News

ACM SIGGRAPH International Conference on Virtual Reality Continuum and Its Applications In Industry (VRCAI 2019) (co-located with ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2019) 
Venue: Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia Date: 14-16th November 2019 Website:http://vrcai.acm.org
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On 14-16th November 2019 the 17th ACM SIGGRAPH International Conference on Virtual-Reality Continuum and its Applications in Industry (VRCAI 2019), will take place just before SIGGRAPH Asia 2019 (17-20th, Dec) in Brisbane, Australia. We welcome submissions on the following main themes: 
VRC Fundamental and Related Technology in Computer Graphics, VRC Systems, Interactions, Virtual Storytelling, Virtual Production and Industry Applications in the VRC. 
Topics of interests include (but are not limited to): 
FUNDAMENTALS · Ubiquitous VR/AR/MR · Intelligent VR/AR/MR · Distributed and Collaborative VR/AR/MR · Machine Learning for VR/AR/MR · Robotics and Tele-Presence · Aural, Haptic and Olfactory Augmentation · Geometrically, Physically and Image Based Modeling · Real-time Visual Tracking and Registration · 3D Modeling, Interpretation and Reconstruction · Multi-resolution and Multi-scale Methods · Level of Detail, Model Compression and Simplification · Networking, Streaming, Cloud, Latency and Bandwidth Methods · Real-time Rendering, Image-based Rendering, and 3D Auditory · Rendering and Visualization of Large-scale Models · Procedural, Physically-based or Data-driven Animation · Avatars and Virtual Community · Metaverse · Immersive Virtual Environments 
INTERACTIONS AND INTERFACES · Collaborative and Interactive Virtual Environment/VR · Multimodal Interface · Visual Interface · Speech Interface · Haptic/Tactile Interface · Natural Interface · 3D Enabled Devices · Interaction Design · Sketch-based interfaces · Social and Interactive Computing and Media · Interactive Graphic Design · Interactive Sound Design · Human Factors and Ergonomics 
SYSTEMS · Clustered VR · High Performance VRC Computing · Large-scale Simulation · Immersive and Semi-immersive Systems · Projection and Display Systems · Active and Passive Stereo Systems · 3D Scanner, Digital Mock-up and Reverse Engineering 
APPLICATIONS · Aerospace · Architecture, Construction and Building · Arts and Film · Education, Virtual Classroom and Learning, and Training · Engineering and Design · E-Commerce · Video Games/Entertainment/Location Based Entertainment . Virtual Storytelling and Virtual Production · Visualization · Geology, Geography and GIS · Life Science, Medicine and Healthcare · Manufacturing · Transportation and Logistics · Fashion 
We invite original and unpublished submissions of full Papers (8 pages) or short Papers (4 pages). All accepted papers will be published in the VRCAI 2019 Conference Proceedings and included in the ACM digital library (EI-indexed). All accepted papers will be presented at the VRCAI 2019 Conference. 
Selected papers will be recommended for submitting an extended version in special section of the following journals:
Computers and Graphics (Elsevier, SCI-indexed). Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds (John Wiley, SCI-indexed). 
IMPORTANT DATES Paper Abstract Due (Optional): 3rd September 2019 Paper Submission: 18th September 2019 Posters/Demos Submission: 25th SeptemberPaper Acceptance Notification: 1st October 2019 Camera-ready Paper: 8th October 2019 Conference: 14-16th November 2019 
Industry Track:
Non ACM Digital Library publication industry program information can be found here, https://vrcai.siggraph.org/program/industry/

Program Chairs
Kenny Mitchell (Disney Research and Edinburgh Napier University)
Takuji Narumi (University of Tokyo)
Mashhuda Glencross (University of Queensland)

Industry Chairs
Ken Anjyo (University of Wellington)
Eugene Ch’ng (University of Nottingham, China)
Ayumi Kimura (University of Wellington)

Demos Chairs
Tim Marsh (Griffith University)
Sandy Ressler (NIST)

Posters Chairs
Jenny Vuong (University of New South Wales)
Ulrich Engelke (Data 61, CSIRO)

Conference Chairs
Joaquim Jorge (INESC / ID & Univ Lisboa)
June Kim (University of New South Wales)
Herman Van Eyken (Griffith University)

VES Announces Special 2019 Honorees

The VES announces the 2019 inductees into the VES Hall of Fame, the newest Lifetime and Honorary members and this year’s recipient of the VES Founders Award. The names of this year’s VES Fellows will be announced later. The honorees and Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized at a special reception in October.  

“Our VES honorees represent a group of exceptional artists, innovators and professionals who have had a profound impact on the field of visual effects,” said Mike Chambers, VES Board Chair. “We are proud to recognize those who helped shape our shared legacy and continue to inspire future generations of VFX practitioners.”

VES Hall of Fame

This distinction is bestowed upon a select group of professionals and pioneers who have played a significant role in advancing the field of visual effects by invention, science, contribution or avocation of the art, science, technology and/or communications.

Walt Disney (1901-1966)

Walter Elias Disney was an American entrepreneur, animator, voice actor, TV and film producer. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced a score of innovations in the field of animation.  As a film producer, Disney holds the record for most Academy Awards earned by an individual, having won 26 Oscars.  His creative vision gave rise to the groundbreaking theme park Disneyland and Disney Brothers Cartoon Studios, the origin of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999)

Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers in cinematic history. His filmography includes SPARTACUS, LOLITA, DR. STRANGELOVE, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (Academy Award winner for Best Special Visual Effects), A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and THE SHINING.  All of Stanley Kubrick’s films from PATHS OF GLORY until the end of his career, except for THE SHINING, were nominated for Academy Awards or Golden Globe Awards.

Stan Lee (1922-2018)

Stan Lee was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher and producer.  He became Marvel Comics’ primary creative leader for two decades, leading its expansion from a small division of a publishing house to a multimedia corporation that dominated the comics industry. In collaboration with others at Marvel, he co-created numerous popular fictional characters, including superheroes SPIDER-MAN, THE X-MEN, IRON MAN, THOR, THE HULK, THE FANTASTIC FOUR, BLACK PANTHER, DAREDEVIL, DOCTOR STRANGE, SCARLET WITCH and ANT-MAN. Lee was an inductee into the comic book industry’s Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame, and a recipient of NEA’s National Medal of Arts as well as the VES Lifetime Achievement Award.

Founders Award Recipient

Awarded to any individual member of the VES who has significantly contributed to the success of the VES.

Susan Thurmond O’Neal

Susan Thurmond O’Neal joined the VES in the late 1990s and has served as a member of its global Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. For many years, she served as the Chair for the global Education Committee and currently chairs the Membership Committee – and she has been instrumental in the work to grow the Society by leading the bi-annual membership review and approval process. 

O’Neal is currently a recruiter for BLT Recruiting, Inc and has worked as an Operations Manager at The Mill, Operations Director at Escape Studios in Los Angeles and as an Account Manager at Side Effects Software, Inc.  She started her career in visual effects at Digital Domain in 1993, where she worked in finance and operations before turning to production.  O’Neal’s credits include T2: 3D – BATTLE ACROSS TIME, TITANIC, THE ITALIAN JOB, WEST WING, DEUCE BIGALOW 2: EUROPEAN GIGOLO as well as a host of music videos, commercials and other works.

Lifetime Member

Awarded for meritorious service to the Society, the industry and for furthering the interests and values of visual effects artists around the world.

Michael Fink, VES

Michael Fink began working in film on THE CHINA SYNDROME.  He was hooked, and worked on films such as STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE and BLADE RUNNER before becoming a Visual Effects Supervisor on WAR GAMES (BAFTA Nomination).  He has since worked on THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI ACROSS THE 8TH DIMENSION, BATMAN RETURNS (Academy Award and BAFTA nominations), BRAVEHEART, MARS ATTACKS!, X-MEN, X-MEN 2, THE GOLDEN COMPASS (VES Award nomination, BAFTA and Academy Award winner), AVATAR, TRON: LEGACY, TREE OF LIFE and LIFE OF PI.

Fink directed the first Coca-Cola Polar Bear spot in 1993, which was one of the earliest widely seen examples of 3D fur on a CG creature. Fink is a founding member of the Visual Effects Society and a former VES Board Member.  He is a member of the Visual Effects Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and has served on the Executive Committee.  He is currently a Professor at the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California and Chair of the Division of Film and Television Production.  He holds the Georges Méliès Endowed Chair in Visual Effects at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. 

Honorary Member

Awarded for exemplary contributions to the entertainment industry at large, and for furthering the interests and values of visual effects practitioners around the world.

Mike Brodersen

Mike Brodersen is one of the owners of FotoKem, currently serving as its Chief Strategy Officer. Thanks to Brodersen, FotoKem has been a valuable longtime partner with the VES, including serving as the Los Angeles site for the VES Awards nomination events for many years. 

In his 25-year tenure at the company, Brodersen has helped incubate services including film scanning and recording, digital intermediate, digital restoration, software development and file-based dailies. Established in 1963 and one of the last remaining full service film laboratories in the world, FotoKem provides color grading, digital imaging, VFX, graphics, audio, and a variety of other post-production services from dailies through finishing.  In recent years, the company has been able to provide post-production, imaging and VFX support services on titles like ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, AQUAMAN, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, DUNKIRK, VICE, GREEN BOOK, KONG: SKULL ISLAND, BETTER CALL SAUL and HOMELAND. 

DIGITAL POWER:  Activism, Advocacy and the Influence of Women Online will focus on the work of women: digital artists, storytellers, designers, gamers, film/video makers and other visionary digital content providers in an exhibition that inspires, empowers, and supports women. The online exhibition is curated by Kathy Rae Huffman, curator of the 2015 DAC online exhibition “Enhanced Vision: Digital Video.” DIGITAL POWER is a project of the ACM SIGGRAPH Digital Arts Community, and is scheduled to premiere at the annual SIGGRAPH conference, 19-23 July 2020 in Washington D.C. 

The deadline for submission is December 16, 2019.

Last Call for Posters to EuroVR 2019:
16^th EuroVR International Conference

23-25 October, 2019
TalTech Mektory, Tallinn, Estonia
https://eurovr2019.eu/
Deadlines:

• Scientific Poster paper submissions: July 3, 2019 23:59 CEST
• Notification to authors: July 19, 2019
• Camera ready for accepted contributions: July 29, 2019 23:59 CEST

The Scientific proceedings  of EuroVR 2019, which will include the papers accompanying the scientific posters, will be edited by Springer as a volume of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series. 

Submission guidelines can be found on the conference web page at:  https://eurovr2019.eu/call-for-papers/submission-guidelines-scientific-track/ 

All scientific contributions have to be uploaded to the Online Conference Service (OCS) of Springer. For the Scientific Poster papers, please use: https://ocs.springer.com/ocs/home/EuroVR2019_Scientific_poster_trackTo contact the posters co-chairs, please mail to eurovr_posters_2019 at cs.uni-bremen.deTo contact IPC chairs, please use OCS or ipcchairs.eurovr2019@taltech.eeFurther information on EuroVR 2019 are available here: https://eurovr2019.eu/