Summary: (http://kamlashow.com/podcast/wp-content/uploads/PaulDebevec.jpg)Meet Prof. Paul Debevec described as "Hollywood's Master of Light" by MIT's Tech Review. His pioneering work at the intersection of technology and films has won him recognition and awards. In 2010 Debevec won (http://chronicle.com/article/And-the-Academy-Award-Goes-to/64005/) an Academy Award in science and engineering for his digital facial-rendering technology. You can see Debevec's digital innovation (http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_debevec_animates_a_photo_real_digital_face.html) in virtual cinematography in Hollywood films like "Avatar," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Matrix" and "Superman 2". He also worked on an Indian film "Endhiran - The Robot" starring Rajnikanth. He leads the Graphics Laboratory at the University of Southern California's (USC) Institute for Creative Technologies and is a Research Associate Professor, Computer Science Department, USC. You can check out his YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/pedebevec) channel. In this interview he talks about the light stage systems that is used to create the stunning visual special effects and working with Rajnikanth for "Endhiran - The Robot." This interview was recorded at the First Palo Alto International Film Festival in October 2011. Photo credit: USC-ICT
