The late Director, George Hickenlooper, and Producers Gary Howsam and Bill Marks, engaged INVISIBLE PICTURES to take political lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his DC sidekicks around the globe.
Press Release from Invisible
December 17, 2010 (Toronto) – The late Director, George Hickenlooper, and Producers Gary Howsam and Bill Marks, engaged INVISIBLE PICTURES to take political lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his DC sidekicks around the globe.
Creating digital matte paintings and working with stock footage and second unit plates, INVISIBLE brings the audience to the steps of the Capital building in Washington, the shores of Miami beach, Rehoboth Beach on the US east coast, St. Andrew’s golf course in Scotland and to the islands of the South Pacific.
“The team at Invisible were terrific for Casino Jack. There was constant communication and support and I think George’s objective of “Invisible” CGI was well accomplished. Happily we’re now working together again,” says Gary Howsam, Producer.
Shot in Ontario, VFX Supervisor, Noel Hooper and his team delivered 150 shots for the production with the crux of them being matte establishers, location extensions and multilayered green screen composites. Additional shots covered post clean up and monitors.
“The challenge of our work in Casino Jack was to make it completely unnoticed by the viewer, which was George’s number one concern. In no way did we want our digital environments to distract the audience from the story he was telling. Everyone had to believe these characters were shot on location,” says Hooper.
“Casino Jack was one of those special projects that was a true pleasure to have been part of. George’s passion and commitment to the story were contagious to all involved and the results speak for themselves; independent filmmaking at its finest,” says VFX Executive Producer, Neil Williamson.
Inspired by true events, CASINO JACK tells the story of the wild excesses and escapades of Washington DC lobbyist Jack Abramoff, played by two-time Academy Award winner, Kevin Spacey. Aided by his business partner Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), Jack uses his clout to sway high-powered politicians for financial gain. When the two enlist a mob-connected buddy (Jon Lovitz) to help with one of their fraudulent schemes, they soon find themselves in over their heads, ultimately landing Jack behind bars.
CASINO JACK premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and opens in select theatres today, December 17th.
Based in Toronto, Canada, INVISIBLE PICTURES is a full service studio dedicated to the art and evolution of digital visual effects for film and television. Established in 2004 by visionaries Neil Williamson and Noel Hooper, Invisible brings over 35 years of combined creativity and production management to the screen. INVISIBLE’s impressive credit list includes, Let Me In (d. Matt Reeves), the VES nominated The Road (d. John Hillcoat), and Eastern Promises (d. David Cronenberg). www.invisiblepictures.ca.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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