PRPVFX signs the visual effects of the Flying Lotus movie with Fusion Studio (DaVinci Resolve)

The multidisciplinary artist Flying Lotus trusted the New Zealand post-production studio PRPVFX to create the visual effects for 'Ash', a process executed with the Fusion Studio module of DaVinci Resolve software. Blackmagic Design.

Most of the film was filmed in a warehouse with minimal exterior sets. Faced with this challenge, the team PRPVFX was tasked with creating stylized surreal landscapes and effects that reflected the singular creative vision of the director, who was also responsible for the original soundtrack. The post-production company worked closely with Flying Lotus, leveraging decades of experience and an integrated Blackmagic Design workflow to bring the psychedelic world science fiction feature film.

George Port, director of PRPVFX, decided to employ Fusion Studio of DaVinci Resolve to create the visual effects of the film. "We had physical elements, green backgrounds, miniature models, Unreal Engine environments and practical effects. Fusion became the integrating core of all this in a three-dimensional compositing environment. It was a huge job, but the program was able to handle it without problems," he explains.

PRPVFX, which was originally formed from the production teams of Hercules y Xena, has decades of experience creating visual effects for major film and television projects. Port does not hesitate to affirm that the decision to migrate completely to Fusion Studio already DaVinci Resolve Studio was both technical and ideological: "We reached a point where we got tired of the subscriptions and maintenance fees of a visual effects program that crashed daily. Blackmagic's approach was logical. Fusion is stable, effective and economical. Working in Ash, I had 20 full-resolution compositions open in Fusion for over a week without a single error, which is unheard of on other platforms.”

3D Compositing with DaVinci Resolve

Las advanced tracking tools y three dimensional composition of Fusion were one of the fundamental features that facilitated the work dynamic. "The film includes reflective spacesuits, glass helmets and a very complex visual aesthetic. The precision of Fusion's overlay tools allowed us to create natural-looking compositions, even in difficult lighting conditions. We also made the most of the program's three-dimensional workspace, integrating green backgrounds with three-dimensional camera tracking data and Unreal renders to achieve a coherent result," explains Port.

One of the key sequences from the film shows one of the characters walking towards a space station in a computerized alien landscape. Carol Petrie, Senior Visual Effects Supervisor at PRPVFX, elaborates: "It was a challenging composition with different creative aspects. Flying Lotus, the director, is very committed and technically proficient, so we were able to collaborate quickly and effectively to perfect the aesthetic. Fusion allowed us to instantly switch between alternative versions of a scene and find the perfect atmosphere."

Flying Lotus, known for his experimental music and his work as a director on the cult film In it, kept a close collaboration with the visual effects team throughout production: "He shared concept sketches and Unreal scenes, as well as providing input during team meetings. That level of collaboration made it easy to create something unique and cohesive," Petrie adds.

PRPVFX also trusted DaVinci Resolve Studio to generate the background images and prepare files. Port, who has been using Blackmagic Design products for some time, says the post-production company has fully embraced the company's developed ecosystem: "We use Fusion, Resolve, DeckLink cards and other products to make our studio work. I've been a Blackmagic fan since the beginning, and their philosophy aligns with our company ideology: effective tools, fair prices and a genuine attention to the creative community."