Vision Crew Unlimited was founded in 1994 with the goal of providing high quality visual effects for feature films, commercials, and television.
Building upon our excellent reputation for miniature fabrication and mechanical effects, VCU later expanded into a full service visual effects facility while keeping the flexibility that comes with a smaller company. This allowed us to take on projects, both large and small, and give each of our clients the high quality work and personal attention that we became known for.
Operating as usual
Another look back into the history books!
RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION (2007) miniature effects. Evan Jacobs talks about supervising the miniatures made by New Deal Studios. New segment from my Sense of...
More memories from the Sense of Scale project. This time, Species II.
SPECIES II miniature effects. Evan Jacobs talks about the miniature spacecraft made for the film by Vision Crew. New segment from my Sense of Scale documenta...
A look back at VCU’s work on another project!
FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON (TV) miniature effects. Evan Jacobs talks about the miniature effects for the show by Vision Crew. New segment from my Sense of Sc...
For this Hyundai commercial directed by Justin Klarenbeck, VCU fabricated a miniature version of the car as well as gimbal and the surrounding environment. It's the kind of commercial that would be done completely CG today but we did it all practically.
Photos from Vision Crew Unlimited's post
VCU’s work on Armageddon
ARMAGEDDON miniature effects (part 2). Evan Jacobs talks about the large scale shuttle miniature made at Vision Crew Unlimited. New segment from my Sense of ...
Here’s a look back at our work on Space Jam
Go behind the scenes with Vision Crew Unlimited back in 1996.
Here's the NY, NY Hotel and Casino commerical. Vision Crew supplied a 48th scale miniature casino exterior. One of the reasons they opted for a model is because the casino wasn't actually finished while we were producing the commercial. In fact, they radically redesigned the entrance right before the shoot so we had to scramble to update our model to match.
We built a miniature NY, NY Hotel and Casino for a commercial to launch it in Las Vegas.
Another collaboration with late director Terry Windell. VCU provided the miniature environment - trees and steel columns. The truck was shot motion control and composited by Sight Effects.
Buick "Igor" Commercial with miniatures by Vision Crew Unlimited and VFX by Digital Domain. VFX Supervisor was the legendary Leslie Ekker
Vision Crew provided miniatures for a Pizza Hut commercial produced by Rhythm & Hues Studios. How to make carved foam look like fresh baked bread was a fun challenge.
Some memories of the early days of Vision Crew
BROKEN ARROW miniature effects. Matthew Gratzner, Ian Hunter, and Evan Jacobs talk about the B3 jet models by Hunter-Gratzner Industries (New Deal Studios) a...
The B3 is back up for auction!
A B-3 Stealth Bomber model miniature from John Woo's action thriller Broken Arrow.
The Mummy Miniatures
Here's your chance to pick up a Vision Crew piece at auction! https://content.propstore.com/auction/la2019/catalogue/EMLA2019_Online.pdf
They’re renaming our old street!
A 3.7-mile stretch of road in the heart of Los Angeles’ Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw neighborhood is getting a new name in honor of the country’s first African American president, and local leaders say the symbolism is important.
Today we're mourning the loss of one of our most consistent collaborators, Terry Windell. Terry directed many of the commercials we worked on over the years at Vision Crew. He was incredibly talented and his sense of humor will sorely missed. RIP Terry.
Came across this polaroid in storage. Not sure what the occasion was but here's some of the crew.
The Rollercoaster Drama Behind 'Titanic': An Out-of-Control Budget, Two Warring Studios and a Near-Fistfight
For the first time, 20 years since the classic was first released, James Cameron and others reveal their behind-the-scenes secrets.
Here's a fun article looking back at our work on Space Jam
In Part 2 of our 20th anniversary oral history of Space Jam, the crew discuss tackling new techniques for 2D animation, and gearing up for the vfx.
I did a bit of digging into the VCU archives and came across is little video of Ted. It's just a dumb clip of him at work from Jan 2002 but I thought everyone might enjoy hearing his voice again. It certainly made me smile. RIP Ted.
Just got word that we lost one of our own. Saying goodbye to Ted Van Doorn. He was an extraordinary artist and a great guy as well. He will be missed. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Great shots!
Images from slides taken during the construction of the miniatures for the film "Bladerunner"
Came across this auction. We built this lifeboat and all the others for the film. I wonder how it got into the wild.
A miniature lifeboat used in the 1997 James Cameron Oscar winning epic Titanic. This small little piece was used in the long shots of the ill-fated ship such as when leaving Southampton, dotted around the upper decks with others of this size to create the stunning illusion. This is one of the more d…
A nice history lesson...
This blog is intended primarily as a tribute to the inventiveness and ingenuity of the craft of the matte painter during Hollywoods' Golden Era. Some of the shots will amaze in their grandeur and epic quality while others will surprise in their 'invisibility' to even the sophisticated viewer. I hope…
House of Blues Xmas Party
So sorry to share this news. We lost one of our family yesterday. Jon's dad, Mike Warren, passed away. He was an extraordinary man and a good friend. RIP
Frost moco shoot
Here's the Hollywood Reporter from March 1997. We made their "Emerging Talent" list.
Misc VCU Photos
Misc VCU Photos
Here's the last demo reel we produced in 2002. Sort of a VCU greatest hits. Some of it looks a bit dated now, but a lot of the work still holds up!
Vision Crew Unlimited Demo Reel 2002, www.visioncrew.com
5939 Rodeo Rd
Los Angeles, CA
90016
Miniatures, Mechanical Effects, Motion Control, CGI
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In 1996, Vision Crew was engaged by Digital Domain to provide some miniatures for Fifth Element and Titanic. This is some behind the scenes footage we shot during the fabrication process.
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