Western Australian VFX Company Double Barrel was recently supported by Screenwest to complete VFX for feature film Clouds, which premiered on Disney+ on Thursday 16 October 2020.

Based on an incredible true story, Clouds follows seventeen-year-old Zach Sobiech, a fun-loving high school student with raw musical talent. But a few weeks into his senior year, just as his dream girl finally reciprocates his crush, Zach’s world gets turned upside down when he finds out his cancer has spread, and he now only has six months to live.

Double Barrel commenced work on the project in February 2020 just as COVID-19 began to make its impact globally. Fortuitously, Clouds had been shot and was entering post-production when the Double Barrel team were engaged to undertake VFX work on the project.

Stuart Campbell, VFX Producer and Company Director of Double Barrel explained, “the job ended up being around 75 shots, many being invisible effects such as paint outs and fixes”.

“As the film is set around 2012, a substantial part of the work became recreating likenesses of old social media UI’s for phone and laptop screens used by characters. This involved researching archival material that illustrated the (sometimes subtle) difference between the interfaces over the years and creating designs true to the period.”

Stuart Campbell, VFX Producer and Company Director, Double Barrel VFX

Whilst this was their first film streaming on Disney+, Double Barrel has had previous experience working with US studios. The company has worked on What Men Want for Paramount Pictures and Gringo for Amazon Studios. Other notable projects include features Hotel Mumbai and Dumplin’ (streaming on Netflix) and FX Australia’s series Mr Inbetween.

Campbell said, “we’re a small studio but I think we use that to our advantage. Our size allows us a more personal touch. We turn around changes quickly, with WA’s helpful time zone syncing well with the US. A high level of attention to detail is a priority and I think that shows in our work and is noticed by clients”.

The recent announcement of Western Australia’s Post, Digital and Visual Effects (WA PDV)  Rebate, administered by Screenwest, competitively positions Western Australian post companies like Double Barrel when bidding for overseas and interstate work.

Through the WA PDV Rebate eligible applicants can receive 20% of the first $500,000 of expenditure and a further 10% rebate for all expenditure over $500,000 on post-production, digital and VFX work undertaken in Western Australia.

For more information regarding the WA PDV Incentive or post-production companies in Western Australia you can contact:

Find out more about:

Gabrielle Cole
Production Attraction and Services Manager, Screenwest
[email protected]

About Double Barrel

Double Barrel is a VFX house situated in Perth, Western Australia. The company is dedicated to providing the highest quality visual effects and animation for film, TV, games and other media platforms. Their understanding of story and keen eye for visuals will bring a dynamic perspective to your project.