Tuesday, 22 January 2008 | Levent OZLER
Zoic Studios Meets Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is the exciting next step for the Terminator franchise and features striking visual effects by the award-winning company Zoic Studios (CSI, Eureka, Pushing Daisies, Cold Case, Criminal Minds). Challenged with creating the next generation of the iconic Terminator character -- the Terminator T-888 -- Zoic drew heavily from the films' legacy and created a photoreal CG character for the groundbreaking series. Zoic was also an instrumental contributor to the advertising and promotion surrounding the show, including the show's promo (co-directed by Zoic's Andrew Orloff and Jim Lima) and animated interstitials airing on FOX.
Jim Lima, Zoic Studios VFX Supervisor for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, was responsible for designing the digital elements of the show, and worked hand-in-hand with the show creators to design the new model of the Terminator. "The Terminator is a highly articulate and complex 3d character with as many parts as there are in the human skeletal structure. And, like any creature, he has a "life" history. The T-888's are also characters that perform as an actor would, driving the narrative forward. Creating this has been a true creative challenge and completely satisfying endeavor," says Lima.
Lima and his team have been charged with creating over 400 shots for the pilot and between 25 and 100 cinematic level visual effects shots per episode from the invisible to photoreal, stylized environments.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles reveals what happens when Sarah (Lena Headey) stops running and goes on the offensive against an ever-evolving technological enemy bent on destroying her life, and perhaps the world. Her son, 15-year-old John Connor (Thomas Dekker), knows that he may be the future savior of mankind, but is not yet ready to take on the mantle of leadership that he's told is his destiny. John finds himself inextricably drawn to Cameron (Summer Glau), an enigmatic and otherworldly student at his high school, who soon proves to be much more than his confidante - she assumes the role of Sarah and John's fearless protector. On their trail are not only threats from the future, but an intelligent and tough FBI agent, James Ellison (Richard T.Jones), who soon becomes a powerful ally.
Produced by C2 Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Television, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is executive-produced by Josh Friedman and John Wirth. Toni Graphia serves as co-executive producer and James Middleton and Natalie Chaidez serve as consulting producers for the series. The pilot was directed by David Nutter.
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