Pop Vultures

Modern movies rely heavily on the visual effects work done by thousands of artists that work long hours, get few accolades, and work collectively to create much of what we see on the screen. In many respects VFX artists are the backbone of modern filmmaking.

On this episode, Eli, Pat, and Chris continue looking at the world of special and visual effects by talking with vfx artist and supervisor Ryan Wieber. Ryan has worked on such projects as La La Land, The Tick, Heroes, The Walking Dead, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Eli's soon-to-be-released digital series, ATROPA. Ryan talks about his early work, the role of the visual effects supervisor in guiding a project, and what it was like working on a Star Wars film.

From movies to television our entertainment has been enhanced by special effects almost from the beginning. Back in the day filmmakers used various in-camera techniques including optical tricks, makeup, matte paintings, and miniatures to help fool us into believing the seemingly impossible. These days filmmakers employ thousands of digital artists to help create other worlds and stunning visual effects through computer generated imagery.

But are the older in-camera practical effects dying off, and is CGI really a one-size-fits-all replacement? In this episode Chris, Eli, and Pat delve into the world of special effects & visual effects, and debate the merits of each.

We all know and love Indiana Jones. The films raised the standard for cinematic adventure and gave us a hero with a neat hat. Everyone has their favorite, and until the 2008 sequel there was one movie in the series that was generally thought to be the worst — Steven Spielberg’s own bastard child, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Chris, Eli, and Pat dust off this priceless relic to try and convince you that it doesn’t belong at the bottom of your list or in a museum, but in your heart (unless Mola Ram pulls it out — then you’ve got bigger problems).

In 1941, Orson Welles released his first film at the age of 25. Since then, Citizen Kane has been shunned, rediscovered, embraced, and lauded as one of the greatest films ever made. In this second episode of Pop Vultures, Chris, Eli, and Pat discuss what makes Citizen Kane so damn good, and debate why a growing number of people have written the film off.

We'll cover the groundbreaking technical aspects, the storied feud between Welles and William Randolph Hearst, as well as the influence the film has had on modern cinema. So join us as we take a trip to Xanadu and attempt to unravel the mystery of America's Kubla Khan – Charles Foster Kane.

Who are the Pop Vultures? In this introductory episode Eli, Chris, and Pat answer eleven questions to help you get to know them, their diverse tastes in pop culture, and their odd opinions of directors with the last name Anderson. Why eleven questions? Because it's one more than ten and This Is Spinal Tap is a great movie.

Topics range from the basic, to the deep, to the downright scandalous. You'll get to know them faster than you can say Klaatu Barada Nikto. So hold on to your butts and join the vultures on their debut episode!