 2015 and 2022, Georgia paid out more than $5.2 billion in tax incentives for filming… State auditors published a report in December estimating that every dollar invested in the film incentive program was returning 19 cents in tax revenue.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/29/arts/georgia-film-tax-incentives.html?unlocked_article_code=1.g00.Gx_V.qfIarYEz5o3b&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

2024-03-30 23:18:03

It’s great to have your entire professional world be based on reporting rumors because when the rumors are proven to not be true or not ultimately come to fruition, you can just shrug and move on. This applies to Apple rumors and Hollywood rumors equally.

2024-03-27 21:21:10

“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) is apparently FREE right now for purchase on Amazon Prime Video for some reason.
https://www.amazon.com/2001-Space-Odyssey-Douglas-Rain/dp/B000GOUXES

2024-03-26 22:00:06

I oppose the process of using generative AI trained on stolen art. So CREDO23 intrigues me. However, in order to qualify for this stamp, “Minimal CGI and VFX have been used on this film.” This is completely unrelated to generative AI and seems arbitrary.
credo23.com
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/164/234/690/999/918/original/2a12170dfa2f5081.jpeg

2024-03-25 04:06:29

letterboxd for concerts?

2024-03-23 23:50:39

Concerning “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and “Alien: Romulus”, this is where we are in the cycle.
http://fxrant.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-most-egregious-example-of-we-didnt.html
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/147/682/791/487/134/original/b4638eb45482e64f.jpeg

2024-03-14 15:18:59

The visual effects of "The Holdovers”:
https://beforesandafters.com/2024/03/13/so-how-do-you-winterize-a-film/

2024-03-08 23:31:20

my god
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/062/672/185/489/581/original/82e01cc52e81e1d1.jpeg

2024-03-07 16:48:21

<starts reading dumb article>
<the first line>
“Zack Snyder appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience…”
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/055/425/235/320/657/original/7215ee5ae243147f.mp4

2024-03-05 02:31:38

This week’s SNL didn’t do the host any favors.

2024-03-04 21:28:52

If you're at all interested in visual effects, you gotta watch this Academy presentation that took place last weekend. It goes in-depth with all five nominees, and shows before/after material that hasn't been seen publicly.
Visual Effects | 96th Oscars Nominees
https://www.youtube.com/live/XRFrZJL-2R4?si=7P7K7ee3MS7ovpiw&t=1274

2024-03-04 21:07:46

Vision Pro owners/reviewers: do vertically-shot panoramas shot on iPhone viewable in AVP as one would expect?

2024-03-01 23:25:39

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@npub1eee…e209 hehee

2024-03-01 16:21:59

maybe I should quit while I'm ahead!!!
Wordle 986 2/6
⬜🟨🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Framed #721
🎥 🟩 ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛
https://framed.wtf

2024-03-01 15:01:19

Only 100 VHS tapes of “Dune: Part One” were created by WB (in pan & scan!) and I got my hands on one. I connected my VHS deck to iMovie and digitized it.
The ending is a little different in this VHS version. “Dune: Part One” spoilers:
https://youtu.be/MxX-0-WpJ9A?si=d3JS-FVVb4DcRz_R

2024-02-23 02:49:03

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is just the best.

2024-02-18 01:45:24

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@npub1eee…e209 ouch

2024-02-12 19:14:02

AVP owners and reviewers - can you input text via your iPhone? (similar to how you can input text to your Apple TV via iPhone)

2024-02-12 00:06:24

cool — an ad about Chris Pratt’s career

2024-02-11 03:16:36

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What party was Mr. Wolf coming from at 8:30 in the morning?

2024-02-11 01:06:12

Watching “Pulp Fiction” (1994) with first-timer.

2024-02-10 17:17:19

🥽
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/908/318/210/614/226/original/2c4c152a6bcdef69.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/908/318/505/363/659/original/28363ad1e5d627f4.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/908/318/793/553/435/original/784eaf70296e5df2.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/908/319/085/116/961/original/e88ff612ab68bb63.jpeg

2024-02-07 20:57:43

I was (finally!) on The Incomparable, and talked about one of my favorite movies of all time -- "The Abyss" (1989) -- with @npub15ml…2w4s, @npub16dq…urv3, @npub1q7f…c4gz and @npub1f4d…42zv !
http://fxrant.blogspot.com/2024/02/todd-vaziri-on-incomparable-talking.html
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/892/198/817/575/735/original/82929cc5897711b0.jpeg

2024-02-02 21:33:09

MORE MOR EMORMEO MOE RMEOMROEOROE
Jonas is so good at this.
"No CGI" is really just Invisible CGI (3/4)
https://youtu.be/uGPHy3yWE08?si=IqlP3WJon_ud9_pQ

2024-01-31 15:01:06

spam robo texter is concerned about my health
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/851/160/366/874/088/original/ac990851529a78ef.jpeg

2024-01-28 22:42:57

Framed #688
🎥 🟩 ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛
https://framed.wtf

2024-01-28 17:44:29

FYI I’m now putting salt on nearly every dessert.

2024-01-23 21:10:32

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@npub1utv…87lr hell yea

2024-01-21 03:43:09

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@npub1eee…e209 it’s so fuckin ugly

2024-01-14 10:21:01

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@npub15ml…2w4s @npub1eee…e209 mine has…
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/753/799/773/729/011/original/df0324213c43a54b.jpeg

2024-01-08 17:30:58

"The Golden Globes are legitimate again!" so say Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Indiewire and Deadline, all outlets owned by the same company that owns <checks notes> The Golden Globes.

2023-12-30 16:25:58

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@npub1utv…87lr darn good movie

2023-12-22 17:52:32

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@npub1238…g63g @npub1h2y…8ah5 wooooo hooooo

2023-12-22 17:51:50

Instagram: “we won’t allow links and we will keep you in our app to a punitive degree”
billions of people for a decade: “okay”

2023-12-22 00:07:19

“Napoleon” (2023).
This video has over 1 million views, and this section is the most replayed portion of the video.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/621/153/465/237/819/original/9b90e5e247b485df.jpeg

2023-12-19 19:08:49

pretty audacious behavior from a film that for months and months and months and still to this day has been saying with their mouth words “there’s hardly any CGI, it’s all beautifully hand made” and yet are AGGRESSIVELY campaigning for visual effects awards

2023-12-18 20:18:42

How Industrial Light & Magic was credited in:
• "Star Wars" (1977)
• "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980)
• "Return of the Jedi" (1983)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/603/267/555/194/790/original/fef15b167f87f183.jpeg

2023-12-17 17:49:11

“Saltburn” (2023) is totally demented and messed up. I loved it.

2023-12-15 17:12:37

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@npub15x4…3p3l that is a deeply cursed sentence

2023-12-14 15:49:23

I've used a Mac since the Macintosh Plus.
I've never used a clipboard manager.
Which ones should I check out?

2023-12-13 06:30:54

How it was reported:
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/571/700/907/734/829/original/6d52777b3e47df76.png

2023-12-13 03:28:34

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@npub1xsy…cevg @npub1f4d…42zv
Okay, here's my take. Nearly all 1.85 films are projected full screen in 16:9 (1.78) since the black bands would be so small the studio decides to skip it and just play it full screen. Rarely, it means cropping - it usually means showing more exposed negative at the top and bottom. I made a little illustration of how tiny the black bands would be if they properly projected 1.85 films on a 16:9 screen.
I'm a real snob about this stuff, and I don't think it's a big deal.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/570/984/031/041/564/original/2325dfe7b98137cf.jpeg

2023-12-08 00:50:34

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@npub1utv…87lr but do you have water

2023-12-01 18:02:08

This is incredible.
Voice of a Star Wars Fan (with English subtitles)
https://youtu.be/KlRfXo3SC_k?si=0fcQ44w3rX1zFZ5a

2023-11-28 18:02:08

Context: I listen to instrumental music ALL DAY while I'm working.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/489/484/379/305/200/original/25284e26ba486971.jpeg

2023-11-27 02:47:37

🌕 ✈️
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8fDsYqC/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/480/226/013/570/310/original/2f4945d67fabf0d7.mp4

2023-11-25 07:10:38

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@npub15ml…2w4s James Clyne, first-time production designer was in charge. Previously the design director on Rogue One, Solo, Tomorrowland and others. Former ILM’er. Also a lot of design done for The Creator by the ILM art department.

2023-11-21 01:53:06

Watching “Philadelphia” (1993) with two first-timers.

2023-11-17 21:07:24

am i supposed to know why the openai guy was fired or

2023-11-17 20:07:07

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You’re welcome.
Axios: Apple to pause advertising on X after Musk backs antisemitic post
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/17/apple-twitter-x-advertising-elon-musk-antisemitism-ads

2023-11-16 21:21:12

https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/422/319/324/975/519/original/af9ac3eb9bb1657d.jpeg