Ed Ulbrich works at the leading edge of computer-generated visuals. On a recent project, filmmakers, artists, and technologists have been working at a breakthrough point where reality and digitally created worlds collide.

Why you should listen

Ed Ulbrich spoke at TED2009 representing a team of filmmakers, artists and technologists who've been working on a significant breakthrough in visual storytelling -- a startling blurring of the line between digital creation and actor.  

Ulbrich was the long time executive VP of production at Digital Domain, for whom he executive-produced Academy Award-winning visual effects for Titanic, What Dreams May Come, Fight Club, Zodiac, Adaptation and other features, as well as music videos and more than 500 commercials. He has recently exited this position but has entered into a creative consultant arrangement with the company. In 2007, he was named to the Creativity 50 -- top innovators in advertising and design.

What others say

“The difference offered by [this] technology is in the detail. Standard motion-capture systems are generally limited in resolution to several hundred points on a human face, while this system can recreate facial images at a resolution of 200,000 pixels. The digital video images produced by the system are startlingly realistic.” — New York Times

Ed Ulbrich’s TED talk

More news and ideas from Ed Ulbrich

Film

How Benjamin Button got his face: Ed Ulbrich on TED.com

February 23, 2009

In the latest release from TED2009, Ed Ulbrich, the digital-effects guru from Digital Domain, explains the Oscar-winning technology that allowed his team to digitally create older versions of Brad Pitt’s face for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” (Recorded in February 2009 in Long Beach, California. Duration: 18:08.) Watch Ed Ulbrich’s talk from TED2009 on […]

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Film

Twitter Snapshot: Amazed by Benjamin Button

February 5, 2009

As Ed Ulbrich addressed the crowd at TED2009, Twitter came alive with statements of amazement and admiration. He was explaining the role of technology in recent blockbuster “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Let’s roll the latest tweets: TED Live: Ed Ulbrich says his team of artists & technologists made a breakthrough in digital animation […]

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