LA-based Boxer Films director Robert Groenwold and digital studio Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas imagines child warriors of the future in a stirring new 3:00 short film, “Iris,” a Philips Cinema Parallel Lines Competition finalist. The futuristic short, using the same seven lines of dialogue mandated for all entries to the YouTube-based shorts competition, was selected by Ridley Scott’s production company RSA, BAFTA and the public as one of the top 10 films.
Watch “Iris” on the dedicated website http://irisshortfilm.com/ or on YouTube.
“I wanted to find a unique, interesting take on what the dialogue should mean,” says Groenwold. “What I came up with was sci-fi meets Oliver Twist.”
Shot in Hong Kong, Iris unfolds in dark, cinematic shades of black and grey highlighted by pricks of intense color and features two children – a boy and a teen girl, taking aim against the robot drones who have taken over their war-torn world. “These child survivors are the street urchins of the future,” Groenwold notes.
Boxer flew their production team to Hong Kong. Producer John Quinn notes, “Hong Kong provided the perfect match for our desired aesthetic.” Radium/Reel FX’s team, headed up by Creative Leads Dale Carman and Kevin Althans, helped design the look of the vfx shots including the film’s visually arresting ‘bullet shot’ and the scene where the drone spaceship appears and is shot from the sky to crash down to a Hong Kong street. “Radium/Reel FX stepped up to do pre-visualization and executions that made Iris’ effects visually outstanding,” says Boxer’s Beth George. “Their visual effects contribution is one of the aspects that made it a finalist in the competition.”
The Philips Cinema Parallel Lines Competition drew over 600 entries from across the globe, with the winning entry being a short entitled, “The Gift.” Casting took place in Hong Kong and Groenwold did editing in-house at Boxer.
About Radium
Radium/Reel FX is an evolving artist-driven studio that includes filmmakers, artists and designers focused on creativity and innovative solutions. We embrace a shared creative role with our clients from script to screen. Our VFX background and CG expertise provide us with a strong technological foundation on which we build groundbreaking work, including stereoscopic 3D projects, for the expanding world of advertising and film.
About Boxer
Seasoned filmmakers and producers bringing compelling new talent into the fold. Directors brainstorming with editors down the hall. Executive Producers trusted by agencies and advertisers to achieve A-list results within real-world budgets. Since 1999, Boxer has delivered a winning combination, recently breaking new ground in the emerging arenas of interactive and branded content. Founder/EP John Clark and EP Beth George have made Boxer an ideal creative partner to have in your corner for collaboration, problem solving and exceptional storytelling.
Credits:
Client: Philips Cinema Parallel Lines/Philips Cinema short film competition
Title: “Iris” 3:00
Airdate: Currently online
Production Company: Boxer Films, LA
Director/Editor: Robert Groenwold
DP: Ocean Chan
Executive Producers: John Clark, Beth George
Design & VFX Company: Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas
Creative Director: Dale Carman
Lead Artist / VFX Supervisor: Kevin Althans
CG Supervisor: Mark Thielen
Designer: Dustin D’Arnault
Designer: Byron Slaybaugh
Motion Designer: Christopher Vela
Modeler: Randall Smith
Modeler: Keith Stevens
Modeler: Alison Donato
Rigging Supervisor: Kyle Wood
Rigger: Matthew Tucker
Animator: Jeff Weidner
Lighting Supervisor: Chris Browne
Lighter: Brandon Stoker
Lighter: Patrick Gray
3D Effects Artist: Anthony Chappina
VFX Artist: Jake Rusch
Compositor: John Rogalski
Editorial Assistant: John McStravick
Executive Producer: Gary Banks
Producer: Leah Garner
###