Search form

Artifex Takes on Painkiller Jane VFX

Visual effects company Artifex Studios has teamed up with Insight Film and Starz Media for the new action television series, PAINKILLER JANE, starring Kristanna Loken (TERMINATOR 3, BLOODRAYNE), which debuts April 13 at 10:00 pm on SCI FI Channel. Artifex is creating all the visual effects and promises some stunning digital tricks for this new 22-part, one-hour series.

The series is exec produced by Gil Grant (24, NCIS) and Rob Word (Insight Film Studios) and has attracted talented directors, including Nick Copus (THE 4400), Michael Robison (KYLE XY, EUREKA, THE DEAD ZONE), Matt Hastings (THE OUTER LIMITS) and Will Waring (STARGATE SG-1).

Headed by vfx supervisors Adam Stern and Kevin Struckman, the Artifex crew is working both on and off the set to help complement Janes story through the use of seamless visual effects. The show has an extremely stylistic look, created by shooting in multiple formats, including HD, 8mm, 16mm and 35mm film.

There are a number of intriguing sequences in Painkiller Jane that require extensive digital work, including Janes wound-healing ability, 3D cityscapes and virtual set extensions, as well as compositing actors and stunt performers into extremely hazardous situations, such as a 46-story fall.

Based on the comic book created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada, Painkiller Jane follows the adventures of Jane Vasco (Loken), a kickass heroine with remarkable self-healing powers. Formerly a hardnosed DEA agent, Jane is recruited by a covert government organization tasked with capturing Neuros --genetically-enhanced individuals who possess superhuman powers of the mind. During the course of her first investigation with the team, she inexplicably discovers that she too possesses extraordinary abilities abilities that render her impervious to injurybut not pain. She develops miraculous regenerative powers, healing from injuries that leave her stronger than she had been before. As she continues to work with the government to hunt Neuros, Jane tries to uncover the cause of her own transformation and what -- if any -- connection she shares with the very people she is pursuing.

The boutique vfx house also created both the international and U.S main title sequences. Artifex designer, Chris Abbas, looked to the shows roots and was inspired by the comic book origins. Live action and graphics were melded to create the new look, which will introduce each episode.

Artifex Studios Ltd. (www.artifexstudios.com) is located in Vancouver, Canada, and creates digital effects and 3D animation for film and television.

Starz Media LLC, (www.starz.com) is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Ent. and Manga Ent. brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming--including theatrical films -- and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp. that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group.

SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic website (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 89 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.

Bill Desowitz's picture

Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.

Tags