Visual Effects Case Study: And On The 8th Day
One of our day for night shots in And On The 8th Day. Move the slider to toggle between before and after.
Project Type
Feature Film
Production Company
Flatiron Pictures
Director
Alexandra Chando
Producers
Janice Beard
Melissa Kirkendall
Suzanne Weinert
Categories
Invisible VFX
Gun VFX
“I had such a positive experience working with the Foxtrot team for my first feature. From our first meeting discussing the vision, to delivery, they put me at ease and made me feel like my film was in good hands. Their communication was clear and their turnaround was quick. We had a lot of difficult day for night shots and they delivered beautiful, believable work. I would most definitely recommend them to other filmmakers.”
Lighting is a key factor in crafting atmosphere, context, and cinematic quality for filmmaking. This was essential for the film And On the Eighth Day, a neo-noir Texas pot boiler. Foxtrot X-Ray provided about a dozen “day for night” shots which greatly enhanced the dark tension of the film. Beyond simply color grading, “day for night” comps involve accurately reconstructing the dark of night. In addition to regrading the sky, Foxtrot X-Ray also added interactive lighting to make the shots more believable. This included adding flashlight glows with lens flares, adding glowing headlights to a car with additional light hitting the ground, flashing police lights, and even a bright muzzle flash which briefly illuminates the actor’s face. Foxtrot X-Ray also worked with the film’s colorist to create a believable progression of time over the course of the shots. Because these shots play out over multiple scenes, the night sky grows slightly brighter over time. While subtle, this detail enhanced the believability of the shots, in addition to providing additional context for the audience.
Using VFX to create gunfire is an effective way to maintain safety during production. To learn more about firearms safety on film sets, listen to Paul DeNigris discuss firearms and VFX with multiple filmmakers on the VFX for Indies Podcast.
Other projects featuring similar effects by Foxtrot X-Ray include Vendetta, Proof Sheet, and The Legend of La Llorona.
To discuss how Foxtrot X-Ray can create stunning day for night imagery and other visual effects for your project, schedule a meeting with our team of professionals today.