Sabrina Down Under, Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sabrina the Teenage Witch survives stormy seas – Modern Videofilm to the rescue!

Burbank, CA (9/1/99) -- Modern Videofilm has completed visual effects for “Sabrina Down Under”, a television movie airing as part of ABC’s Wonderful World of Disney on Sept. 26, 1999. It is the third full-length movie featuring Melissa Joan Hart in the role of America’s favorite teen witch. This time, Sabrina’s magical misadventures take her to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, where she saves a mermaid colony, conjures a typhoon, and transforms into an animated fish. Over 50 effects shots were realized, using the full range of digital technology, including 2D and 3D animation, digital matte paintings, and compositing. The movie was directed by Ken Koch and was produced by Hartbreak Films in association with Viacom.

Filming began on location in mid May. When a local supervisor wasn’t available until just days before shooting, Executive Producer Paula Hart asked Modern Videofilm to provide a complete blueprint for the Australian crew to follow when shooting the effects sequences. A team quickly put together storyboards, scene breakdowns, and a list of all required plates for every shot, including complex underwater photography. Thanks to their input in pre-production, the artist sat Modern Videofilm were able to deliver the final effects sequences ahead of schedule.

Modern Videofilm is a complete postproduction facility, offering high definition telecine and editing, audio services, and visual effects. In addition to “Sabrina Down Under”, they are also currently working on effects for the upcoming feature film “The Haunting of Hill House”, as well as the television series “Secret Agent Man”, “Profiler”, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”, and “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”.


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