Bicoastal visual effects studio ArsenalFX teams up with director Brad Anderson to deliver a pulse-quickening pursuit of an evasive kidnapper in the new thriller, “The Call.” The film follows veteran 911 operator Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) as she receives a call from a girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted. Turner soon realizes that she must confront a killer (Michael Eklund) and her past in order to save the girl’s life. ArsenalFX handled over 100 visual effects-enhanced shots in the film, utilizing a variety of VFX techniques including CG compositing, 3D shots, rig removal, green screen shots, as well as countless blood and gore effects shots. The film released Friday, March 15th, in theatres nationwide.
Click HERE to see the trailer.
ArsenalFX Creative Directors Lauren Mayer-Beug and Nathan Boldman led the project and came on board in the early stages, working alongside Anderson to supervise the VFX-heavy shots on set, while also collaborating with Production Designer Franco-Giacomo Carbone to craft a compelling 911 call center environment. The call center’s jumbo screen was entirely green screen, and the ArsenalFX team designed and composited in images to deliver the high-octane pursuit from the “hive” base camp throughout the movie. The ArsenalFX artists also upped the gore ante with extensive blood and various gruesome shots. They worked carefully to enhance the practical effects and make the close-up shots featuring various physical damages as realistic as possible.
Notes Mayer-Beug, “It was a great experience working with Brad. There was a lot of back and forth collaboration and he had a very specific vision of what he wanted, but was very open to what we had to bring to the table.”
About ArsenalFX
Artist owned and operated ArsenalFX is known for the prodigious talent and leading-edge technology. At its new, state of the art Santa Monica headquarters and growing New York satellite, an expert crew of artists and technicians cultivate a boutique environment. Serving a diverse global clientele in advertising, TV episodic, and film, ArsenalFX’s high caliber creative work earns top awards as well as a devoted client following.
Mark Leiss ArsenaFX Contact Mark via email
Contact:Media: Virginia Scripps Press Kitchen 310.392.6682
“Ǝvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of Ǝvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? Ǝvolution suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence, Ǝvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating —in the blink of an eye— the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called “progress” may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscar®... Read More