Zoic Studios’ BC office is proud to have contributed visual effects to the massively anticipated Sony Pictures feature “District 9” which opened earlier this month topping US box office charts.

Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa’s District 9 as the world’s nations argued over what to do with them.

Now, patience over the alien situation has run out. Control over the aliens has been contracted out to Multi-National United (MNU), a private company uninterested in the aliens’ welfare – they will receive tremendous profits if they can make the aliens’ awesome weaponry work. So far, they have failed; activation of the weaponry requires alien DNA.

The tension between the aliens and the humans comes to a head when an MNU field operative, Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley), contracts a mysterious virus that begins changing his DNA. Wikus quickly becomes the most hunted man in the world, as well as the most valuable – he is the key to unlocking the secrets of alien technology. Ostracized and friendless, there is only one place left for him to hide: District 9.

Directed by Neill Blomkamp and presented by Peter Jackson, “District 9” is a powerful Sci-Fi thriller set in the near future in Johannesburg, S.A., where one million Alien refugees have set up camp.

As one of the VFX companies on the project, Zoic Studios was tapped to design and create 30 shots including the highly complex Alien Fluid, which was based on the behavior of Ferro fluid when affected by an electrical current. The team also created explosions, weapons activations, Alien weapon trails, an armored vehicle and blood and dirt debris.

“We are thrilled to work on this film, as we were all big fans of Neill’s previous work and were looking forward to seeing the movie whether we were involved with it or not,” comments Zoic BC Creative Director Patti Gannon. “He has a very distinct creative style and it was very exciting to collaborate with him.”

Zoic is an award-winning Digital Studio involved in producing lauded commercials and viral advertising as well as innovative content for episodic television, feature films and the gaming industry. From visual effects, to live action production and specialty shooting, Zoic Studio imprint can be seen in such compelling entertainment as True Blood, Fringe and Dollhouse; spots for Mountain Dew, ESPN, Craftsman, HP and VW, as well as innovative projects for EA, Gamefly and Sony. Zoic Studios has offices in Los Angeles and Vancouver.

Zoic Studios Credits:
CG Supervisor – Trevor Adams
Creative Director/2D Supervisor – Patti Gannon

3D Artists:
Arlend Engar
Mike Rhone
Michael Goddard
Nik Slotiuk
Ian Buchko

2D Artists:
Neil Ghaznavi
Aaron Brown
Stu MacCrae

Related Links:
www.district9movie.com
www.zoicstudios.com

Sources:
HypeWorld.com
District9movie.com