LipSync Post

LIPSYNC PARTNERS WITH LIONSGATE FILMS ON BLITZ

May 20, 2011 15:39

LIPSYNC PARTNERS WITH LIONSGATE FILMS FOR FIRST TIME ON BLITZ

- Post house provides full post-production services -

London, UK - 20th May 2011 - LipSync Post has completed its first project with Lionsgate Films on the new Jason Statham thriller Blitz, which is release on Friday May 20th. The film, based on Ken Bruen's celebrated crime book, focuses on a cop-hating serial killer who targets the officers of a South East London police station.

As well as investing in Blitz, LipSync also provided complete post-production services including the titles, VFX and sound. Robert Farr provided the complete sound Mix, including ADR. Stuart Fyvie completed the full colour grade and this was all closely managed by DI Producer Lisa Jordan.

Directed by Elliott Lester and produced by Zygi Kamasa, Steve Chaser (The Bank Job), Brad Wyman, Donald Kushner and Executive Producer Nick Manzi, the film marks Lionsgate's first fully British production. Jason Statham (The Bank job, Snatch) heads the cast as the tough, uncompromising and un-PC detective "Brant", who is teamed with unlikely partner "Sgt Porter Nash" played by Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum). Joining the exciting line-up are BAFTA and Tony Award-nominee Aiden Gillen (HBO's The Wire) and fellow BAFTA-nominee David Morrissey (Captain Corelli's Mandolin, State of Play, Nowhere Boy).

LIPSYNC CREATES MOST AMBITIOUS CG WORK TO DATE

May 17, 2011 10:05

LIPSYNC CREATES MOST AMBITIOUS CG WORK TO DATE FOR PIVOTAL SCENES IN 'UNKNOWN'

- CG tram, car and refrigerator created from scratch -

LipSync Post has completed its most ambitious work to date for the action thriller Unknown, which opened as no.1 at the US box office. Though not an abviously effects-heavy film, several pivotal scenes depend on seemless CG work for the continuity of the story.

Stefan Drury, Head of VFX, LipSync Post, Said, "The complex work undertaken and completed to the highest of standards is a true testament to the development of the company over the last two years. We are able to provide truly exceptional CG film work, normally reserved for the larger facilities, within the tightest of budgets and timescales and have it proudly sit alongside the best work in the world."

In one key scene, LipSync created a CG refrigerator that breaks its straps, falls off the back of a truck and bounces across a busy road into the path of the hero car, causing a pile-up and sending the hero car into the river. The VFX team modelled and textured the fridge from reference photos and drama shots, then provided blocking animation to time the action and impact of the fridge to fit into a loose cut. Working closely with the director Jaume Collet-Serra and the editor Tim Alverson, animation was refined, and crash and dynamic simulations were applied to give the fridge the correct weight and trajectory after impact with hard surfaces. As animation and lighting progressed the cut of the sequence was tailored to allow for crucial additional frames to give the sequence the drama and suspense it demanded. To fully integrate the CG into the scene, the VFX team added damage and surface spray to the road and cars as the fridge collided with them. Additional lighting from car headlights and rear brakes were applied to the fridge to give the impression of close proximity to the surrounding cars.

LipSync also carried out extensive greenscreen work to control the sinking of the car as it slides into the Berlin river with Liam Neeson trapped inside. The sequence was shot in a greenscreen water tank and as well as adding the Berlin location, the additional challenge was to give the impression that the car was rapidly sinking as efforts were made to free the hero. Working closely with a cut sequence LipSync were able to reposition, retime and add further water elements to lower the car below the surface to the timing required by the editor and director to enhance the drama. CG particles and glass were added in the water to simulate the natural dirt and debris from the crash and rescue attempt. LipSync also created and placed the crack in the window glass that is central to the story as Liam Neeson's character hits his head.

Another major scene set in a mulit-story car park, described as 'a gun fight between a man and a car', gave LipSync the opportunity to design another sequence showing the car windscreen being shot through from various angles. The team created, choreographed and designed the impact and interaction of the bullets hitting and penetrating the glass, leaving bullet holes and cracks across the screen that then required continuity in subsequent scenes. In addition LipSync performed interior and exterior greenscreen replacement as a van falls to the ground, as well as other CG window replacements, reflections and set ectensions.

Additional work on the film included face replacements of stunt people for actors, CG blade extensions, blood enhancements and rig removal.

Unknown was released in the UK on 4 March 2011 by Optimum Releasing.

'TRAP FOR CINDERELLA' COMMENCES PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY

May 6, 2011 10:55

IAIN SOFTLEY’S 'TRAP FOR CINDERELLA' COMMENCES PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPH

London, UK… 6 May 2011 – Iain Softley’s TRAP FOR CINDERELLA has started principal photography and is shooting on location for six weeks in London and the south of France. TRAP FOR CINDERELLA is financed by Prescience, the BFI and LipSync. Newly formed Ealing Metro is handling international sales.

Rising British actors Tuppence Middleton (Skeletons) and Alexandra Roach (soon to be seen as the young Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady) headline the cast which features supporting roles from Kerry Fox (Bright Star) and Frances de la Tour (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).

TRAP FOR CINDERELLA is written and directed by Iain Softley (The Wings of the Dove; Inkheart; K-PAX) and produced by Robert Jones (The Usual Suspects; Dirty Pretty Things) and Dixie Linder (In My Father’s Den; The War Zone). It has been adapted from the novel by thriller writer Sébastien Japrisot (‘One Deadly Summer’; ‘A Very Long Engagement’).

TRAP FOR CINDERELLA is a contemporary psychological thriller. A beach house on the French Riviera is gutted by fire. Trapped inside are two young women – childhood friends who have been reunited after 10 years. One is rich and the other poor. Only one of them survives, injured beyond recognition and in a state of total amnesia. Who is she, the heiress or her penniless friend? A killer, or an intended victim?

Producers Robert Jones and Dixie Linder said, “It’s a real pleasure to work with a director of Iain’s calibre and even more so on a British production that features some of our brightest new acting talents.”

TRAP FOR CINDERELLA is produced by Robert Jones, Dixie Linder and Iain Softley. Director of Photography is Alex Barber (Swept Away); Production Deisgn is by Gary Williamson (Submarine); Costume Design by Verity Hawks (Snatch) and the Editor is Stuart Gazzard (Triangle). Post-production will be completed by LipSync.

LipSync Post LipSync VFX Graphics Grade Sound Mix Blitz Jason Statham Nick Manzi ADR 123 Wardour Street London UK BAFTA Lionsgate Films Ken Bruen LipSync LipSync Post CG VFX Unknown Liam Neeson Berlin river Jaume Collet-Serra Tim Alverson Visual Effects UK London Stefan Drury CG refrigerator car scene Trap for Cinderella LipSync Post LipSync Iain Softley post-production film finance Prescience BFI Ealing Metro