One of the driving forces behind the successful new FOX action series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, visual effects outfit Zoic Studios was charged with creating more than 400 vfx shots for the pilot and between 25 and 100 shots per episode. While some feats of digital trickery are designed to go unnoticed by audiences, others, including the photorealistic Terminator T-888 character, help bring the thrills of the feature film franchise to the small screen.
Zoic has been creating visual effects for such hit TV shows as CSI, Eureka, Pushing Daisies, Cold Case and Criminal Minds, but Terminator presented the shop with an exciting new challenge. VFX Supervisor Jim Lima was responsible for designing the digital elements of the show, working hand-in-hand with series creators to design the new model of terminator.
‘The Terminator is a highly articulate and complex 3D character with as many parts as there are in the human skeletal structure,’ says Lima. ‘And, like any creature, he has a ‘life’ history. The T-888’s are also characters that perform as an actor would, driving the narrative forward. Creating this has been a true creative challenge and completely satisfying endeavor.’
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles stars Lena Headey (300) as Sarah Connor, who has decided to stop running and go on the offensive against an ever-evolving technological enemy bent on destroying her son, and perhaps the world. Produced by C2 Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Television, the show airs Mondays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) on FOX.
