LOS ANGELES — Visual effects studio Mr. Wolf (www.mrwolf.com) has opened a new studio in Vancouver. The company, which also has operations in Los Angeles and New York, has hired veteran VFX producer Chad Cortvriendt to head the new location as executive producer. Cortvriendt is currently leading a team of artists in creating visual effects for the third season of Syfy’s horror anthology series, Channel Zero.
Mr. Wolf executive producer Mike Pryor says the Vancouver facility will provide local VFX support for television series and features being produced in Canada. “There is a lot of film and television production in British Columbia and a lot of visual effects talent that we can develop our business around,” notes Pryor. “We believe our model, which combines efficient, responsive service with high-quality effects, will work very well in that market.”
Cortvriendt has 10 years of visual effects experience in Vancouver. He joins Mr. Wolf from Zoic Studios, Vancouver, where he served as senior VFX producer on the CW series The 100. Previously, he held producing roles at FuseFX, Gener8 Digital Media and Prime Focus World, all in Vancouver. His background also includes work as a stereoscopic producer and virtual reality producer. Some of his many credits include Timeless, Dark Matter, Zoo, Suicide Squad, Ghostbusters, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Captain America: Civil War, Jungle Book and The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
“Chad is a brilliant guy and someone we’ve worked with in the past,” says Pryor. “We’ve been in the trenches with Chad on very difficult projects and know his capabilities. There is a deep level of trust between us.”
The new Vancouver studio is located at 343 Railway Street. Cortvriendt sees the new venture as an opportunity to build a top visual effects team from the ground up. “I’ve worked with some very talented VFX artists in my career and I look forward to bringing them on board,” he says. “I also look forward to the challenges of daily problem-solving and instilling a commitment to excellence.”
Mr. Wolf provided visual effects services for the first two seasons of Channel Zero through its New York location. With Season 3, it assumed the role of lead visual effects supplier on the series. The Vancouver team is currently involved in creating a variety of visual effects for the show, ranging from complex set extensions to character enhancements.
In Los Angeles and New York, Mr. Wolf serves a varied clientele that includes television shows, features, advertising and broadcast promotions. Its credits include Sneaky Pete, One Day at a Time, Powers, Patriots Day, Hardcore Henry and American Hustle.