CHROMA NOMINATED FOR 'BEST VISUAL EFFECTS'

We're proud to announce our nomination for Best Visual Effects at the upcoming AFI's for Showtime's Cloudstreet.

This highly visual production featured over 200 shots covering just about every technique in the book from CG aircraft, trains, kangaroos, jumping fish, talking pigs, flipping coins to surreal dream-like sequences like rowing through stars and fields of wheat. With such a wide range of effects and a tight schedule the team at Chroma worked tirelessly to deliver the level of work that a tale like Cloudstreet deserves - so a big shout out to compositor Stuart Elith and CG artists Harsh Borah and Rob Dowling.

It was an honour to be involved with such a great Australian story and a pleasure to see everyone's hard work across the production being recognised by audiences and industry alike.

Cloudstreet picked up 7 nominations all together including: Best MiniSeries, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Young Actor and Best Visual Effects.

I'd like to personally thank Matt Saville and Screentime for their commitment, trust and support throughout the project and wish all nominees the best of luck next year!

Check out the trailer here and some VFX breakdowns here.

BROTHERS IN ARMS (TV Series)

Screentime's dynamic telling of the 1980's bikie gangs involved in the Milperra Massacre is coming soon to Ten in a new epic 6-part miniseries, called Brothers In Arms.

We were engaged to design and produce the opening titles, branding and visual effects for the show.

For the titles we chose to go for a western/frontier-style with minimal type treatment, in keeping with the raw, honest approach to the story itself, comprised mostly of stark, compelling imagery rather than footage of cast or episodes.

Eveything from the image selection, edit, typography and grading were kept very simple allowing the catchy title track (Mark Lizotte), powerful images and photography tell the story, with minimal 'screen furniture' and a bleached, parched grade that sits sitting somewhere between faded Super8's and photos from the 70's/80's. Three variations were produced for use across the series.

Check out the opening titles here

In addition to broadcast design, we also produced several VFX shots for the show including digital removals, augmentations and incendiary effects.

Look out for it on Ten later this year.

CHROMA @ SUMMER FILM SCHOOL 2012 (Event)

Chroma is returning once again to present at the University of Melbourne's 'Summer Film School 2012'.

Focusing on the changing role of digital effects in designing, producing, writing and directing contemporary television drama. The course covers the entire range of digital effect techniques and their relationship with each department from production through to post - with an aim to enlighten, excite and energise the next wave of Australian production.

Click here for more info (PDF link).

THE APPLICANT: TROPFEST FINALIST (News)

Tim Dean's short 'The Applicant' has made it through as a finalist at TropFest2011.

Starring Nicolas Bell and Peter Rowsthorn and featuring music by Yuri Worontshak, the film is about a job interview with a difference.... It was a big year for TropFest, with over 700 entries from all over the world competing to get through and we are proud to see it get through to the finals.

I filled the role of co-producer alongside Tim Dean and Chris Corbert, with Chroma designing and producing the character animation and visual effects for the alien creature and the starship interior, in addition to grading duties. The short been officially selected for ShortsFest in Aspen and the 2012 St.Kilda Film Festival.

Check out the film here!

CONSPIRACY365 REVEALS ITSELF (TV Series)

Another series of popular books comes to the small screen in the form of 'Conspiracy365', which is based on the teen novels by Gabrielle Lord.

We're brought in to design and produce the opening titles and provide a wide range of digital effects and technical corrections throughout the first six episodes, with almost 300 shots produced including removals, additions, CG vehicles, location and stunt augmentation.

The series is currently airing throughout the year on the Movie Channel Network.

RUSH FOURTH SERIES ON THE WAY (Series)

You can't keep a good show down!

Having just won an AFI for best drama, Southern Star have announced a third series for Ten's breakthrough police drama, RUSH. With a action-packed new format and the competition fading fast, RUSH aims to keep audiences nailed to their seats with more drama and incredible stunts.

Chroma return for series four, working closely with the production to deliver some of these crazy sequences. As with previous series, comprehensive behind-the-scenes coverage will detail the extraordinary efforts that goes into delivering the effects and action sequences. Stay tuned for the best series yet!

OFFSPRING SPRINGS INTO SECOND SERIES (TV Series)

Ten's 2010 hit, Offspring returns to screen this year with a second run of thirteen eps.

We are back to continue our work with the show, producing a diverse range of visual effects and animation across the series.

The show also picked up an AFI this year for Deborah Mailman's performance. Look out for it on Ten.

UNDERBELLY HITS NZ (TV Series)

The hugely successful Underbelly franchise continues to grow with the New Zealand production of 'Underbelly:Land of the long green cloud' completing this month. The first UB series set outside Australia chronicles more drugs, sex and violence - set in the 1970's. Chroma are once again providing title design and production for the series making it the 6th iteration for the franchise.

Underbelly NZ airs in New Zealand on TV3 later this year.

UNDERBELLY 'RAZOR' (TV Series)

The Underbelly franchise continues to evolve with its latest series 'Razor' taking audiences back to the 1920's. And we are also back to provide opening titles and broadcast packaging for the show.

Underbelly:RAZOR airs later this year on Nine.

EXIT HEADS TO MONTREAL (Feature)

EXIT, a moody and beautifully produced film by Marek Polgar is all set to play at Fantasia Festival in Montreal this year.

Surface tension films commissioned Chroma to execute a number of tricky technical corrections and removals in addition to various digimattes, sky replacements and more. Check out this months Digital Media World magazine for more information about our work on the project.

Take a look at the beautiful trailer and details on the film here.

CHROMA AT THE 'SUMMER FILM SCHOOL' (Event)

In early 2011, Chroma will be part of the University of Melbourne's 'Summer film school', an intensive , month-long event that aims to educate a new generation of film-makers in the tools and techniques of the modern industry.

I will be discussing the changing role of digital effects in contemporary film and television production, and the benefits this brings to production design, screenwriting, shooting, producing, directing and much more. I'll also be covering the full range of digital and practical effects techniques, post workflow and how to create high-production action sequences and set pieces on low budgets.

We think it's a great initiative and wonderful way to get new blood into the growing Australian industry.