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Mr. X Does Visual Effects for Film

Mr. X, a visual effects company, has done of the computer-generated (CG) work for the new Walt Disney Film, `The Greatest Game Ever Played`. The period golf drama, directed by Bill Paxton, is based on the true story of the 1913 U.S. Open, where 20-year-old Francis Ouimet (played here by Shia LaBeouf) defeated reigning champion Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane). `Bill wanted the camera to be another character in the film,` says Dennis Berardi, Visual Effects Supervisor for the film. `He wanted dynamic, exciting shots to put the audience right into the action.` The studio`s workload covered the gamut, from computer-generated (CG) crowds and flying golf balls, to virtual camera moves, dream sequences, matte paintings and even a CG ladybug.

One shot required the camera to follow a powerful drive by character Ted Ray, played by actor Stephen Marcus. In this exciting sequence, the camera takes off into the air, catches up to the ball in mid-flight and passes right through the ball`s interior to beat it to the green where the ball eventually lands. Realizing the filmmakers` vision for this sequence was a complex, but rewarding task. `We opted to shoot the backgrounds using a remote-operated Helicopter,` recalls Berardi. `It was a considerable challenge to design the flight path for the ball. We also had to add the CG crowds and, of course, the ball.` The end result is a realistic and dynamic shot that will have viewers asking, `How`d they shoot that?`

Another challenge for Mr. X was the extensive crowd duplication required for the golf competition. The effects team decided to save time on set by using a 3D approach for the crowds, using its artificial intelligence engine to run simulations. `There were never more than a few hundred extras on set at a time during the shoot, yet the climactic tournament near the end of the film required a sea of onlookers and a grand and epic feel. Visual effects allowed us to bring thousands of virtual spectators into the scenes, and to do so in an exciting and realistic way,` adds Berardi.