We do not condone snowmen smoking. It was just bubbles. We swear.
As you can imagine, it's not that snowy in Southern California in October... or really anywhere in the world. It's that sweet spot of entering spring in the Southern Hemisphere and still too autumnal in the Northern. So... With a mix of practical FX and movie magic, the winter landscape was born! We did a break down to show what was shot and what was CGI. Klaus oversaw the production from start to finish with Sam creating the pre-visualization with him and finishing all the VFX.
Nom nom nom nom nom.
The shoot took place over one night and one day and the VFX took 4 weeks. There were a few late nights...
Sam O'Hare and Jesse Holmes (VFX lead) catch a nap. Totes adorbs.
You can excuse the snoozy-ness when you consider this is what they'd been doing...
Before...
After!
Kinda sad...
Magical!! and he got a new hat. Thanks, CGI.
Other credits include Siggy at Company3 LA did the color grade; Jeff at Eleven Sound was the sound designer and mixer; HUM music scored the beautiful track.
Fun tidbits from the shoot... The dog was AMAZING. Her name is Jules and everyone wanted to take her home. The kids are really that cute. There were 28 horses in this production, and they were treated better than most people. And they really do like carrots... a lot.
From all of us at Aero Film, have a very happy holiday and we wish you the best in 2014!!!