You pay for bad prosthetics three times : 1) when you do them the first time. 2) when you paint them out of the shot. 3) when you replace them with CG.
John Gajdecki
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.
