Entity FX Cops Visual Effects For “Miami Vice”

July 28, 2006

Company’s Compositing and CG Work Seamlessly Reinforces Stylish Action of New Michael Mann-Directed Feature Motion Picture

Award-winning film and television visual effects studio, Entity FX, has contributed an array of visual effects for the new motion picture “Miami Vice.” Directed by Michael Mann and distributed by Universal Studios, the film is a stylish full-length feature based on the popular 1980s television series executive produced by Mann.

“Miami Vice,” the movie, sees Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx playing the familiar roles of Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs, respectively. While investigating a series of federal agent murders, the two detectives become caught in a conflict of identities and interests, between international traffickers, romantic link-ups and their own undercover selves.

Digital artistry by Entity FX helped ratchet up the film’s action in a number of key scenes, including a freeway chase, a dramatic aerial smuggling sequence and a massive meth lab blast. Entity FX created digital matte paintings and CG elements such as animated stunt doubles and planes. The work also ranged from green-screen and split-screen composites to wire removals and other seamlessly indiscernible digital tricks.

Said Mat Beck, Entity FX’s president: “The movie is so visceral and stylish at the same time, it’s a privilege to fit our shots into a film that just looks so good.”

Integral to Entity FX’s service was the rendering of shots and elements using the company’s large, in-house disk servers and render farms. This helped the filmmakers meet their deadlines, and accommodated creative changes right up until the last moments before delivery of the print.

“Entity was great. They're fast, they know what they're doing, and the shots looked great. I look forward to working with them again,” commented Robert Stadd, visual effects supervisor for the film.