Posts Tagged Vancouver

Zoic Studios riding VFX boom

Posted by Dang in I Design Your Eyes on November 7, 2011

“Interviews with principals at Zoic Studios, a visual effects studio in Gastown. Principals Patrick Mooney, and Barbara Dawson talk about the boom in VFX work that’s under way in British Columbia.”

Watch Video from The Vancouver Sun:
Zoic Studios Ride VFX Boom

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Once Upon a Time, Sun, Vancouver, VFX-heavy feature films, Zoic Studios

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Zoic sees Vancouver as ideal satellite hub for booming VFX sector

Posted by Dang in I Design Your Eyes on November 7, 2011

Tax, talent and time zone.

A competitive advantage in all three has allowed British Columbia to mature into a North America hub for film and television production during the past 40 years.

Now, thanks to technology, Hollywood North is evolving into a world leader in the industry’s hottest sector: visual effects.

Visual effects, or VFX, aren’t exclusive to science fiction and fantasy; even conventional television dramas rely on them as a cost-effective alternative to set building and location shooting, and they’re also used to enhance special effects and physical stunts such as a car crash.

Eric Roth, a California-based spokesman for the VFX artists community, describes visual effects as the entertainment industry’s “new superstar.”

“When people plunk down $12 for their movie tickets, they’re looking to see great effects, whether in 2D, 3D, in Imax or as a download. From Hollywood to Bollywood, visual effects is now the key to the entertainment industry’s bottom line,” Roth, executive director of the Visual Effects Society, said in an email.

Hollywood Reporter recently estimated that VFX now accounts for more than 2,200 jobs in Vancouver — with hundreds more coming in the months ahead.

The list of VFX and digital animation companies that have set up shop here, or plan to open in the near future, reads like a who’s who of the entertainment industry, not including homegrown pioneers like Image Engine and Rainmaker Entertainment.

Your cost of shooting in a green room — essentially, an empty room with green walls where VFX artists superimpose a background after the actors have been filmed in it — could be one-fifth the expense of a physical set.

Los Angeles-based Zoic Studios was one of the first arrivals, adding a Vancouver operation in 2005 in the Sun Tower on Pender. They moved last December, over the course of a weekend amid a hectic production deadline, to expanded facilities in Gastown.

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Canada, film, Once Upon a Time, TV, Vancouver, Zoic Studios

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A Director of Photography Perspective with Vincent Laforet

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on December 2, 2010

As I have mentioned in previous blog posts, I had the opportunity to be on set back in August for a commercial spot for Famous Footwear shot in Fort Langley, British Columbia, directed by Loni Peristere. I have had the opportunity and good fortune to be on many sets all over the world and in all honesty being on this one was one of the most special for me. I can’t necessarily pin point what it was. Perhaps it was the energy and exuberance from the neighbors that came out huddling in their blankets to watch the shoot till dawn. Perhaps it was the remarkable crew that clearly enjoyed their jobs and didn’t complain once pulling an all-nighter or perhaps it was the actors that kept smiling even when the cameras stopped rolling. It was most likely the combination of it all plus the spirit of the holiday season that permeated the set even though it was summer. There was one thing that was clear, being on set that chilly August night, we were all a part of making something that we all could be proud and excited about. Vincent Laforet, the Director of Photography for the “Neighborhood” spot took time to write about his experience on the shoot. I have, with his permission, decided to put his post below in order to give a different insight into the commercial shoot. Below is also the link to Vincent’s blog and the original post. For those interested in cameras and photography it truly is a fascinating read and an incredibly informative look at the latest and greatest in camera and lighting equipment.

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Director of Photography, Famous Footwear, Loni Peristere, television commercial, Vancouver, Vincent Laforet, Zoic Studios

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Behind the Scenes: Famous Footwear

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on November 24, 2010

The holiday season is officially upon us and typically this is the time of year when we visit with our family and friends, exchange gifts, share stories, and reminisce. I was lucky enough to already experience some of what the holidays have to offer back in August when I went behind the scenes of the Famous Footwear “Neighborhood” spot.
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commercial, Famous Footwear, Loni Peristere, Vancouver, VFX

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Zoic Vancouver: The latest happenings up north

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on November 9, 2010

Patrick Mooney of Zoic Vancouver gives us a rundown of what’s new up north.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Zoic Vancouver is a very important part of Zoic Studios. I felt fortunate to meet everyone and get a tour of the offices this past August. Patrick Mooney, Production Supervisor and VFX Producer of Zoic Vacouver gave me a run down of all of the exciting things coming up for the Canadian arm of the studio and the offices certainly have been full of activity. I wanted to share the news as there is some pretty big stuff in the works, but don’t take my word for it. Here is what Patrick has to say:
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Falling Skies, film, Premium Rush, Red Riding Hood, Television, V, Vancouver, Zoic Studios, Zoic Vancouver

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An Outdoor Adventure with Zoic Studios: Hiking Grouse Grind

Posted by Leslie Morgan in I Design Your Eyes on October 12, 2010

Back in August Loni Peristere, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Creative Director of Zoic Studios was up in Vancouver directing a commercial. Yours truly had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of that commercial spot and I can’t wait to show everyone how amazing the on set experience was. However, I am not here to tell you about that just yet. I am here to tell you about a really fantastic place that Loni got to check out when he went up to Vancouver.

Loni along with VFX Producer Ian Unterreiner, Terence Reilly, VP of Marketing for Famous Footwear, Andy Anema, Art Director for Campbell Mithun and Nancy Liss, Account Management Supervisor for Campbell Mithun went on quite an adventure. They all hiked up one of Vancouver’s most renowned and challenging trails, The Grouse Grind. Located about thirty minutes outside of the city, the trail climbs 2800 feet of elevation in about 1.8 miles and is open from June through October depending on weather conditions. The trail opened in 1983 and is composed almost entirely of stairs cut from the rock and soil of the mountainside. Sections of the trail that are quite steep are lined with rope and hikers will often use the rope to haul themselves up the difficult portion of the trail. On average it takes most people about an hour to complete the hike. Once completed, hikers are given a stunning view of the city and surrounding areas. There is a restaurant and refreshment options as well as a Gondola that will take hikers back to the bottom of the mountain. It is advised that those who dare to hike the trail be in decent physical shape and bring plenty of water and snacks. Apparently, the first fifteen minutes are the most challenging and if you can get past the first quarter mile you will be able to complete the hike.

However, don’t take my word for it. Check out this video below where Loni gives you a firsthand look at his experience hiking Grouse Grind.