CafeFX Combines Reality and Fantasy in Visual Effects for Shopgirl

CafeFX Combines Reality and Fantasy in Visual Effects for Shopgirl
CafeFX blends reality and fantasy in a series of 3D effects for the main titles and several key sequences in "Shopgirl," a romantic comedy starring Claire Danes and Steve Martin, based on Martin's bestselling novella.

"Shopgirl" reunited CafeFX with visual effects supervisor Erik Henry, with whom they had teamed on "Gothika," "Battlefield Earth" and "Dracula 2000," for a series of photorealistic visual effects that transcend time and space to smoothly link people and places.

The opening titles begin with a night aerial over Los Angeles, then the camera swoops down to a freeway at dawn, a Beverly Hills street and a woman was opening the door to Saks as the workday begins.

Viewers follow the camera inside the store where they are treated to an unusual perspective of the cosmetic counter and peer through a large perfume bottle at the customer makeovers underway.

CafeFX's effects supervisor David Ebner was on hand for the green-screen shoot at the make-up counter, which was done with a motion controlled snorkel lens for extreme close-ups.

"But, because certain objects interfered with the camera move and because the camera lens was bigger than some of the objects being photographed we had to recreate them in 3D."