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Furious FX Takes Ride On Midnight Meat Train

Furious FX slashed their way through 60 visual effects for director Ryuhei Kitamura's stateside debut MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN. Based on Clive Barker's BOOKS OF BLOOD short story, the film follows an up-and-coming photographer searching for edgy urban subjects, who unexpectedly captures images far more dark and disturbing while the city sleeps.

Furious not only provided several gore enhancements expected of genre films, but also many seamless storytelling moments featuring the film's title character, the train. In keeping with the director's energetic, hyper-real style, the FFX team, headed by Visual Effects Supervisor Dave Lingenfelser and CG Supervisor Mark Shoaf, created dynamic camera moves through the underground tunnels that blended together with cinematographer Jonathan Sela's work. Given the budgetary and practical limitations of safely rigging to shoot trains speeding through actual subway tunnels, a full CG train and environment were relied upon when dramatic or moody cutaways in these locations were needed.

Reflecting on the screen time, overall VFX Supervisor and film co-producer James McQuaide said, "Usually a CG shot is good for a couple seconds, and then you have to cut away before the audience starts to tear it apart. Because this work is so solid, we were able to put many full CG train shots up on the screen for significant amounts of time and not have to worry that the audience would think that they were anything but practical."

Furious FX continues its busy year, having completed 400 shots between previous releases COLLEGE ROAD TRIP, HANCOCK, and PATHOLOGY, as well as upcoming films HENRY POOLE IS HERE and THE SPIRIT. Current projects include GAME, THE UGLY TRUTH, UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS, and RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN. You can further explore Furious FX at www.furiousvfx.com.