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VFX Legion created 200+ visual effects for ‘Black Box,’ one of the series of films in the ‘Welcome to Blumhouse’ anthology that tapped the LA/B.C.-based company’s end-to-end services. The thematically connected package of dark genre movies marks Amazon's first-ever global direct to services deal.

Director/Writer Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr.’s psychological thriller is the story of Noland (Mamoudou Athie), an amnesiac desperate to return to his former self. Dr. Brooks (Phylicia Rashad) offers to help the main character regain his memory with the Black Box, an experimental device that immerses him in virtual memories of pivotal life events.

Dylan Yastremski, Head of Production at VFX Legion's studio in British Columbia, managed all of the effects for the film. VFX Supervisor James David Hattin and Head of Production Nate Smalley oversaw the B.C. studio from Los Angeles - seamlessly interfacing with the director, on-set supervisor, and the pioneering remote company’s team of work-from-home artists based throughout British Columbia. and the world.

“Close creative collaboration with Emmanuel was critical to bringing his very specific vision to life,” says Hattin. “Working from the director’s original concepts, we delivered a large volume of effects - including some very complicated sequences - in less than four weeks.”

‘Black Box’ called for both photorealistic visual effects grounded in the real world and abstract effects that created and heightened nightmarish sequences. The range of digital images includes computer-generated environments, intricate transitions, set extensions, composites, digital removals, and shots requiring rotoscoping, morphing, and matte painting. Foundry’s Nuke, SynthEyes and After Effects tools were among the mix of technology used by Legion’s team to produced the scope of computer-generated imagery that the film required.

Nolan's treatment begins with a computer-generated environment that takes shape as he looks into the Black Box. Artists defined the digital space with CG grid patterns positioned to create the illusion of a three-dimensional space. A plus sign appears at its center, moving back and forth with increasing speed as it deconstructs into lines that emanate light as they exit the environment.

The illuminated bars change shape, outlining faintly visible objects as practical footage reveals new surroundings with photorealistic clarity. This 'safe room’ materializes throughout the film, interfacing with environments where events manifested by the Black Box play out. Legion's team animated these cyberspaces into existence using elements created for the 'staging area' with 3D tools in After Effects.

The film called for transitional effects with distinct looks that snaps Nolan into a series of memories. For one of the passages, artists merged elements from two blue screen shots with different environments, distorting the images to create a tunnel-like portal that transports the main character to a virtual wedding ceremony.

"While all of the memories have familiar elements, Nolan can't quite make out the faces of people in these scenarios,” says Hattin. “We worked with Emmanuel to come up with this murky, ill-defined look, which we achieved by rotoscoping the faces and replacing them with distorted versions. As the storyline moves forward, a morphing technique was used to gradually restore the faces and reveal the story's chilling twist.”

Legion’s On-Set VFX Supervisor Matthew Lynn worked closely with the director, and cinematographer, Hilda Mercado, ensuring that the footage captured for the VFX-driven scenes blended with the CGI.

"With the help of previz and mockups, we ironed out concepts and timings for the heavier visual effect sequences,” says Lynn. “The collaboration enabled us to address unanticipated issues during the shoot with creative and technically innovative solutions."

"I couldn't be more impressed with Legion's skills and its team's enthusiasm and commitment to the film. They went above and beyond, creating visual effects that exceeded my highest expectations," says Osei-Kuffour Jr. "Working with James was an extraordinary experience. He was always accessible during weekends and late into the night, meeting tight deadlines while never settling. Legion consistently delivered fresh, captivating effects that enhanced the film's visual story."

“Legion has created visual effects for several Blumhouse films and television series over the years, and it’s always a great experience,” says Hattin. “Our team enjoyed collaborating with Emmanuel and appreciated how open he was to our ideas. The director/co-writer brings a fresh perspective to the thriller/sci-fi film genre - and we’re delighted that we had the opportunity to help bring his vision to life.”

CREDITS
Title: ‘Black Box’
Promotion Title/Package:‘Black Box’;‘Welcome to Blumhouse’
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Sci-fi /Feature Film
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Production Companies:
Blumhouse Television
Amazon Studios
Black Bar Mitzvah

Directed by - Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr.
Teleplay by - Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr., Stephen Herman
Story by - Stephen Herman

Executive Produced by - Jason Blum, Jay Ellis, Aaron Bergman, Lisa Bruce, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Mynette Louie and William Marks

Produced by - John H. Brister
Co-Executive Produced by - Chris Dickie, Kyle Chalmers
Co-Produced by - Terra Mair Abroms, Paul B. Uddo

Director of Photography - Hilda Mercado
Edited by - Glenn Garland

Visual Effects by - VFX Legion LA/B.C.
VFX Supervisor - James David Hattin
VFX On-Set Supervisor - Mathew T. Lynn
CG Supervisor - Rommel S. Calderon
VFX Project Manager - Dylan Yastremski
VFX Coordinator - Joe Soloway
VFX Producer - Nate Smalley
VFX Executive Producer - Reid Burns
Compositors - Nick Guth, Michael Honrada, Matthias Lowry, John R. McConnell, Lauren Morimoto, Brad Moylan, Eugen Olsen, Rafael Perez