Available Light Ltd. is a visual effects company, founded in 1983 by John Van Vliet and Katherine Kean.

Credits

Hart's War . Miss Congeniality . Duece Bigelow . My Favorite Martian . Truman Show. Blues Brothers 2000 . The Sixth Man Escape From LA . The Arrival . Executive Decision . Bordello of Blood (Tales From the Crypt feature) . Happy Gilmore . Ace Ventura 2: When Nature Calls . Vampire in Brooklyn . Mortal Kombat . First Knight . The Prophecy . Destiny Turns on the Radio . Demon Knight (Tales From the Crypt feature) . Tank Girl . Stargate . Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (Theme Park 3-D) . The Flintstones . The Journey Inside (IMAX) . Naked Gun 33 1/3 . Demolition Man . Heart and Souls . Monolith . Last Action Hero . Dracula . Honey, I Blew Up the Kid . Rush . Ricochet . Hot Shots! . Mom and Dad Save the World . Muppet Vision 3-D . Ghost . Chances Are . The Little Mermaid . Honey, I Shrunk the Kids . The Fly II . Willow . Who Framed Roger Rabbit . Spaceballs . Evil Dead II . The Golden Child . The Fly (Non-credited) . The Little Match Girl (Television) . Flight of the Navigator . Captain Eo (Disney Theme Park 3-D) . Amazing Stories (Television) . Starchaser (3-D animated feature) . My Science Project . Buckaroo Banzai . Ghostbusters . Deal of the Century (Non-credited) . Automan (Television Q Non-credited)

Capabilities
Technology is a tool, and tools change.  It is our belief that quality art and design will always endure. Now with the computer enabling us to act as film makers instead of assembly line workers, these traditional principles are coming back into acceptance as being the foundation of quality work.


Animation & Design
We come from a background of Effects Animation and with a heavy emphasis on design skills. In spite of the recent explosion of digital technology, we feel the traditional skills are still the best foundation for good effects work. Among other things, we have animated flaming heads, more lightning then we want to remember, cars that bounce and shrink, spaceships that literally jump into the air and rooms full of flying furniture with attitude.


Engineering shots from start to finish
We can design a complex blueprint of effects components that will meld together to create a seamless finished composite. We have creative ideas and experience that add up to cost effective effects that work. Our favorite client is the one who says, "Use your imagination. Make this work".


Playing well with others
In spite of what the techno-salespeople tell you, the computer does have it's limitations. Some of our most succesful shots have been when we have incorporated elements from prosthetics and physical effects experts. We love working with these guys. Need a face coming out of a basket ball or a flaming vampire that explodes?


Set Supervision
This is part of the engineering. We have people who can get to the set and figure out the best way to stage your shot and get the plates you need for the effects work that has to be accomplished in post. And you won't hear a lot of "Oh don't worry about that, we'll fix it in post". We want you to put your money into the stuff that looks cool, not fixing sloppy stage work.


Body and Fender Work
It happens all the time...The sky turned the wrong color, a bird flew into the scene at just the right angle to make it look like it flew up the talent's nose. Props or stunts that didn't work right on cue. We fix that stuff, 2-D or 3-D. Whatever it takes. (And we've had to do some really weird stuff...)


3-D Model Work
Cyber models that get cut in right next to the real thing. Our team has come up with some techniques that will take CG models to the next level.