401 - VFX Sup Colin Strause - Creating Fire Sequences for FIRE COUNTRY

The intense drama and riveting action in the newest primetime CBS hit series FIRE COUNTRY is accompanied by spectacular firestorms: The work of visual effects leaders CBS VFX which was selected by producers to create the namesake infernos and deliver other critical visual effects for the most watched new network series of the season. Led by VFX Supervisor Colin Strause, whose career includes such big-screen blockbusters as RAMPAGE, SAN ANDREAS and THE AVENGERS, CBS VFX brings together a visual effects crew of more than 100 people to deliver as many as 135 effects shots in every episode of the series from Jerry Bruckheimer Productions and CBS Studios.

To make fire into a palpable antagonist in the series and to showcase the many different and terrifying forms that fire can take, the work from CBS VFX incorporates multiple elements, sometimes including actual pyrotechnics that were filmed on set in highly controlled circumstances. Although the series is set in Northern California, it is shot in British Columbia where extremely dry conditions mostly prevent the large-scale use of physical fire.

FIRE COUNTRY is the largest in an impressive range of recent projects for CBS VFX, which have also included the acclaimed series ONE PERFECT SHOT for HBO Max and ARRAY Filmworks; and innovative virtual production solution to COVID-relateds challenges for THE DREW BARRYMORE SHOW; and special productions for the 2021 MTV Movie Awards and NCAA Final Four. 

CBS VFX has developed groundbreaking technology and created visual effects for multiple series across many networks, including Apple TV’s ROAR, THE OFFER for Paramount +, THIS IS US on NBC, Netflix’s DEAD TO ME, and BIG SHOT on Disney +.

Brothers Colin and Greg Strause have charted a meteoric rise from self-taught artists working on local cable commercials in the suburbs of Chicago, to renowned visual effects gurus. Their careers began on the original run of THE X-FILES television show before working their way onto early CG-driven features, THE NUTTY PROFESSOR, VOLCANO, and the iceberg sequence of James Cameron's TITANIC. Founding their own VFX house, Hydraulx in 2002, the brothers have worked on visionary sequences for over ninety feature films including AVATAR, THE AVENGERS, SKYFALL, 300, CAPTAIN AMERICA, 2012, IRON MAN 2, BATTLE: LOS ANGELES and THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW. Their work on the latter brought Greg a BAFTA for Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects.

In this Podcast, Allan McKay interviews the VFX Supervisor, Director and Producer Colin Strause about his start in VFX – from launching his own company Hydraulx to directing feature films – his learning on the job and working on the challenging fire sequences on FIRE COUNTRY on CBS.

For more show notes, visit www.allanmckay.com/401.