Director Matt Reeves and Visual Effects Supervisor Brad Parker tapped DIVE to manage and execute 87 visual effects shots for Exclusive Media/Hammer Films “Let Me In”, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13 and opens nationally on October 1.nnDIVE, the Visual Effects, DI and Film Finishing company whose recent credits include John Hillcoat’s “The Road” and Doug Liman’s “Fair Game”, worked with Reeves (“Cloverfield”) and Parker (“We Own the Night”, “Peter Pan”) to articulate key scenes that are as beautifully rendered as they are horrifying.nnThe adaptation of the John Ajvide Lindqvist novel “Let The Right One In” stars Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Road”) and Chloë Grace Moretz (“Kickass”.) The film follows a lonely 12 year-old Owen and his developing relationship with new neighbor Abby. Their bond strengthens even as Abby’s true nature is revealed and her attachment to her caretaker father fades. nnTone of the TalenDIVE VFX Supervisor Mark Forker and his team handled crucial shots within the film upon which the narrative hinges. Reeves’ film unwinds beautifully, in part because of his choice of long takes for the opening and closing scenes. For the film’s earliest moments DIVE transformed the high New Mexico desert into a haunting wintery landscape beneath layers of CG snow to help set the somber tone of the film. CG snow and breath are added throughout the film pulled from practically shot breath elements and DIVE‘s 3D snow system. n nThe final shot of the film—1600 frames in length—was shot on a stationary train using poor-man’s process with blue screen outside of the window. The scene would ultimately need to signify the main character’s transformation as he heads off on his new journey. nn”The challenge was to retain all of the environmental detail of the practical dew on the train’s window and to maintain Smit-McPhee’s reflection in the glass which was the Director’s chief concern,” says Ed Mendez, DIVE‘s Compositing Supervisor. The shot was tracked to extract all of the detail inherent to the foreground plate and then those details were married to the backgrounds. As the final shot of the film, which lasts for longer than a minute, the results needed to be flawless. nnBeauty and BloodnIn addition to blood enhancements, rig removal, a variety of blue screen composites and a crowd replication built from multiple plates, DIVE also developed the look of Addy as she transforms into a vampire. nn”I wanted Abby to look almost as though she was a person with a condition that is rather urgent, instead of a caricature,” says Forker. The team at DIVE crafted an impressive but restrained look by removing Abby’s hair, creating throbbing veins, and also darkening the skin around her eyes, augmenting the actor’s features with digital makeup.nnIn one scene Abby’s father is burned by acid, losing his nose, cheek and half of his mouth. The scene demanded treatment of the actor as well as his surroundings. nnForker tapped long time collaborators Invisible Pictures to help with the CG face replacement shots required for the film. 3D modeling and skeletal scans of the actual actor in make-up began the process so that parts of the face could be subtracted while digital prosthetics created the inner and outer “half-mouth”. nnAll scenes involving the actor from that point required extensive texturing, lighting and rigging, while profile shots required removing the damaged parts of the face from the scene and adding the background footage where the actor’s face used to be. DIVE handled the final composites, placing the character back into the hospital scene where CG snow continues to fall.nnIn addition to its domestic opening on October 1, “Let Me In” also headlined at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX on September 23.nn
nClick here to view & share “Let Me In” trailer.nnCREDITSnAdditional Visual Effects by DIVEnMarko Forker VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR nAndy Williams VISUAL EFFECTS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER nBob Lowery VP OF DEVELOPMENT nKorey Cauchon VISUAL EFFECTS PRODUCER nEd Mendez COMPOSITING SUPERVISOR nJohn-Michael Trojan DIGITAL PRODUCTION MANAGER nTom Quinn VISUAL EFFECTS COORDINATOR nBryan Baker VISUAL EFFECTS EDITOR nTravis Capacete VISUAL EFFECTS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT nRob Giglio VISUAL EFFECTS COLORIST nLucas Andrei PRODUCTION ASSISTANT nMichael Morse INTERN nJeremy Fernsler LEAD 3D ARTIST nNick Jushchyshyn MATCHMOVE ARTIST nTim Bowman DIGITAL COMPOSITOR nSean Coonce DIGITAL COMPOSITOR nKristen Millette DIGITAL COMPOSITOR nAnton Moss DIGITAL COMPOSITOR nCraig Whitaker DIGITAL COMPOSITOR nShannan Burkley MATTE PAINTER nRuben Rodas PAINT/ROTO ARTIST nCrystle Schrecengost PAINT/ROTO ARTISTnnAbout DIVEnBased in Philadelphia, PA, DIVE ((www.divevisual.com)), is the visual effects, DI and film finishing division of Shooters Post & Transfer, led by veteran Visual Effects Supervisor Mark O. Forker. As one of the east coast’s premier post production facilities for film finishing services, DIVE offers filmmakers the opportunity to complete Visual Effects, Digital Intermediates and Titles by coupling creative continuity with an integrated workflow.Bob Lowery DIVE VP Development 267.514.7700 Contact Bob via email
Contact:Andy Williams DIVE Executive Producer 267.514.7700 Contact Andy via email
STORY Director Alison Roberto Finds The “Golden Touch” For New Ferrero Rocher® Holiday Ad Starring Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt
‘Tis the season for Ferrero Rocher® candies on your holiday table, as lovingly depicted in the new ad “Add Your Golden Touch,” directed by Alison Roberto of STORY, the full-service production and post-production company with locations in Chicago and Los Angeles, and featuring actress, director, and holiday lover, Jennifer Love Hewitt. The campaign was created by agency Edelman and is currently airing nationally. Click here to see “Add Your Golden Touch” spot. You can also click here to see it on Ferrero Rocher’s website and Instagram. “I have been a big Jennifer Love Hewitt fan my entire life – my best friend and I watched ‘Can’t Hardly Wait’ several hundred times,” Roberto says, ”needless to say, I was excited to work with her. Jennifer was so much fun to be with on set. She’s super ‘real,’ kind, and extremely funny. We had a great day together. She was collaborative and nailed her performances with ease. We bonded while talking about our young sons and the inherent challenges of being a working Mom.” The spot is lit with stunning elegance, bathed in a golden hue that... Read More