Whodoo EFX has completed the cinematics for Electronic Arts’ upcoming new game release “Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3.” Whodoo Visual Effects Supervisor Helena Packer Burnson made the announcement.
Working with EA’s Cinematic Director Richard Taylor on the new game, Whodoo helped design and create a 3D time travel sequence, replete with a Soviet-era underground laboratory and time travel machine. Whodoo’s talented team of visual effects artists also animated a wild electrical storm, and teleported the game’s “Soviet Generals” back to pre-WWII Vienna.
Regarding Whodoo’s contributions, Mr. Taylor said, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned through 30 years of directing commercials, feature film effects and now game cinematics, it’s that many studios have the latest compositing and animation tools. But the difference between a studio’s work being mediocre versus exceptional lies in the talent of the people who play with those tools. Technology is no different than a Gibson guitar or a Baldwin piano….it’s how an artist plays them that makes all the difference in the world. I truly enjoyed working with Whodoo. Their artistic excellence, their professionalism and their attention to detail are second to none. Whodoo Rocks!”
Adds Burnson, “It was great working with the creative team at EA, especially director Richard Taylor. He has a terrific eye and it is an honor to work with someone of Richard’s caliber and artistry. The merging of film and video games is well under way, and we are very happy to be involved in both. It has been a great opportunity and we are very proud of our work.”
Whodoo EFX’s Team for “Red Alert:”
Helena Packer-Burnson, VFX Supervisor
Terry Shigemitsu, CG Supervisor
Sarah Paul, VFX Producer
Robert Skotak, Matte Painter
Janice Lee, Compositor
Eric Bruno, Compositor
Andrea Shear, CG Artist
David Alexander, CG Artist
Darren Kiner, CG Artist
ABOUT EA’S “COMMAND & CONQUER: RED ALERT 3:”
EA is traveling seven years back in time to bring back the most-beloved series in the company’s storied Command & Conquer™ franchise. The light-hearted, over-the-top, wacky world of Red Alert™ has returned with Command & Conquer Red Alert 3, available now for the PC and on November 11th for the Xbox 360.
After years of conflict, the Allies are finally on the brink of victory. Cowering behind the walls of the Kremlin, the Soviets decide to turn to one last act of desperation – the use of an experimental time travel device. The mission: to go back in time to eliminate Albert Einstein before he creates the technologies that will lead the Allies to ultimate victory.
After a successful mission, the Soviets return to the present, discovering the Allied position has weakened. But before they can truly celebrate, they find out their actions have spawned a new threat and global superpower, the mysterious, technologically advanced, Empire of the Rising Sun. Welcome to World War III. For more information, please see visit www.redalert3.com.
Red Alert 3 features in-game cinematics with one of the largest casts in the history of video games, including Tim Curry, Jenny McCarthy, J.K. Simmons, George Takei, Peter Stormare, Kelly Hu and more.
ABOUT WHODOO EFX:
Founded in l999, Whodoo EFX provides a creative environment in which clients and artists alike can work together to develop new and exciting visual effects for a wide range of projects. The company is comprised of a pool of highly successful and award winning professionals. Helena Packer Burnson is the president and founder of Whodoo EFX, and serves as the company’s Visual Effects Supervisor. Packer and her team have garnered numerous major industry awards, contributing unique and acclaimed visual effects to dozens of feature films, episodic TV series, commercials, and music videos.
Whodoo EFX is located at 2712 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, 90403. The phone is 310/828-6060 and the web is www.whodooefx.com
