Riot f/x pair open Hatch:
Ferrand, Bainum create digital matte painting shop

By MARC GRASER

HOLLYWOOD -- Visual f/x designer Deak Ferrand and longtime producing partner Cheryl Bainum have ankled post-production studio Riot Santa Monica to form Hatch, a digital matte painting shop.

Hatch will specialize in designing and creating 3D matte paintings that allow cameras near-complete freedom of movement and enable filmmakers to avoid building large-scale sets and location shoots. The paintings are later composited into live-action plates to replace blue screen.

Ferrand, whose feature film credits as a visual f/x designer and matte painter include "Mystery Men," "What Dreams May Come" and "X-Men," most recently held the title of senior matte painter and designer at Riot.

Since launching Hatch, Ferrand has been sub-contracted by Riot to continue collaborating with visual effects producer Juliette Yager and director Chuck Russell on approximately 20 shots for Universal's "The Scorpion King." Ferrand is a visual effects designer-supervisor and lead matte painter on "The Scorpion King." Also, Ferrand continues to work as a visual effects designer-supervisor and matte painter on "Blade 2."

Ferrand and Bainum moved from Buzz F/X to Pacific Ocean Post in 1997, where Bainum was upped to visual f/x executive producer. Last year, Pacific Ocean Post merged with Riot.

Date in print: Mon., Nov. 12, 2001