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Bullard grad works magic with effects
Published online on Wednesday, Oct. 07, 2009
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Fresno's Colin Feist was behind hundreds of cars crashed on Los Angeles' 110 Freeway. His fingerprints also are all over several downed buildings, multiple deaths and raging fires.
It's his job. Feist creates the carnage as a compositing supervisor for Zoic Studios, a company that does special effects for TV shows. He was in charge of visual effects for the spectacular opening episode of ABC's "FlashForward."
"Compositing is at the end of the line after all of the elements in a scene have been generated," Feist says. "We put all the pieces together."
The "FlashForward" scene used a variety of elements. Series star Joseph Fiennes was filmed on an overpass filled with overturned cars. Everything past the railing was a special effect.
A matte painting created the illusion of an interstate filled with wrecked vehicles; actors were photographed in a studio and then their pictures were placed in the distance to make it look as if they were wandering the road. Computer images made intact buildings appear to be on fire.
Colin Feist was in charge of the remarkable visual effects for the opening episode of “FlashForward, starring Joseph Fiennes, above.
Feist spent two months pulling the pieces together to create the 20-second scene.
Blending special effects isn't easy. There have been times when Feist has had to figure out how to make shadows go in the same direction when they are at different angles in various parts of a scene. It takes a blend of computer skills and an artist's eye.
"What I like about this job is that I get to combine the technical with the creative," Feist says.
The 1998 Bullard graduate has been a computer geek since his grandfather gave him his first computer when he was 5. After two years at Fresno City College, he transferred to the Art Institute of California, Los Angeles.
Feist also works on the HBO series "True Blood" doing what he calls "invisible visual effects."
He's the guy behind everything from blood tears to wound enhancements.
Feist gets to see TV shows months before they air, but he's under strict rules not to talk about what he's seen or any on-screen mayhem he's created.
Other news
Special event: KVPT (Channel 18.1) will broadcast the next three installments of the San Francisco Symphony's "Keeping Score" series, starting at 10:30 p.m. Oct. 18.
The San Francisco Symphony's electronic media manager, Edie Cheng, and Keeping Score Education Program Manager Andi Yannone will join Fresno educators at a reception and showcase Oct. 13 at the KVPT studios, 1544 Van Ness Ave. that's open to the public.
Grab your knives: Auditions for Bravo's "Top Chef" will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 18 in San Francisco. For additional casting information and to download an application, go to BravoTV.com/casting.
Return visit: Elizabeth, Kiani, Gypsy, Serafino, Dorian and Adrian Wesson, plus plus local TV news reporter Alysia Sofios, are scheduled to tape a second "Dr. Phil" appearance on Monday.
There's no word when the episode will be broadcast. The Wessons previously appeared on the show Sept. 24.
"Dr. Phil" airs 3 p.m. weekdays on KSEE (Channel 24.1).
TV and movie critic Rick Bentley can be reached at rbentley@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6355. Read his blog at fresnobeehive.com.
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