Vine FX deliver VFX for the War of the Worlds Season 2
Vine FX has been nominated for an RTS Craft and Design award for Best Effects on The Serpent!
The awards will be held at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Monday 22nd November, presented by ITV’s Charlene White.
In the meantime why not revisit some of our work for the show here 🤗
The team at Vine FX are training in preparation to run the Cambridge Half Marathon on the 17th of October, in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Company Founder, Michael Illingworth has personally experienced the loss of a loved one to this debilitating disease.
Due to the ongoing global crisis, this year the MND association needs our support now more than ever and that’s why 10 of the Vine FX team are running to raise funds and support the amazing work this charity does.
The MND Association focuses on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by MND in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We would love it if you could click here and donate to this cause and support us in this challenge!
BBC One’s long-anticipated spin-off series from The Missing, Baptiste season 2 was one of the productions halted by the coronavirus and lockdown measures. Working alongside Two Brother Pictures, Vine FX delivered over 270 shots as the sole vendor. After filming stopped in Budapest due COVID restrictions, the team were brought in to help transform UK sets into Hungarian locations. The six-parter resumed filming in September 2020 and follows retired detective Julien Baptiste (Tchéky Karyo) as he delves into Budapest’s corrupt underworld.
VFX Supervisor Michael Illingworth, collaborated with series producer John Griffin, establishing solutions to issues caused not only by travel restrictions – but also talent availability constraints. Scenes that were shot in the UK were altered to visually represent locations including Central Budapest, a Hungarian ski resort and mountainous winter terrain.
John Giffin commented on his experience working with Vine FX,
“I found working with Vine on the second series of Baptiste a really collaborative and rewarding experience. They guided us creatively through some quite difficult challenges and helped us deliver a high quality show, making the process rewarding and fun. And from a budget perspective, again they helped and guided us through best value solutions and often at short notice. I’m very proud to have worked with them.” John Griffin.
As the sole vendor, Vine FX delivered 270 shots for the show, some of which required detailed snow enhancements. The task was larger than initially anticipated due to the travel restrictions prohibiting the ability to re-shoot snowy elements in the Börzsöny mountains of Northern Hungary. The Vine FX team assisted in rebuilding the required snowy scenery shot on the London plates – snowfall, icy frost patches and dense forest were integrated to counter the autumnal colours originally shot.
With the ongoing travel restriction implications, 3D set extensions were created to transform the Watford set into Budapest. The production team hired a local photographer to source photogrammetry for buildings that would be built in 3D. The images were then used to build a series of streets which were blended into the Watford set and transported to the busy Hungarian location.
During a scene within the season finale, alterations were made to drone plates that were shot in Dagenham in order to represent a hospital rooftop located in central Budapest. The client brief required the location to be transformed with views that overlooked the busy cityscape. Production worked with local location managers to source suitable VFX elements with the correct angles and required lighting conditions. These moving elements allowed Vine FX to embed the hospital into an authentic central city location.
The Vine FX team delivered the show whilst working entirely remotely, with the project overseen by VFX Line Producer Kaitlyn Beattie. Now confirmed as the final in the Baptiste series, the first episode saw 4.4m viewers tune in – The Guardian described the show as ‘A heartstopping whodunnit with The Missing sleuth’.
Vine FX are currently working on The Tower (ITV), Extinction (Sky), The Tourist (HBO) & War of the Worlds S3 (Disney+)
Vine FX showcases their latest showreel which represents a wide array of visual effects work developed for television production.
Featuring work completed on War of the Worlds, The Serpent, The One, Soulmates, Beecham House, A Suitable Boy, Patrick Melrose, School’s Out Forever, Deadwater Fell & Troy: Fall of the City.
The showreel reveals Glasgow transform into New York, a deadly robot build, creature work, crowd replication, futuristic technology integration, authentic DMP set extensions set in various parts of the world, green screen replacement and set enhancement.
Most recently, Vine FX has received Bafta Craft and RTS nominations for Best Visual Effects for War of The Worlds.
Company founder Michael Illingworth made the conscious choice to move out of the traditional London hub in 2012, carving a new way of working in VFX with an emphasis on a healthy work-life balance.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, the core team has been able to grow, whilst promoting from within and developing talent for the long term. Last year Vine FX promoted their new Head of 3D, Pedrom Dadgostar and Head of 2D, Ezequiel Villanueva. Their most recent collaborative work will feature on War of The Worlds season 2, due to air in July on Disney +.
If you’d like to discuss your VFX requirements please forward all enquiries to production@vinefx.com
We are very pleased to announce that Vine FX has been nominated for a BAFTA Craft Award 2021, for our work on War of the Worlds, Urban Myth Films/FOX.
Congratulations to Michael Illingworth, Pedrom Dadgostar, Oliver Milburn, Laura Usaite and the team! We are over the moon #BAFTATV #baftaawards2021 #BAFTAS
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Vine FX is highlighting the eleven female professionals currently working for the studio. According to a survey conducted by UK Screen Alliance in 2017, women in the Visual Effects Industry were underrepresented – making up just 27% of the overall workforce. However, the same report revealed one department bucking the trends – with Production Departments composed of 60% women! Whilst Vine FX respect and celebrate all genders, today’s article shares a little more about the female employees working for Vine FX.
The Cambridge-based visual effects company announced their delivery of 500 shots for The Serpent, BBC One’s new eight-part mini series.
Vine FX has announced their delivery of 500 shots for The Serpent, BBC One’s new eight-part mini series. Filmed in Thailand and the UK, The Serpent takes inspiration from real-life events of infamous French fraudster and serial killer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim), and stars Jenna Coleman as accomplice Marie-Andree Leclerc.
In a BBC interview, Lead Director Tom Shankland recalls how camp-fire stories were shared of a Frenchman, rumored to be at the heart of multiple disappearances of fellow travelers. Meticulous research was conducted in order to remain truthful and respectful to the recent historical past. Writer Richard Warlow scripted the series with Toby Finlay and it was co-directed by Hans Herbots.
Cambridge based VFX studio, Vine FX announce the promotion of two of their supervisors as the company continues to strengthen its creative offering.
Pedrom Dadgostar is now Head of 3D and Ezequiel Villanueva Head of 2D, the pair are leading their respective departments as well as managing the balance of artists based at the facility and Vine’s remote working crew.
An experienced 3D Supervisor, Pedrom’s career began at Bandito VFX before a three-year stint at MPC Advertising where he worked on a selection of high-profile and award-winning commercials including Ridley Scott’s Hennessy: The Seven Worlds and Channel 4’s 2018 trailer for the Great British Bake Off. Since joining Vine, Pedrom has been instrumental in the growth of the 3D department, producing outstanding work, most recently, on War of the Worlds, season 1.
The Cambridge based studio delivered 500 shots for the anthology series despite the imposition of lockdown restrictions.
Cambridge based VFX studio, Vine FX, spent lockdown adjusting to new remote working environments and challenges during their first project of the year. 2020 has seen Vine FX succeed in growth during a time when many businesses have had to cut back, increasing their staffing by a third. Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, post-production VFX has been one of the few areas of the industry to fortunately resemble anything remotely like business as usual. Vine FX was already in a firm position for remote working, which enabled the team to quickly adapt and expand without geographical restrictions.
Cambridge based VFX studio, Vine FX announced today their involvement as sole VFX vendor on War Of The Worlds, the eight-part drama based on the H.G.Wells classic, for Fox and Canal+.
Set in present-day Europe, War Of The Worlds was written and created by the BAFTA award-winner Howard Overman, with Executive Producers, Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps. Vine FX have a long history of working with this trio, following on from their work on Merlin, Atlantis and Crazyhead.
Vine FX is delighted to announce their expansion into a new 2,000 sq ft VFX studio, doubling their capacity to 30 artists.
The only VFX house in Cambridge working in TV and film, Vine FX has proven that there is a lot more to the UK VFX industry than the facilities in Soho – traditionally the home of high-end post-production.
Vine FX was launched 12 years ago by VFX Supervisor Michael Illingworth, starting life in Soho before relocating to Michael’s home town of Cambridge in 2016. The move being made possible with technological advances like faster broadband and improved remote viewing tools.
Bafta-nominated visual effects company Vine FX has more reason than most to celebrate Patrick Melrose, the Sky Atlantic mini-series. Based on the novels by Edward St Aubyn, Benedict Cumberbatch takes the leading role in this skillfully adapted show, which has triumphed with 5-star reviews. Some of the shows most iconic scenes including the creation of New York famous skyline and a CG gecko feature amongst the work of Vine FX.
Vine FX, who is based in Cambridge, created New York’s famous skyline in scenes featuring iconic Glasgow locations to add to the authenticity of the new series, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch.
Read More in The Evening Times
“If we did our job well, no one knows anything about us,” explains Vine FX’s founder and visual effects supervisor Michael Illingworth, who’s offering a peek behind the veil, not just to the work he’s done on films but also on TV adaptations including Atlantis, Troy and – starting on May 12 – the Sky Atlantic mini-series Patrick Melrose, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
Read more in Cambridge Independent
We are looking for an experienced compositor to join our Cambridge team. Please send your applications to jobs@vinefx.com. A minimum of 5 years experience is needed and you will be required to work in Cambridge.
Crazyhead is a brand new comedy horror series created and written by Howard Overman airing on E4 and Netflix. Vine FX delivered over 750 VFX over six episodes including demons & CG Environments.
Check out some of our great work…
We are delighted to announce that our work has been nominated for a British Academy Television Craft Awards in the Special, Visual & Graphic Effects category.
Atlantis series 2, Ep6/13: Vine FX delivered 111 vfx shots for this episode including CG Stymphalian birds and movement to the Grey Sisters eye.
This years Christmas party was held at The Carpenters Arms, Fitzrovia. The food was superb and there were plenty of Drinks.
Atlantis series 2, Ep5/13: Vine FX delivered 106 vfx shots for this episode including a CG Necropolis, arrows, black “dead eyes” and magical healing effect.
Atlantis series 2, Ep4/13: Vine FX delivered 172 vfx shots for this episode including a CG Necropolis, palace courtyard, arrows and 3D flying sword.
The RTS Craft Awards 2014, spread over 25 categories, recognise the huge variety of skills and processes involved in programme production, from editing to lighting, and costume design to digital effects.
Vine FX’s work from Atlantis series 1 episode 1, was nominated for the Digital Effects award.
Atlantis series 2, Episode 2/13: Vine FX delivered 190 VFX shots for this episode featuring entirely CG battle scenes and a CG modelled and animated Cyclops.
Atlantis series 2, Ep1/13: Vine FX delivered 158 VFX shots for this episode, featuring an entirely CG battle scene, a flying dragon-like Harpie, and a Cyclops. The first of a two-part episode sees Ariadne as queen at war with her old adversary, Pasiphae.
Breaking down the shot: digital matte painting for the background, moving water below, matchmoving the bridge, building a 3D rope bridge, and a dynamic simulation on the slats as they hit the opposite cliff and tumble down.
As Atlantis stands on the brink of collapse, the struggle for power is bloody and brutal. There is only one person Ariadne can turn to for help; Jason.
Vine FX was nominated for VFX award for the inaugural 2014 TVBAwards, which celebrates the excellence in Capture, Workflow and Delivery of live or recorded broadcast TV content.
Vine FX has won the contract to provide exclusive VFX for the second series of BBC drama Atlantis.
Read more on the links below:
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/techfacils/vine-fx-wins-visual-effects-contract-for-bbcs-atlantis/5066369.article
http://www.ukscreenassociation.co.uk/news/article/4679
