To the Ends of Middle-Earth:Weta Digital Presents "The Hobbit"

Production Sessions

To the Ends of Middle-Earth:Weta Digital Presents "The Hobbit"

Tuesday, 11 August 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall B


To the Ends of Middle-Earth: Weta Digital Presents "The Hobbit"

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” marks the end of an era for Weta Digital. The visual effects for the Hobbit trilogy were an extraordinary undertaking, from ground-breaking CG creature and character work (including Gollum, Smaug, and Azog) to giant battle sequences; complex fire, destruction, and water effects; and vast digital environments. Over the course of the three films Weta Digital challenged what was possible in visual effects, culminating in the creation of a proprietary renderer, Manuka, that was used to render the third film. These achievements offer a snapshot of the current state of visual effects and point the way to a new era of digital filmmaking.

Joe Letteri and members of Weta Digital's VFX team discuss how 20 years of creativity and innovation came together in "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” with a particular focus on Peter Jackson’s extensive use of virtual-production techniques.

Joe Letteri, Senior VFX Supervisor
Weta Digital

David Clayton, Animation Supervisor
Weta Digital