TORONTO, CANADA ­- (Jan. 22, 2001 ) On January 15th Visual Effects Supervisor Dennis Berardi, Chris Wallace and Sylvain Taillon of Toronto-based TOPIX/Mad Dog, opened the doors at Mr. X, Inc., a studio providing computer generated visual effects for feature-based entertainment.

This is an equal partnership with TOPIX, specialists in character animation, special effects, film titling, type and broadcast design, supplying the financing and technology; and Dennis Berardi, formerly visual effects supervisor of Toybox (Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles), supplying the ideas and directing the talent.

"More and more, directors are relying on digital content providers to help tell their stories. Mr. X can break down the important visual moments of the script, offer design, pre-visualization, on-set vfx supervision, high-end photo-real cgi and compositing. Our goal is to be the first people on and the last people off a feature project - interacting with all the traditional film department heads along the way," explained Mr. X President/VFX Supervisor Berardi.

The birth of Mr. X comes at a significant time as the integration of traditional and digital filmmaking processes has become commonplace. "We are providing filmmakers with the digital images they need. A company that communicates and bridges the gap between digital technology and creativity, as well as production designers, cinematographers, directors and the digital postproduction process, is going to be very well positioned," continued Berardi.

Berardi brings a truly remarkable set of skills to this new venture. In the last three years alone he was Visual Effects Supervisor/Producer or Manager on films including The Cell, Fight Club, eXistenZ, Keeping the Faith, Superstar, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Jason X and Bride of Chucky. Earlier in his career, Berardi worked on features and television programs including The Sweet Hereafter, Cube, The Planet of Junior Brown, Mimic, Fly Away Home and The Hunchback.

Mr. X's forte is photo-realistic CG, matte painting, vfx compositing and film or HD resolution postproduction. The artist driven studio is equipped with a rare mix of technical and creative individuals who possess expert knowledge of the latest imaging technology and are intent on pushing the limits and making the impossible possible in the digital realm.

"Developing talent is crucial. We can buy hardware, we can buy software, but 'peopleware' is hard to come by. I want this company to be ideas-based, not necessarily technologies-based, and that has everything to do with the people and the creative process - create, encourage, stimulate," explained Berardi.

To stay tuned into the up and coming talent pool, Mr. X is in the process of partnering with schools including Sheridan College, Centennial Development Center, Vancouver Film School, CalArts, and the like. Berardi, in his off hours is teaching an advanced professional development program for filmmakers, a module on digital imaging and visual effects, at Sheridan College.

Software programmer and technical whiz Colin Withers has joined Mr. X as Studio Tools Developer. He was previously Technical Director at TOPIX, overseeing the day-to-day technical aspects of the studio, with responsibility for researching and developing custom studio software tools to aid in production of broadcast design, 3D animation and postproduction. Some of these developments include fluid, rigid and soft body dynamics simulators (TOPIX_cloth), procedural VRML generators, animation flocking software, a 2½D motion blur renderer, procedurally generated fur, and most recently, pixelated time slicing effects for use in postproduction.

Rounding out the Mr. X team are flame* Artist Aaron Weintraub, VFX Compositor Marco Posinelli, Digital Matte Artist/Animator Kristy Blackwell, Character Animator Brian Anderson, and Animators Sean Cohen, Shane Glading and Mark Stepanek.

"I've known Dennis for many years now. We met through work while he was in the digital imaging business, and quickly became close personal friends. I've always hoped of one day working with him as I had kept abreast of his great work over the years, and when the opportunity came along to found Mr. X together, it was a bit of a dream come true for me. And the great thing is, I knew the guy was good but seeing him in action... well, he's certainly the man for the job," stated Taillon.

"We've watched Dennis build up the Toybox business over the past few years and when the opportunity to partner with him presented itself, we jumped. We were able to provide Dennis with a financial and technical framework for his business and help fill some of the crucial creative and technical positions - Aaron Weintraub, Marco Posinelli and Colin Withers are all TOPIX/MadDog transplants. And we're able to house him close to our operations so that the ensuing result is that we both get bigger and better, a natural fit!," added Chris Wallace.

Mr. X has just completed its first project - digital effects compositing and on-set vfx supervision for six sequences for Century Hotel, a Victorious Films (Toronto) feature scheduled for release September 2001 at the Toronto International Film Festival. Shot in Toronto, the film, directed by David Weaver and produced by Victoria Hirst, tells seven stories, each played out over the course of the 20th century in a downtown hotel.

Web Site: www.mrxfx.com

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