Dive Adds Finesse to ‘Silver Linings Playbook’

DIVE VFX produced approximately 175 shots as lead VFX House on Director David O. Russell’s film “Silver Linings Playbook,” which premiered to rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival where it won the BlackBerry People’s Choice Award. The film has garnered eight Oscar nominations, and star Jennifer Lawrence won the “Best Actress” Award at the Golden Globes.

 

The team at DIVE, a division of ShootersINC, who specialize in VFX and picture finishing for feature films, television shows and commercials, supervised on-set and in post to help the director create the polished look of the film, which was shot mostly via handheld camera. DIVE worked on a variety of effects, such as reflections and shadow removal of crews and camera throughout the film. The team’s work ranged from a photo real CGI book crashing through a window to TV and iPod monitor replacements to set touch ups, all the way to de-greening grass to make the surroundings seasonally appropriate.

 

Shot in and around the Philadelphia area, “Silver Linings Playbook” stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, and Chris Tucker. The film tells the story of Pat (Cooper), a former teacher who returns to his parents’ home after spending time in a mental health facility. He strikes a deal with a new acquaintance, the mysterious and quirky Tiffany (Lawrence), to help him reunite with his ex-wife. 

 

“’Silver Linings Playbook’ was a 2D and Paint-heavy show, with no in-your-face visual effects,” says DIVE Visual Effects Supervisor Ed Mendez.

 

Experts at this type of work, DIVE took pains to compare their tracking, grain, and color levels with the non-visual effects shots within the film. The key was to ensure that DIVE’s work was seamless. This included leaving the normal lens characteristics and flares in shots that needed visual effects work.

 

Since winning the audience award at Toronto, the film has won a number of other festival awards and opened the 21st Philadelphia Film Festival, in addition to the eight Oscar nominations and Jennifer Lawrence’s Golden Globe award win for “Best Actress.” “Silver Linings Playbook” opened nationally on November 21, 2012. 

 

Credits

 

Silver Linings Playbook 

Novel by Matthew Quick 

Directed/Screenplay by David O. Russell 

Distributed by The Weinstein Company 

 

Visual Effects 

DIVE 

Ed Mendez VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR 

Marko Forker VISUAL EFFECTS CREATIVE SUPERVISOR 

David James VISUAL EFFECTS PRODUCER 

Ian Markiewicz VISUAL EFFECTS COORDINATOR 

Bob Lowery VISUAL EFFECTS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER 

Andy Williams VISUAL EFFECTS PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR 

Bryan Baker VISUAL EFFECTS EDITOR 

Tyler Lockard COMPOSITOR 

Colton Miller COMPOSITOR 

Matthew Robertson COMPOSITOR 

Anton Moss COMPOSITOR 

Jeremy Fernsler 3D LEAD 

Mark Longchamps PAINT ARTIST