For RUSH HOUR 3, Zoic Studios Vancouver completed more than 40 vfx shots in two pivotal sequences resulting in a seamless viewing experience.
For the "Back Alley" sequence, in which Detective Lee (Jackie Chan) confronts one of the bad guys, Kenji, Zoic completed 10 wire and harness removal shots of varying complexity. As a chase and fight ensues in the cramped alleyway, the action includes Lee falling onto a large trash bin, and Kenji escaping by scaling a large vertical wall, which required the stunt men to be suspended from a crane.
For the "Kung Fu" sequence, the heroes take on a towering villain, played by the tallest man in the world, Bao Xishun. The shots involved very complicated wire removal and clothing restoration as Detectives Lee and Carter (Chris Tucker) are thrown about the room, as well as being lifted and spun in circles clinging to a bamboo pole hoisted by Bao. In addition to the wire removal and restoration on more than 20 shots, Zoic was also asked to replace the existing ceiling in the Kung Fu room. This required designing and creating a CG wooden ceiling with embedded fluorescent lighting fixtures, tracking the element into the shots and restoring all foreground elements.
Zoic Vancouver's vfx supervisors Randy Goux and Patti Gannon worked closely with the film's overall vfx supervisor, Adam Howard, throughout the delivery process. Although post-production was based in Los Angeles, shot reviews and approvals were easily and seamlessly accomplished between L.A. and Zoic Vancouver using various high speed connections, including extensive use of Cinesync for realtime interactive reviews of high- res sequences.
Zoic Vancouver, nearing its two-year anniversary, has contributed to such high profile projects as EUREKA, BLADE, ONE MISSED CALL and PATHFINDER. The team is located in the historically significant Sun Tower building in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
