Bringing a bunch of colourful characters to life in Paul Weitz’s Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant was the job of Rhythm & Hues. Visual effects supervisor Todd Shifflett tells fxguide how his studio approached the diverse range of Freak Show performers in the film.

Grant Heslov’s The Men Who Stare At Goats tells the story of a former U.S. Army member claiming to be a psychic soldier who can, among other things, stop the hearts of animals using only his mind. CIS Hollywood, under the vfx supervision of Thomas J. Smith, realised shots of this so-called power in action, as well as a number of other sequences in the film. Digital fx supervisor Joe Henke talks to fxguide about how the shots were accomplished.

Director Terry Gilliam relied on his longstanding relationship with Peerless Camera Company to delve into the hyper-real visual effects for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Visual effects supervisor John Paul Docherty and lead technical director Patrick Ledda talk to fxguide about the film.

Classic movie car chases are channelled in ‘Cars’, an LG cellphone spot directed by Filip Engstrom with visual effects by Mass Market. Lead Flame artist Nick Tanner talks to fxguide about bringing a unique miniature and old-school quality to the commercial.

Mountains, forests and oceans come to life in ‘World’, a Johnny Green-directed spot for Guinness, with visual effects by The Mill. Lead 2D and Flame artist Rich Roberts gives fxguide an insight into The Mill’s work for the epic commercial.