"Gladiator II" finds director Ridley Scott crafting a sequel to his Oscar Best Picture-winning film "Gladiator" 24 years later. Many of his frequent collaborators came on board to help him bring the time of Ancient Rome back on the big screen again, and we at Next Best Picture were lucky enough to interview a few of them. First is my interview with actor Fred Hechinger, who plays Emperor Caracalla, followed by Giovanni Lago's interviews with Costume Designer Janty Yates and Production Designer Arthur Max, and we end with my interview with Visual Effects Supervisor Mark Bakowski. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Paramount Pictures and is up for your consideration in all eligible categories at this year's Academy Awards. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interviews With Actor Fred Hechinger & The Crafts Behind "Gladiator II"

"Alien: Romulus" was released over the summer to praise from critics for its visual and practical effects, which horrified, disgusted, and exhilarated audiences. Visual Effects Supervisor Eric Barba & FX Designer Alec Gillis were kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on Fede Alvarez's entry in the long-running and beloved franchise, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Hulu and is up for your consideration in all eligible categories at this year's Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interview With "Alien: Romulus" Visual Effects Supervisor Eric Barba & FX Designer Alec Gillis

In the third episode of the TFS Awards Season Series 2024, Siobhan and Marcelo are joined by past Best Animated Film guest Joey Hamilton. They discuss their favorite Visual Effects and Animated Films of 2024! 

Voting in the 12th Annual Talk Film Society Awards, voted on by you, honoring the best in film in 2024, has begun. Go to this link for the ballot: TalkFilmSoc.com/Vote.

Talk Film Society Podcast

TFSPod: Best Visual Effects and Best Animated Films of 2024

"Civil War" was released last spring to a positive yet somewhat polarizing reception from critics and audiences as its story drew some controversy while the technical crafts were lauded with praise. The film grossed over $126.2 million worldwide, becoming A24's second-highest-grossing film to date, and has been nominated for the American Cinema Editors Awards and won the British Independent Film Craft Awards for Best Sound and Effects. And now, the film's visual effects have been shortlisted by the Academy's visual effects branch for the 97th Academy Awards. Visual Effects Supervisor David Simpson, Visual Effects On Set Supervisor/Compositing Supervisor Chris Zeh, and CG Supervisor Freddy Salazar were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to rent or own from A24 and is up for your consideration in all eligible categories at this year's Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interview With The "Civil War" Visual Effects Team

"Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes" represents a vast technological breakthrough in visual effects technology as the "Planet of the Apes" franchise continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in visual effects with each passing installment. The work on Wes Ball's 2024 blockbuster has received nominations from the Critics Choice, BAFTA, Visual Effects Society, and now, the Academy Awards. WETA Visual Effects Supervisor Erik Winquist was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Disney+ and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interview With "Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes" Visual Effects Supervisor Erik Winquist

"Better Man" had its world premiere at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its elaborately staged and choreographed musical sequences from director Michael Gracey ("The Greatest Showman") and the raw honesty with which global pop star Robbie Williams allowed his story to be told (all the while being portrayed on-screen by a CGI monkey). The Oscar-nominated Visual Effects team consisting of Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, and Peter Stubbsugh were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Paramount Pictures and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interview With The "Better Man" Visual Effects Team

Philip and Lara discuss 'The Substance' written and directed by French Filmmaker Coralie Fargeat. Fargeat and 'The Substance' won Best Screenplay at the festival, and the film has since received many accolades and has earned strong word-of-mouth buzz for its incisive storytelling and its iconic visual style. This sci-fi-infused horror film makes heavy use of practical makeup effects and vibrant production design, and won the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress and TV personality who is ending her career has an exercise show host. Devastated by the prospect of aging out of a life of being celebrated for her physical appearance, Elisabeth turns to an experimental "substance" that purports to alleviate some of the difficult aspects of aging. This has a highly disruptive effect on Elisabeth's life, but the lure proves too difficult to resist, and the substance takes hold with the potential for innumerable unforeseen consequences. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast.  instagram.com/partoflarasworld,  instagram.com/laraakal, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Thawedcast pt. 4

The Substance

"Black Mirror" is now in its seventh season, and the British anthology television series is still going strong under the leadership and direction of series creator Charlie Brooker. Paul Giamatti received fantastic reviews for his performance in Episode 5, "Eulogy," and there was a ton of anticipation for the sequel to one of the show's most acclaimed episodes, "USS Callister" with "USS Callister : Into Infinity." Gigmatti, Brooker, Stephan Pehrsson (Cinematographer for "Bête Noire" & "USS Callister : Into Infinity"), and James MacLachlan (VFX Supervisor) were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the series, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream in full on Netflix. Thank you, and enjoy!

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A Behind The Scenes Look At "Black Mirror" Season 7

The CII-Cosmos Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design, Animation & VFX is a 24-month industry-aligned programme crafted to shape the next generation of creative professionals. Developed by CII in collaboration with Cosmos Creative Academy, the course offers a perfect blend of hands-on training, expert mentorship, and real-world exposure. Students gain in-depth knowledge across graphic design, 3D animation, VFX, motion graphics, video editing, and AI-driven tools. With a guaranteed 6-month internship and strong placement support, the programme ensures students are job-ready and future-proof for careers in media, entertainment, advertising, and digital content creation

CII COSMOS Advance Graphic design, Animation and VFX Course

welcome.waw

Ranging from insightful shows and retrospectives to all around fun film talk, the Talk Film Society brings you a podcast network for any movie lover.

I am Dhruv Banga, currently working with CII Skills, where I focus on initiatives that empower youth through skill development, vocational training, and career readiness.

I’m passionate about creating real impact by connecting students and job seekers with industry-aligned opportunities. At CII, I work closely on promoting Model Career Centres (MCCs), supporting employer-led training programs, and building scalable solutions for a job-ready workforce. I regularly share updates, insights, and resources that help bridge the gap between education and employment in India.

A podcast by NextBestPicture.com that reviews the latest film releases and discusses various topics within the world of film and the awards race.

New tracks tagged #visual effects