Do Stroyboards, hire a concept artist, do previs… and anything else that you can do to get your vision across as early and clearly as possible. VFX people do not "wing it"... They are careful planners and strategists... They will cling to any tangible piece of direction you can give them. The more information you put out the better the VFX team can disseminate information to the rest of the crew.
Tom Turnbull
Selected Projects
The Hole 3D
- Feature
- Bold Films
- Supervised Stereo cinematography of plates on RED camera.
- Extensive experience managing RED's Focal Length vs. Frame Rate interdependence, and it's effect on our stereo space.
- Set up and supervised in house team of artists, and were able to double the VFX shot count for the same budget and same schdule. Stereo was much easier than I was led to believe, but you have to start by shooting the plates well.
- Won 1st Place at Venice Film Festival for Best Stereo Feature.
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2
- DVD
- Disney
- Worked with Director, DP, Designer and VFX Producer to design and execute shots.
- Directed second unit for every day of the shoot.
- Supervised vendors in Hong Kong and Beijing, I spent several months there.
- Disney purchased Centro VFX in Hong Kong, we were their first Disney project.
- Oversaw in house artists in Los Angeles and Vancouver.
The L-Word
- Series Finale
- ShowTime
- Designed and created the iconic “End-of-Series” virtual environments for Los Angeles exteriors.
- For other scenes I set up digital rear projection of LA skyline rather than greenscreen composites for some sets, I’m a big fan of this technology for certain applications.
- Worked closely with director and editor to make sure all of our shots played as a scene, visually building from the photoreal into a stylised fashion shoot style celebration of the cast and their characters.
Rise Against
- Music Video
- Crossroads
- Chicago burns in these great looking shots at the end of the video.
- Designed the shot, phoned in the plate instructions…. ( you know how these budgets are ), I wanted to play with fire again, I’ve done too many happy films lately.
Notorious BIG
- Feature
- 20th Century Fox
- Pre-Vised major action scenes and concert sequences.
- Set up and supervised in house team of artists for this project.
- There was no post work for us on this project.
Dolittle 4 & 5
- DVD
- Fox
- Designed shots with Director and DP and Producers.
- Directed second unit for approx. half the schedule.
- Kept the In-House team from Fallen (below) for this production.
- Worked extensively with Hammerhead Korea for half the shots.
- Supervised artists and facilities during post.
Fallen
- Miniseries
- ABC Family
- Established in house pre-vis team.
- Designed VFX sequences with Director, DP, Prod Designer and Pre-Vis artists.
- Supervised main unit plate shooting and directed VFX Unit.
- Established in house dept to produce Flying and Redemption scenes.
- Worked with local vendors for the fire swords battles.
In the Name of the King
- Feature
- BrightLight Pictures
- VFX Producer during prep and shooting for this 1400 VFX shot film.
- Established in house pre-vis team to temp all VFX sequences.
- Went back to Slither (below) once it was in post.
Slither
- Feature
- Strike Entertainment
- Established in house pre-vis team to temp all VFX sequences.
- Supervised main unit 35mm plate cinematography.
- In house team was expanded to handle half the shots.
- Supervised London, Toronto, Vancouver, LA vendors.
- Winner of the Fangoria Chainsaw award for Highest Body Count…
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
- Feature
- Warner Bros.
- Additional VFX Supervision for Vancouver sequences.
Stargate Atlantis
- Pilot
- MGM
- Established in house pre-vis team to temp all VFX sequences.
- Headed design team for floating city.
- Supervised all main unit plate shooting and directed VFX Unit.
- Established looks and methodologies to be used for rest of series.
- Supervised Digital Effects at Rainmaker.
I Robot
- Feature
- Fox
- Designed methodology for Lanning House Sequence: huge mansion is destroyed by Robot - realised via miniature build and shoot, 3D particles, 2D.
- Supervised Main and Second unit Plate photography for this sequence, but not the post.
Coors Light
- Commercial
- Mustard UK
- Pre-vised all shots with Director and Producer to fully integrate VFX avalanche with live action before going to camera.
- Supervised Main and Model unit plate photography for this 8 day shoot.
- Creatively developed shots during Inferno and Flame compositing sessions.
Santa Clause 2
- Feature
- Disney
- Pre-vised major action scenes with Director and DP.
- Designed Ice Globe environment, ultimately creating fantastic 30’ by 90’ translates.
- Supervised all plate photography.
- Worked closely with Tippett Studios who did all CG Reindeer shots.
- Supervised Digital Effects in Toronto and Vancouver, liaised with Tippett Studios in San Francisco and editorial in Santa Monica.
Down to Earth
- Feature
- Paramount
- Supervised plate photography and designed look of heaven.
- Worked creatively with Inferno artists to final shots.
Other Side of Heaven
- Feature
- TriMark
- Shot plates in Cooke Islands and New Zealand.
- Supervised all digital work, including the creation of a large Storm at Sea Sequence.
T Digit
- Commercial
- Hanover Expo, Cine +
- Designed and executed methodology for shooting and posting moving multi camera rigs to deliver up to 32 tiled screens.
- Supervised delivery of a lot of shots in a very short period of time with international vendors.
Stargate SG 1
- Multiple Seasons
- MGM/Showtime
- Worked with co-supervisors Bob Habros and Ted Rae to establish looks and methodologies for recurring effects.
- Supervised Main unit plate photography.
- Supervised digital work at all major Canadian and several LA facilities.
Warriors of Virtue
- Feature
- Law Bros Ent. / MGM
- Joined production at start of post.
- Shot VFX miniatures and elements.
- Worked closely with LA, Toronto and Vancouver vendors to design and deliver sequences.
Outer Limits
- TV Series
- MGM Showtime
- VFX Supervision responsibilities included shooting plates with Main and Second unit as well as following shots through post.
- Farmed work to all major Canadian and several LA facilities.
Johnny Mnemonic
- Feature
- Tristar
- Designed ‘Upload’ sequence with C.O.R.E .
- Playback Graphics Supervisor and Download Sequence designer.
Tekwar
- Miniseries
- Universal
- Supervised Main Unit plate and Motion Control shooting.
- Set up in house dept in addition to working with multiple Toronto vendors.
- Moved GVFX into digital production by purchasing the first Discreet Logic system in Canada.
White Room
- Feature
- Alliance Entertainment
Welcome to the Parade
- Feature
- 16mm Feature which I co-DP'd with Jon Joffin.
- After lighting the scene I'd pick up the Nagra and Boom the shot. I would always leave a hole to avoid the boom shadow.
