Vine FX brings the action for Paris Has Fallen

Cambridge-based VFX studio, Vine FX, delivered over 1,350 shots including environment extensions, driving shots, and action sequences.

A terrorist attack hits the streets of Paris and MI6 protection officer, Vincent Taleb, finds himself thrown into the middle of a sinister plot. The Paris Has Fallen TV series is based on the Has Fallen movie franchise and brings the same intense action as the blockbusters, focusing on the protection of the French Minister of Defence from an unravelling terrorist scheme.

Shows like Paris Has Fallen are replete with nail-biting action and drama. For visual effects studio, Vine FX, the challenge was one of complexity and quantity.

This is one of the biggest projects we’ve taken on. It’s a gripping story that’s filled with incredible sequences, some great CG, and plenty of visual effects work. The team here did a great job to blend all of that together so it’s genuinely hard to tell where live action ends and VFX begins.

Laura Usaite, Managing Director of Vine FX

Paris Has Fallen features the largest VFX shot count to date for Vine FX. This cinematic world is brought to life through a seamless blend of distinctive 2D and 3D elements, including environment extensions, aeroplanes, dynamic driving sequences, and explosive action. The enhancement of practical set builds with custom Parisian environment extensions played a vital role in shaping the show’s unique aesthetic, balancing both realism and visual excitement. Amidst it all are intense shootouts and clashes where VFX elevates the drama to new heights.

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The art of CG

What makes complex sequences more manageable is good reference material.

There’s a scene where the characters run across a roof and jump into a hovering helicopter. The production team had done a great job building a rig with a partial helicopter on a green screen stage. It gave us a good frame of reference when it came to replacing the rigged vehicle with a fully CG one.

Newton

Several shots needed almost entirely rebuilding during post-production, so the Vine FX team had its work cut out. A specific shot that used a full CG rebuild was when a terrorist walks through a corridor, punches out a window and prepares to fire a shot across the embassy courtyard square. While this may sound simple, the shots had to be very specific as the sequence itself was filmed on a green screen stage and the exterior elements were filmed on location, meaning the matching of angles had to be seamless.

The angle of the corridor shot didn’t match the exterior plate. We opted to rebuild the embassy courtyard in CG and composite the environment behind with matte paintings so we could realise the geography of the story. It’s one of those innocuous sequences that has a lot more visual effects work than an audience might realise.

Maxwell

The show is full of complex camera moves. What makes the shots incredibly successful is how we integrate with the live action footage.

Laura Usaite, Managing Director of Vine FX

For sequences filmed outside, including leaps from buildings, there was no simple green screen to remove. The team at Vine FX rebuilt buildings in CG, adding DMP and city details in the background to recreate Paris authentically.

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Action on the streets

There are nearly 200 driving shots in Paris Has Fallen, all filmed against green screens. This, normally, would require either stock assets or extensive camera rigging to film live-action plates. Vine FX recommended mounting a 360-degree field-of-view camera to a low-level car to give maximum flexibility during post-production, enabling reframing to match green screenshots as needed.

We developed a method of filming backplates across Paris with a 360-degree camera. It meant that we could take a new, innovative approach that proved to be incredibly successful – especially when handling a huge volume of driving shots.

Laura Usaite, Managing Director of Vine FX

One of the added benefits was that, because of the 360-degree view, we immediately had reference material for reflections. It made the integration of green screen action and real-world backgrounds much more believable, helping to really anchor everything in place. We then built a template inside Nuke to iterate across multiple sequences.

Alexander

Paris Has Fallen demanded artistic mastery from every department to bring its gripping drama to life. While great visual effects work is often invisible to the audience, it’s important to acknowledge the dedication and countless hours invested in creating seamless sequences where the line between reality and visual effects is indistinguishable.

That’s a true testament to the artistry and skill of the Vine FX team.

Alexander

Watch Vine FX’s Paris Has Fallen showreel below. For more information, visit vinefx.com.

Channel 5 commissions Treehouse, a new zero-carbon live action preschool series

Serious Kids and Channel 5 have inked a commissioning agreement for Treehouse Productions’ preschool series, Treehouse, created by Ryan Dean and Lowri Williams.

Louise Bucknole is the commissioner for Channel 5’s preschool block Milkshake! and Serious Kids will represent the worldwide distribution rights. 

Narrated by Milkshake! presenter, Olivia Birchenough, the series is written by newcomer Lowri Williams, produced by Lilly Pollard and directed by Jamie Langton (Twirlywoos). The Treehouse costumes are created by Tim Simpson at Plunge Creations (The Masked Singer) whilst the live action sequences are blended with animation and special effects from Beakus (Big Lizard, Yakka Dee). The series is due to air on Milkshake! in 2025. 

Treehouse is filmed in live action and features a mix of actors in costume, puppetry and 2D animation. The 30 x 7 minute preschool series is a celebration of nature, exploring the themes of kindness, inclusion and empathy, as the characters navigate the world around them.

The series stars Squiggle, a curious young squirrel who lives in a magical treehouse in the heart of the countryside, with his best friends, Fluff, a mischievous mouse and Nok Nok, the nosey woodpecker. Each episode follows Squiggle as he visits his woodland friends via the magical wall of windows encountering energetic owl, Magnus, badger and hedgehog duo, Badger and Scratch, or his dancing ladybird friend, Dotty. Squiggle learns valuable lessons or new skills with his friends which he teaches to Fluff on his return to the treehouse, from mastering the art of ballet dance to celebrating Diwali.

A friendly narrator guides the characters, prompting the action or communicating the lesson. The characters are non-verbal, and communicate physically, encouraging young children to get involved.

The series is produced at RD Studios, which is powered by zero-carbon energy harnessed from solar panels on the roof where the water for the facility is also harvested. The studio nurtures biodiverse gardens as a haven for bees, birdlife, and local flora. This environmental ethos also extends to the sets which are built from recyclable cardboard, later pulped and repurposed rather than stored.

We were captivated by Treehouse’s blend of fantastic characters, artful storytelling, play, music and dance, all perfectly capturing the spirit of the Milkshake! brand. With Milkshake! presenter, Olivia narrating to bring these wonderful stories to life, we hope that our young audience will enjoy learning about the world around them alongside the Treehouse crew.

Louise Bucknole, General Manager, Kids & Family at Paramount UK & Ireland

As the co-creator of Treehouse, I am thrilled to announce the launch of this unique show. My vision when building RD Studios was always to establish a completely sustainable film studio, capable of producing shows that reflect those values. Treehouse is a testament to that commitment, offering children live-action content that is both educational, entertaining and sustainably produced.

Ryan Dean, CEO of Treehouse Productions and RD Studios

We are so pleased to conclude this deal with Channel 5’s Milkshake!. We are aware of the attraction of live action character series’ that engage the audience in a unique way and we’re delighted to produce a show full of inclusive, fun and engaging stories like Treehouse. We look forward to seeing this wonderful series launching on Milkshake! and introducing it to the international market.

Genevieve Dexter, CEO of Serious Kids

Government-funded Houdini bootcamps to upskill VFX and animation teams

Studios can now get 60 hours of instructor-led support, with personalised curriculums and schedules, with up to 90% of costs covered. 

Houdini is becoming an increasingly vital tool for modern VFX and animation pipelines – and Skills Bootcamp funding is now available to make it more possible than ever to rapidly upskill existing teams. 

Studios can brief Mastered – a specialist training centre – on what they need, for who, and the Houdini team there will propose a bespoke curriculum, to be delivered by SideFX recommended trainers, for £405 a person for 60-hours of support.

We know studios don’t want off-the-shelf training – they need it personalised to their specific pipeline, projects, teams and schedules – in order to make it stick. Skills Bootcamp funding is an affordable way for studios to develop their in-house talent and get up to 90% of the training costs covered by the government.

Perri Lewis, Co-Founder of Mastered

Mentors have all worked in industry, for companies such as Disney, Technicolor, MPC, among many others, alongside being expert trainers in Houdini. 

Our mentors work closely with SideFX, so you can be assured they have the latest insights and tricks for whatever Houdini version you’re using.

Perri Lewis, Co-Founder of Mastered

Beyond interactive, small-group sessions, the bootcamps also include one-on-one support to ensure each learner achieves their personal goals. Regular self-assessments track skill growth and confidence over the 16-week programme too, enabling for personalised interventions when needed.

Since 2015, Mastered has upskilled over 5,500 creative professionals across 95 countries in technical, business, and leadership skills. In the last 2 years they have trained 30+ studios in VFX, animation and games using Skills Bootcamp funding, ensuring the get highly subsidised rates.

If you are interested in finding out more about the funding and if you can use it, email perri@mastered.com. For more details, see join.mastered.com.

Cinesite expands XR capabilities with Adipat Virdi as Executive Director

Adi will lead and develop client relationships for new projects as Cinesite expands its footprint in the immersive market.

Cinesite, a global leader in visual effects and animation, has announced the appointment of Adipat Virdi as Executive Director, XR (Global). Adi will join Cinesite’s leadership team and oversee the company’s XR initiatives worldwide.

With a proven track record in XR and immersive technologies, Adi brings over two decades of experience. He has a background in experience design and immersive storytelling,  skills which he has brought to projects for a wide range of major brands and organisations such as BBC, Sony, Netflix, Virgin Atlantic, HSBC, Cosworth, Harbour Immersive, NASA, Charlotte Tilbury, Balenciaga, Lamborghini, Nike, IoC, Real Madrid and PagoNXT amongst others. Adi specialises in developing immersive storytelling frameworks for both social and commercial impact. He joins Cinesite from Facebook (Meta), where he was the Global Creative Product Lead for Immersive, spearheading the Emerging Platforms team’s exploration of VR/XR and immersive experiences.

We are thrilled to welcome Adi to the Cinesite group. His expertise in XR will be invaluable as we continue to push the boundaries of immersive storytelling and expand our offerings in this rapidly growing market.

Antony Hunt, CEO of Cinesite

Adi will drive Cinesite’s XR strategy, foster collaboration across the company’s global studios, and explore new opportunities for XR applications in entertainment, fashion, the automobile industry, and beyond.

At Cinesite, our decades of experience crafting stunning visual effects for Hollywood blockbusters have equipped us with a unique understanding of storytelling and immersion. Now, we’re excited to leverage this expertise to create XR experiences that truly transport audiences into the heart of the action. Our goal is to make them feel like they can choose to be main characters and dynamic participants rather than just passive observers.

Adipat Virdi, Executive Director, XR (Global) at Cinesite

Cinesite’s appointment of Adi reinforces the company’s commitment to innovation and its position as a leader in the immersive sector. Adi’s appointment follows the company’s division launch in January 2024. Since then, it has announced a long-term partnership with Frameless, creators of the UK’s largest multi-sensory art experience. The studio’s immersive work has been recognised by several awards including:

• THEA Award (The Bourne Stuntacular, 2020)
• VES Awards (The Bourne Stuntacular 2021; The Rembrandt Seascape 2024)
• BIMA award (The Rembrandt Seascape 2024, Frameless)
• LIT Entertainment Award (Forsaken, 2024)

Adi’s appointment is effective immediately. He is based in the UK and can be reached at immersive@cinesite.com.

The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland delivered to UK and US audiences in time for Christmas 2024

Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films’ upcoming animated musical feature film boards for UK release on the Sky Cinema platform on 13 December.

Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films have secured UK and US distribution in time for the holidays for their animated musical feature film, The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland.

Sky Original Film, the leading UK film financier, producer, and distributor, will premiere the film on the Sky Cinema platform on the 13th December as a centrepiece of their Christmas offering, alongside their extensive catalogue of movies available on demand. The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland will be available to stream in the US on Prime Video and to Hulu subscribers beginning 15^th November.

The film is based on the bestselling book written by Carys Bexington, illustrated by Kate Hindley and published by Macmillan, which mashes up two classic tales: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (also known as A Visit from St Nicholas). The plot features characters from both story worlds including St Nick, voiced by Gerard Butler (Has Fallen trilogy, How to Train Your Dragon), The Queen of Hearts voiced by Emilia Clarke (Last Christmas, Game of Thrones), and Alice in Wonderland voiced by Simone Ashley (Bridgerton, Sex Education).

Making his feature film debut is director Peter Baynton whose film The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film as well as the BAFTA for Best British Short Animation in 2023. Sara Daddy has adapted the book into a screenplay, written entirely in rhyming couplets. The film features original music and songs written by long-time Robbie Williams collaborator Guy Chambers, and Grammy Award winning songwriter Amy Wadge.

The production reunites Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films following recent successful collaborations on Mog’s Christmas and The Tiger Who Came to Tea. It is produced by the multi award-winning Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin for Lupus Films and executive produced by Helen Parker, EVP, Universal Pictures Content Group, Gerard Butler and Alan Siegel for G-BASE Productions and Emilia Clarke for Magical Thinking Pictures.

Having worked with Lupus Films and Universal Pictures Content Group on this fantastical fairy-tale mash-up since its development, we’re delighted to announce that we’re delivering it to Sky Cinema audiences in time for Christmas this year. With an all-star voice cast, delightful animation and toe-tapping original tunes, we know that families will love this animated adaptation of Carys and Kate’s beloved illustrated book.

Julia Stuart, Director of Original Film at Sky

Film synopsis

St Nick receives a delayed letter on Christmas Eve from the Princess of Hearts. He and his dedicated team of reindeer set off to Wonderland where they’re greeted by the mean and miserable Queen of Hearts who hates all things Christmas… especially presents! Can St Nick, aided by Alice, the Mad Hatter and March Hare, show the Queen the true meaning of Christmas and save the day before it’s too late?

Tapocketa awarded Innovate UK funding for web-based animated storybook

Indie creative studio Tapocketa was awarded Innovate UK funding for its ground-breaking web-based animated storybook called Galdo’s Gift: The Boovie®, supported by UK Research and Innovation.

Hertfordshire-based micro-indie animation and media production studio, Tapocketa, have been awarded UK Research and Innovation funding to advance the inventive features of their animated storybook, Galdo’s Gift: The Boovie®.

Eleanor Long RCA, artist/model-maker (The Borrowers, Pinocchio) and Trevor Young, a former film visual effects specialist (Harry Potter, Hunger Games) decided to start Tapocketa together to explore and push the boundaries of storytelling.

Receiving Innovate UK funding is a significant step in making this accessible, ground-breaking web experience a reality.

Eleanor Long RCA, Creative Producer at Tapocketa

They developed their own visual style using motion-captured paper puppets, importing their creations into the digital realm to add lighting and sound effects. The result is a mesmerising mix of the real and the fantastical.

The whole concept of Galdo’s Gift is to create a magical children’s storybook that comes to life with animation and involves the child in the story. It is an exciting prospect to know that it’s now possible to innovate this for the web.

Trevor Young, Creative Director at Tapocketa

A Boovie® is Tapocketa’s term for a book-movie hybrid; a reference to the animated illustrations that adorn every page. The animated main character, King Galdo (voiced by British TV legend Brian Murphy), is also on hand to narrate the story. Children can make their way through the Boovie® at their own pace, with the trickier words explained by funny ‘pop up’ definitions that relate to the story.

Originally an ebook on the Apple Store (where it reached no. 3 in the kid’s charts among the Harry Potters and won a slew of awards), it has now been completely reconfigured and will be developed to work in web browsers on any device. Galdo’s Gift will be a fully browser-based experience making it truly accessible to everyone, especially as browsers and devices are now sufficiently advanced to be able to support its features. The ambition is to make sure no child is left behind in their journey to a love of literature, so the intention is to make the core Boovie® storybook free with the backing of sponsorship.

Ultimately, the success of Galdo’s Gift will be based on building the momentum in its reach, so devising innovative ways to encourage sharing is vital. The Innovate UK funding will make this possible.

Eleanor Long RCA, Creative Producer at Tapocketa

Tapocketa has learnt, having taken the Boovie® into schools, that children are fascinated to know how the storybook and animations were created.

Galdo’s Gift, with its paper cutout style, looks creatively achievable to children in a way that many big studio offerings do not. So it is important to Tapocketa that the Boovie® leads to bespoke paper activities that allow children to explore their own creativity and storytelling abilities.

The UKRI Innovate funding is the boost needed to take the Boovie® to the next level and inspire a new generation of hidden talent.

Find out more at galdosgift.com.

Maddie + Triggs launching on CBeebies and RTÉjr

Available on CBeebies, BBC iPlayer, RTÉjr and RTÉ Player from 21 October, Maddie + Triggs is a fun and inclusive show that focuses on 7-year-old Maddie and her best doggy friend Triggs, as they find music and adventure in the sounds of the world around them.

Maddie + Triggs is created by Irish production studio Turnip + Duck, with animation services provided by Sun & Moon Studios.

Maddie + Triggs is an audio-first series founded on the principle that ‘If two kids, one sighted and one vision impaired, sit down side by side to ‘watch’ the show, neither will have a lesser experience’. Based on the much-loved RTÉ podcast of the same name, Maddie and Triggs live together with their mum and dad in the colourful town of Higgledy-Piggledy, and it is here they find music and adventure in the sounds of the everyday.

We are absolutely thrilled to be working on such a wonderful series that ties in so well to our ethos and creative aspirations as a studio. We hope Maddie + Triggs will have a positive and long-lasting impact on both young and visually impaired audiences.

Louis Jones, Co-Founder of Sun & Moon and Executive Producer of Maddie + Triggs

Maddie + Triggs (52 x 7’) was commissioned by the BBC and RTÉ. The series is produced by Turnip + Duck, with animation services provided by Sun & Moon Studios.

LIGHT expands its London team

LIGHT London officially welcomes Ben Hicks as VFX Supervisor.

As LIGHT’s portfolio continues to grow and diversify, they have welcomed Ben Hicks to their London team as VFX Supervisor. With over two decades at leading UK studios, Ben brings an impressive body of work, including films such as Inception, Godzilla, Total Recall, and the TV series Mindhunter.

Ben’s expertise in compositing is well established; he led the team for the critically acclaimed Mank, directed by David Fincher. Most recently, he contributed to numerous episodic projects for platforms such as Amazon Prime and the BBC, as well as feature films like A Man Called Otto, a project that LIGHT was also proud to be part of.

This new chapter reunites Ben with Antoine Moulineau, founder of LIGHT and fellow VFX Supervisor. They shared a history of working together on Ron Howard’s Rush and John Carter. LIGHT is excited about the synergy Ben’s extensive compositing expertise brings to the team.

With LIGHT’s established presence in both London and France, and a studio capacity to accommodate 120 artists, Ben will support the teams across a wide range of productions.

The company has collaborated on high-profile productions such as John Wick 4 (delivering 183 shots), the epic Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, The Witcher season 3, the series of cinematic trailers for Batman: Arkham Shadow, and the last-ever Daft Punk music video among other notable work. By continuously enhancing its compositing capabilities and refining its craft, LIGHT remains committed to pushing the boundaries of excellence in the industry.

King Banana’s first fully animated co-production launching on CBeebies

King Banana’s first fully animated co-production, Nikhil & Jay, is launching on CBeebies and on iPlayer on Saturday 19 October at 10:15am.

Leading kids’ entertainment specialists King Banana TV have partnered with Paper Owl Films and CAKE, to produce 2D animated family sitcom Nikhil & Jay.

Nikhil & Jay builds upon King Banana’s portfolio of impactful shows that make a positive difference to children’s lives. Nikhil & Jay puts diversity front and centre by featuring a dual-heritage family and authentically representing what it means to have varied cultural influences within a modern, British home.

The show is based on characters by author Chitra Soundar, who approached King Banana TV to develop her books for television. The show was developed and pitched by King Banana and the original design and characters were by King Banana Creative Director Chris Allen, the talent behind the design of well-loved CBeebies character, Yakka Dee. 

The team behind the show reflect both South Asian and British cultures. With funding from the BBC’s Diversity Fund, King Banana have appointed Nandita Jain (Little Baby Bum, Lellobee City Farm) as director; talent and lived experience have brought the series to life and helped to ensure authenticity within the series.

Nikhil & Jay aims to diversify the off screen talent within the industry. New South Asian writing talent was one of a number of mentoring schemes across the show’s production. King Banana TV brought together a culturally diverse writing team with Exec Producer Chitra Soundar ensuring each script is infused with lived experience.

King Banana TV headed up culturally authentic casting for the series. The show introduces new talent in the shape of two amazing boys with Tamil heritage to voice Nikhil and Jay.  Amma (mum) is voiced by the rising star Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton, Alex Rider) who is of Tamil heritage. Ben Harris who plays Appa (dad) is making his debut in the world of children’s animation following a long career of voicework and comedy writing (writing credits include Have I got News For You and Shooting Stars). Ammamma is played by Janaki Sabash, a popular actress in Kollywood and Ravi Swami takes the role of Thatha. Mr Awan is hilariously brought to life by phenomenally successful comedian and author Tez Ilyas; and national treasures Janine Duvitski (Abigail’s Party, Benidorm)plays Nana and Mark Benton (Early Doors, Waterloo Road)features as Jim.

Brand new Nikhil & Jay follows the everyday adventures of two young dual heritage brothers whose Mum is from South India and Dad is from Northern England. With both Indian and English grandparents, their life is a rich blend of both cultures and reflects so many families living in the UK today. A family sitcom written from a place of knowledge, love and authentic, lived experience of two cultures coming together, Nikhil & Jay follows relatable child-focused stories with fast paced wit and visual humour.

The series has been produced for CBeebies by King Banana TV (Yakka Dee!, Meet the Experts), Paper Owl Films (Pablo, Happy The Hoglet) and CAKE (Angry Birds Summer Madness and Mama K’s Team 4), with funding from Northern Ireland Screen.

Fitzrovia Post reunites with Rob Butler-Biggs as Executive Supervising Sound Editor

Fitzrovia Post has announced the return of Rob Butler-Biggs, the highly-acclaimed sound engineer and original founder of Fitzrovia Post, as Executive Supervising Sound Editor.

Rob’s unparalleled experience in animation sound design spans 30 years, from shows in stop-motion to Unreal Engine, and from stereo to Atmos, making him one of the most versatile and respected figures in the industry.

Rob’s return is a major boost to Fitzrovia Post’s long-form animation work, which is central to their expanding portfolio. Fitzrovia has earned a reputation for delivering world-class sound design, foley, and mixing across a wide range of animated projects, and with Rob’s creative leadership and deep knowledge of the entire spectrum of animation, they are poised to build upon this legacy and take it even further.

I am very happy to welcome my friend Rob back to the Fitzrovia family. His breadth of experience, from stereo to Atmos, and from stop-motion to Unreal Engine, is simply unmatched in the industry. Rob understands animation sound like no one else, and with him leading our long-form animation projects, our clients can be assured they are working with the very best. It is great to have him around the new studios and I am filled with confidence in his ability to oversee the creative delivery of our productions.

Keiran Brown, CEO of Fitzrovia Post

When the call came from Keiran recently, it was a no-brainer for me. I’m thrilled to return to Fitzrovia Post and continue my passion for animation sound design. With Keiran’s incredible leadership, I can focus purely on the creative process and nurturing the incredible in-house talent we have here.  I’m very happy to be back in the Fitzrovia family and excited to collaborate with the team.

I’m also very much looking forward to welcoming back all my old clients to the new studio. Our state-of-the-art facilities have been designed to be fully accessible, and I invite everyone to come for a tour and in person catchup.

Rob Butler-Biggs, Executive Supervising Sound Editor at Fitzrovia Post

Rob’s vast experience and undeniable talent in animation sound design solidify Fitzrovia Post’s reputation as an industry leader, ensuring that their clients receive nothing short of exceptional quality for every project.