VFX Legion, a global visual effects boutique, showcased their expertise as the primary visual effects vendor for Cobweb, a psychological thriller directed by Samuel Bodin and written by Chris Thomas Devlin.
The film, distributed by Lionsgate, premiered in theaters on July 21st, delivering an atmospheric and eerie experience to audiences.
Cobweb tells the gripping story of an eight-year-old boy, Peter, portrayed by Woody Norman, who becomes haunted by mysterious tapping and unsettling whispers from within the walls of his bedroom. While his parents, played by Lizzy Caplan and Antony Starr, dismiss his fears, Peter suspects that they are concealing a dark secret, leading to a suspenseful journey filled with twists and chilling moments.
VFX Legion’s contributions were essential to realizing the director’s vision for this compelling debut feature film. The boutique’s team crafted invisible effects that heightened the horror elements throughout the movie, while also delivering specific computer-generated shots for visceral moments, including a 3D animated spider, digital limb replacements, CG environments, and set extensions.
Shooting began in Sophia, Bulgaria in November 2020 and was delayed when COVID-19 halted production. Legion, conceived as a fully remote global VFX boutique in 2013, continued to move forward, working with existing footage throughout the pandemic.
The film, predominantly set within a house built without a ceiling, presented challenges that required meticulous set extensions to enhance practical footage. Matchmove artists tracked the camera’s movements through hallways, rooms, and hidden spaces, replicating the angles with a virtual camera. CG ceiling sections, designed to blend seamlessly with the aged look of the building, were integrated into real-world environments, showcasing the team’s expertise in seamless visual integration.
Despite the film’s extended development and the production challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, VFX Legion’s unique approach as a fully remote global VFX boutique proved invaluable. The company’s years of experience, diverse talent, and established protocols allowed them to adapt and continue working with existing footage throughout the pandemic, ensuring the film’s visual effects remained on track.
James David Hattin, Co-founder and VFX Supervisor at VFX Legion, spearheaded the project, assembling a dedicated team of production managers, producers, VFX artists, animators, and other specialized talent tailored to the specific needs of Cobweb.
Using tools such as Autodesk Maya, Foundry Nuke, Maxon Redshift, and SynthEyes, VFX Legion created all the visual effects remotely, showcasing their efficiency, scale, and caliber of resources in delivering the intricate and captivating visuals that Cobweb demanded.
The film’s successful execution, driven by the collaboration between VFX Legion, the director, and the talented cast, further solidifies VFX Legion’s reputation as a leading force in the visual effects industry, capable of elevating storytelling through their innovative work.
CREDITS:
Title: Cobweb
Genre: Horror, mystery, thriller
Release Date: July 21, 2023 (Theaters)
PRODUCTION COMPANIES – Lionsgate, Vertigo Entertainment, Point Grey, Media Capital Technologies
- Directed by – Samuel Bodin
- Written by – Chris Thomas Devlin
- Executive Producers – Andrew Childs, Connor DiGregorio, Josh Fagen, Jonathan McCoy, Christopher Woodrow
- Producers-Evan Goldberg, Roy Lee, Seth Rogen, James Weaver
- Cinematography – Philip Lozano
- Edited by – Greutert, Richard Riffaud
- Visual effects executive – Brianna Domont
Visual Effects by VFX Legion:
- James David Hattin -visual effects supervisor: VFX Legion
- Nate Smalley – visual effects producer: VFX Legion
- Dylan Yastremski – chief technology officer: VFX Legion
- Sebastian Weber – senior animator: VFX Legion
- Blake Anderson – cg supervisor: VFX Legion
- Rommel S. Calderon – cg supervisor: VFX Legion
- Bryan Shepperd – cg artist: VFX Legion
- Shantel Short – cg artist: VFX Legion
- Kenneth Bailey – cg artist: VFX Legion
- Patricio Harris – cg artist: VFX Legion
- Matthias Lowry – lead compositor: VFX Legion
- Ulysses Argetta – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Cyntia Büll – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- John R. McConnell – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Daniel Molina – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Lauren Morimoto -digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Brad Moylan – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Eugen Olsen – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Adam Kelway – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Kate T.C. Lin -digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Courtney Cheesman – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Daniel Keith Raffel – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Vicki Silva – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Ken Fisk – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Nick Guth – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Kim Hong Kyoung – digital compositor: VFX Legion
- Dave Tipper – matte painter: VFX Legion
- Ruy Delgado – tracking artist: VFX Legion
- Michael G. Jackson – tracking artist: VFX Legion
- Matthew Noren – visual effects coordinator: VFX Legion
- Alanna O’Brien – visual effects coordinator: VFX Legion
- Joseph Soloway – visual effects coordinator: VFX Legion
- Perry MacDonald – systems administrator: VFX Legion
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