About us:
Crazy Horse Effects, Inc. (CHE) focuses on creating inspiring imagery to tie seamlessly with the greatest photography in the industry. We believe there is a connection between poetry and realism. So, while we are in the business of providing photorealistic effects, it often takes an artistic brush to apply the physics of light and color before a shot can command the moment and work properly within the context of the story.
Our core expertise is in providing complex 2.5 and 3D environments and set extensions for wide, establishing shots. CHE creates the big shot with a small team. We have grown out of the close collaboration between highly talented matte painters and compositors. Our credo is simple: keep the crew small and exquisite, the lines of communication between director and artist short and our eyes and minds open in order to consistently provide the highest quality of work. We also have a track record of saving shots quickly that could not be solved satisfactorily by other facilities. From conceptualizing shots and strategies during pre-production, on-set supervision during production, to post production, we provide the full range of VFX.
Doing visual effects is a little is like making music: CHE is somewhere between a chamber orchestra and a rock band. Every instrument is different, everybody matters. In an industry that is quickly developing and always looking for the latest effect/gag we are trying to keep touch with the old school traditions of making images with impact, even those that go back to the cave paintings. We craft contemporary natural art. We believe that anything that is truly done well has permanence and will withstand the test of time.
Paul Graff, President and Visual Effects Supervisor
Christina Graff, CFO and Visual Effects Producer
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Our history:
In 2001, after moving to the United States from Berlin, Germany where both Paul and Christina Graff worked in the local film and television industry (VFX and editing), Paul was given his first VFX job as a senior compositor on the movie CORONADO. Embracing the creative attitude and meticulously high quality standards of Academy Award-winner Volker Engel and Marc Weigert's company UNCHARTED TERRITORY, Paul moved on to be a lead compositor and compositing supervisor. During Peter Weir's MASTER & COMMANDER, Paul met 5-star matte painter ROBERT STROMBERG and the two have since been consistently teaming up on a host of projects. After winning his first EMMY with Uncharted Territory for the mini-series THE TRIANGLE, Paul was nominated for an EMMY for Outstanding Supporting VFX in a motion picture for his contribution to MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, for which Robert Stromberg’s company DIGITAL BACKLOT provided the lion's share of VFX.
By 2006, a new dimension was added to Digital Backlot. While Robert was deeply involved in the creation of alien environments for Jim Cameron's AVATAR, Paul and Christina Graff were in charge of operations at Digital Backlot. The company took on THERE WILL BE BLOOD, MIMZY, 3:10 TO YUMA, EVAN ALMIGHTY and finally JOHN ADAMS with Robert as Visual Effects Designer, Paul as Visual Effects Supervisor and Christina Graff as Visual Effects Producer. In this configuration a number of projects were completed and their efforts were rewarded with EMMYs (Paul Graff, Christina Graff, Robert Stromberg) for the HBO mini-series JOHN ADAMS, which consequently won VES AWARDS in 3 categories.
In early 2008, shortly after the completion of JOHN ADAMS, Digital Backlot was dissolved and Paul and Christina Graff incorporated CRAZY HORSE EFFECTS, Inc. Continuing the same journey under a new flag, CHE began by signing the work for FOUR CHRISTMASES and TROPIC THUNDER. Additionally, CHE was given several substantial sequences in John Hillcoat's THE ROAD as well as two dream sequences and some additional work in Jon Amiel's CREATION. On another note, the success of BAND OF BROTHERS prompted HBO and PLAYTONE to produce the 10 part mini-series THE PACIFIC. CHE contributed 82 shots to the recently completed THE PACIFIC and simultaneously created an environment and a sequence for Roland Emmerich's 2012. Currently, CHE is working on Scorsese's BOARDWALK EMPIRE and SHUTTER ISLAND and Peter Weir's THE WAY BACK. CHE has also been contributing creative ideas and providing VFX-supervision for Oliver Stone's WALL STREET 2: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS.
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