CMA presents Special Effects Wizardry in "The Martian"

Please join us as Chris Lawrence reveals the digital wizardry behind the special effects of the hit film The Martian. Chris will discuss how they used NASA data to imagine a Martian sunrise from space, and offer insights into the difficulties of faking microgravity, and the importance of simulation in moviemaking.

"The Martian" tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney, who is presumed dead after a fierce storm on Mars and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist on the hostile planet and find a way to signal Earth that he is alive. The film is based on the best-selling novel of the same name, authored by Andy Weir, a previous CMA speaker.

At Framestore, Chris shared an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Gravity. His movie credits include WALL-E and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He has worked at companies such as Pixar and earned an engineering degree from UCL in England.

For more information, contact Rob Manning at (818) 393-7815 or [email protected], or email [email protected].

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