VFX Legion, the architect of a pioneering remote pipeline with seven years' experience working exclusively with home-based artists, is building-out its preproduction services. James David Hattin, the creative director and founder of the LA/B.C-based company, announced the expansion of its end-to-end capabilities in response to the increased demand for cost-effective high-quality remote visual effects services as feature films, and episodic series move forward in the wake of COVID-19.      

"During preproduction, collaborating with writers and producers gives our team an in-depth understanding of the specific challenges and issues that projects face,” says Hattin. "Coming on board early in the process enables us to develop cost-effective digital solutions that increase production value and support storylines that engage audiences and optimize their visual experience.”

Hattin dedicated over a year to build a pipeline with cost-effective, streamlined workflow and the collaborative virtual work environment that the next-generation remote business model provides. VFX Legion launched in 2013, introducing a new visual effects culture that harnesses digital connectivity's full potential to align its services with the needs of an industry in a digital era.

"Producing visual effects is a collaborative process with a lot of moving parts," says Hattin. "It takes considerable time to develop, hone, and road-test a remote pipeline to ensure it has the efficiency and accessibility needed to consistently deliver large shot counts of visual effects that meet tight deadlines and the high standards of the industry."

COVID-19 has increased the demand for imagery that cameras are unable to capture in restricted production environments, raising the stakes for visual effects companies. With years of experience working with remote-savvy WFH talent on dozens of films and hundreds of television episodes under its belt, VFX Legion focused on applying its technical ingenuity and creativity to developing efficient out-of-the-box digital solutions that meet the challenges of this new norm.

When production resumes, the scope of practical footage will be limited by guidelines for shooting in studios and controlled spaces where precautions can be put in place to minimize health risks.  The demand for innovative visual effects that augment footage and support broader, more engaging storylines will be unprecedented. High-quality photorealistic CG environments, in particular, will enable productions shot in any space to transcend physical boundaries and transport live-action to virtually any location.

Hattin helms the company’s preproduction services and oversees each project. Head of Production, Nate Smalley, along with a veteran team of visual effect producers and supervisors, brings the technical ingenuity, experience, artistic vision, and in-depth understanding of filmmaking needed to significantly expand the boundaries of films and television shows during the new norm.

“We put a lot of emphasis on maintaining clear and ongoing communication with clients.  Our robust pipeline streamlines workflow, creating a client experience that’s indistinguishable from traditional studios," says Hattin. "Management and artists collaborate as a single team from preproduction through very phase of production, ensuring that our work reflects the client's vision - while we strive to exceed their expectations.”

A forward-thinking company with a work-from-home business model from its inception,VFX Legion's ability to reach beyond commuting distance to a studio, has enabled Hattin to build a global collective of 200+ experienced work-from-home artists culled from an industry-wide pool of talent.

"The efficiency, scope and scalability of our workforce uniquely positioned us to push boundaries with dynamic digital solutions for television shows and feature films confined by a new normal,"  " adds Hattin. "Collaborating with our team during the early stages of jobs ensures that projects take advantage of visual effects’ full potential and the flexibility of our cutting-edge remote capabilities as the pandemic continues to impact productions - and into a future with unanticipated challenges.”

 VFX Legion earned a reputation for creating photo-real computer-generated environments for shows, such as 'Madam Secretary,' 'How to Get Away with Murder,' and 'Scandal' - season after season - invisibly blending footage with virtual locations where their storylines unfolded, while providing a full range of visual effects that augment practical film.

The company’s credits include TV series, such as ‘How to Get Away with Murder,’ ‘Madam Secretary,’ ’Scandal,’ Suits,’ ‘Eye Candy,’ ‘Revolution,' 'The Catch'  and ‘Gone.’ 

(Note: To date, every TV series that has discovered VFX Legion since it launched in 2013 has returned every season - through its series finale - to work with the company.)

‘Hardcore Henry,’ ‘The Gift,' '12 Strong,' 'Ithaca,' 'Lowriders' 'Ouija,' 'Ouija 2,’ 'Killers Anonymous,' 'The Circle,' 'The Keeping Hour,' 'Souls of Totality,' 'Stephanie,' 'The Veil,' '#RealityHigh,' 'After,' 'Jem and the Holograms,’ 'Sinister 2,’ 'Ma,' and 'Superfly,' are among the studio’s film credits.

For more information about VFX Legion Los Angles/British Columbia contact at 818.736.5855, info@VFXLegion.com or visit http://www.vfxlegion.com.