CafeFX Creates Snakes on a Plane

CafeFX Creates Snakes on a Plane
CafeFX achieved new heights �at 35,000 feet to be exact� of realism when it unleashed hundreds of killer CG serpents on a Boeing 747 in the much-anticipated feature film "Snakes on a Plane" (New Line Cinema), which opened August 18.

As the lead visual effects studio, CafeFX created more than half of the 500 VFX shots, including some 100 photoreal snake sots as well as all of the airline exteriors.

CafeFX also handled all the airplane inflight exteriors shots and the Boeing's climactic emergency landing at LAX.

"CafeFX has a lot to look forward to in films once people see their work in 'Snakes on a Plane,'" states Erik Henry, VFX supervisor for the motion picture.

"I'm so pleased with everything they did."

CafeFX's role began in the spring of 2005 with prepro planning, reference material collection and suggestions as to how shots might be staged.

The CafeFX team, which ultimately learned more about snakes than they ever imagined, completed their work in mid-June, 2006.

"We looked at every single movie with snakes and airplanes in them to set a benchmark to beat," notes Scott Gordon, CafeFx's VFX supervisor who was on-set for the filming of most of the VFX shots.

"Most of them fell short on snake performance not because of the look of the snakes, but rather on their performance.