By Millie Takaki
LOS ANGELES—Executive producer Steve Schofield, along with creative directors Chris Jones and Loni Peristere—all formerly of Radium, Santa Monica (a company that also maintains a full-service operation in San Francisco)—have formed visual effects company Zoic Studios. The new Los Angeles-based venture will provide effects and CG animation for commercials, music videos, feature films and episodic TV, while also being involved in games and branded content.
The Zoic team is currently working on the new FOX TV program, Firefly, as well as such ongoing series as Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Zoic is also currently bidding on a number of spot projects.
Zoic also opens with a staff that includes head of CG Andrew Orloff, head of production Kristen Branan, CG supervisor Emile E. Smith and digital effects supervisor Rocco Passionino. Among the resources being assembled at the Zoic studio are 20 CG workstations running Lightwave and Maya, multiple Combustion stations and an HD Discreet Logic Flame.
"We are excited about building an environment from the ground up to allow maximum flexibility for clients," related Jones. "By utilizing the best in new technology—including desktop systems—we can improve the level of work while focusing on the most important elements, art and creativity."
Peristere, Jones and Schofield have a professional relationship that predates their collaborations at Radium. They first met and began working together at visual effect/post shop Digital Magic (which was later folded into R!OT Santa Monica). All three are experienced in spots and longform.
Jones most recently served as senior compositor/creative director of Radium, Santa Monica, from 1999-’02. He played a key role in building the company’s visual effects commercial division. His endeavors included TV campaigns for such clients as Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Intel and Mitsubishi. He also worked on the BMW Films series out of Fallon Minneapolis. Jones’ TV program credits include the aforementioned Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Earlier in his career, Jones was a digital artist/compositor for POP (also consolidated into R!OT—except for POP Sound, Santa Monica, which continues as a separate entity), Digital Magic and The Post Group, Hollywood.
Peristere has been visual effects supervisor on such series as the earlier mentioned Firefly, Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. During his years at Radium, POP and Digital Magic, Peristere contributed to a mix of longform and ad projects. In the latter discipline, he worked on spots for Mazda, Toyota and Jack in the Box, among others.
Executive producer Schofield oversees day-to-day operations at Zoic. He served in the same role at Radium, Santa Monica, helping to build that shop in the visual effects arena, particularly in commercials. Schofield is a spot industry veteran. He first established himself in the advertising business as a rep. Via his Chicago-based Schofield and Associates which opened in ’87, he handled production companies from London, New York and Los Angeles. From ’93-’96, he was president/executive producer of Los Angeles-based commercial production house Cafe Film. He them jumped over to 4 Media Company, Santa Monica, taking on different capacities for the company’s holdings, including director of marketing for its POP television, film, sound, DVD and animation divisions. In ’98, Schofield was promoted to exec producer for the commercial division of POPfx. He is also widely known for designing the irreverent "You Stinker" flying grandmother logo for David E. Kelley.
Schofield projects that Zoic will diversify into development of branded content and advertainment as the year progresses. "We hope to partner with agencies and production companies early in the process to create content for the future."
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More