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Todd Vaziri

@tvaziri.com

16K followers 250 following 3.1K posts

I work on movies and talk about movies. Co-host of Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast. http://www.tvaziri.com

www.tvaziri.com

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 7d

Vanity Fair asked me to talk about visual effects, and it was my great honor to show off some of ILM’s terrific work over the years.

Todd Vaziri on Vanity Fair VFX
youtu.be/ERKEsIzTFas?...

ILM's VFX Secrets Behind Star Wars, Transformers & More | Vanity Fair

YouTube video by Vanity Fair

youtu.be

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 50m

This is niche.

What movies had a production photograph (NOT a film frame)—released many many months before the film’s first trailer—that was the sole imagery shown to the public that is forever burned into your memory of the movie?

For me: it’s this photo from “Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023).

Lily Gladstone and Leo DiCaprio sit at a table with Leo looking up

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Reposted by Todd Vaziri

Leah Millis @leahmillis.bsky.social · 14h

The @chicago.suntimes.com photographer who risked their personal health and safety to take this photograph is Anthony Vazquez. Please credit photographers and media outlets. In this age of misinformation, a photo with no context could be anything at all.

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑 @50501movement.bsky.social · 14h

Please remind us who the domestic terrorists are again.

Photo from Chicago: DHS militarized agent holding a gun up directly in someone’s face as the victim has their hands up, pleading for them not to shoot.

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Reposted by Todd Vaziri

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 11h

This is real. Chicago today.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 12h

Yeah, that is a tear gas canister being fired toward the retreating couple holding the baby

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Reposted by Todd Vaziri

Rick Steves @ricksteves.bsky.social · 12h

🧵:

Last June, more than 5 million Americans joined #NoKings rallies across the country, protesting President Trump's authoritarianism. And this Saturday, with your help, it's going to be even bigger and better.

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 12h

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 22h

a series of Nuke nodes, yes

Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 22h

One of the most influential artists in the history of Hollywood has passed. Thanks for everything, Drew Struzan.

www.instagram.com/p/DPy0ZUEEVnt/

Drew Struzan on Instagram: "It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Drew Struzan has moved on from this world as of yesterday, October 13th. I feel it is important that you all know how many times he expressed to me the joy he felt knowing how much you appreciated his art. - Greg"

7,167 likes, 830 comments - drewstruzanart on October 14, 2025: "It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Drew Struzan has moved on from this world as of yesterday, October 13th. I feel it is important that you all know how many times he expressed to me the joy he felt knowing how much you appreciated his art. - Greg".

www.instagram.com

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 22h

The most lopsided ratio of "best title sequence relative to overall quality of the film" in the "Halloween" series has gotta be "Halloween 5" (1989).

Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 1d

Thank you!

Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 1d

the best streaming service name is still Peacock

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 1d

good

Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 1d

nope - no Milky Way in Star Wars, per se

There are occasional clusters of stars / galaxies, but in almost every shot there's a canonical "Star Wars" starfield

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Reposted by Todd Vaziri

Adam Lance Garcia @adamlancegarcia.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you to all who have watched, liked, and shared the VFX video.

Neither @tvaziri.com nor I could have ever anticipated the response, and it means the world to us that our silly idea has left such an impact.

youtu.be/ERKEsIzTFas?...

ILM Visual Effects Artist Breaks Down Hidden VFX | Vanity Fair

YouTube video by Vanity Fair

youtu.be

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 1d

yep

Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 1d

"they shot it ✌️for real✌️"

the set:

a backlot showing the facades of buildings, filmed from a helicopter

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 2d

The pilot of "Veep" is an all-timer.

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 2d

how is it possible for Pierce Brosnan to still be this hot

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 2d

This whole thread is gold

Reposted by Todd Vaziri

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 2d

It's hard to help Americans left behind because so much of US identity is rooted in individualism. The average American conservative holds all three positions at once:

— Virtue signals about supporting US manufacturing
— Against raising the minimum wage
— Buys foreign imports because they're cheap

HardPass4 on Twitter tweets: "I'm willing to pay more for quality products if they are made in America, by Americans, who are paid a decent income." The tweet shows Norman Rockwell's "Freedom of Speech" painting, which is often used to show the tweeter is expressing a brave opinion.

HardPass4 on Twitter tweets: "MINIMUM WAGE JOBS WERE NOT MEANT TO BE A CAREER. Why does no one understand this? Entry level jobs are STEPPING STONES to better jobs. No one wants to work towards that though."

HardPass4 on Twitter tweets: "Buy $5 gloves instead of $50 ones. Trust me." The tweet shows a box of "Gorilla Grip" gloves.

The label on Gorilla Grip gloves show they're made in China.

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 3d

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 3d

the margin of error (bobble between the plates) is so incredibly small, i'm confident to say that it was not just "rehearsal of pulling the dolly backwards" - some sort of mechanical help had to be required, but no one knows what it was

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 3d

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Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 3d

goodness gracious no, absolutely not - no one should use those terms interchangeably

Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 3d

absolutely there's a heirarchy/priority list

(most important is to make sure the shot doesn't look like a mistake)

Todd Vaziri @tvaziri.com · 3d

golly I gotta lose some weight