# Stage23 > Stage23 is an artist-run visual effects and animation studio at Fox Studios, Sydney. Design-led VFX for film and television, from concept and on-set supervision to final delivery. ## About Independent. Story-Driven. Stage23 brings together leading VFX artists and filmmakers with global experience and a shared obsession with craft. Every decision is driven by story, performance and the quality of the final image. Design. Technology. Craft. From our Australian headquarters to productions around the world, we combine sophisticated design, advanced technology and meticulous craftsmanship to create visual effects with scale, precision and cinematic impact. ### Jonathan Hairman VFX Supervisor / Co-Owner Jonathan has close to 30 years’ experience in VFX and production working across Australia, Europe and the United States. Jonathan honed his craft in London through the 2000s, supervising VFX at Framestore for leading international commercial directors on global brand campaigns, working alongside legendary directors including Jonathan Glazer, Frank Budgen and Tom Hooper. Returning to Sydney in 2012, he moved into long form. Credit highlights include Our Brand Is Crisis for David Gordon Green and Warner Bros., Vice Principals for HBO, The New Boy for Warwick Thornton and Class of '07 for Amazon Studios as show supervisor. In 2025 he was VFX supervisor on StudioCanal's feature Kangaroo, shot in Alice Springs, built around photorealistic CG kangaroos. Since he and Christian Debney launched Stage23 in 2017, the studio has grown into one of Australia's leading independent VFX companies, working with Universal, Sony, Amazon, Netflix, A24, StudioCanal and Peacock, alongside independent producers including Causeway, Brindle Films, See-Saw Films and Altitude. ### Christian Debney Creative Director / Co-Owner Christian Debney is a filmmaker, creative director and visual effects artist whose career spans directing, animation, design, practical effects and high-end VFX. He began his career working across multiple filmmaking disciplines, from building prop lightsabers for the Star Wars prequels and constructing sets on Sexy Beast, to mask making on V for Vendetta. He later moved into animation and visual effects, specialising in photorealistic 3D, concept development and visual storytelling. Christian has directed commercials and music promos for artists and clients including Coldplay and Simple Minds, and has been represented by production companies including MPC and Crossroads Films. To support this work, he founded and ran two VFX and animation studios in London, overseeing teams of more than 30 artists. Before relocating to Australia, Christian served as a Director of Animation on the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, working alongside Danny Boyle. He later worked as Second Unit Director on Stephan Elliott’s Swinging Safari. Today, Christian is co-founder and Creative Director of Stage23, where he combines filmmaking, design and visual effects with the development of original film projects. Alongside his work for other filmmakers, he is increasingly focused on directing and developing a slate of narrative projects, bringing together his experience in practical filmmaking, visual effects and emerging production technologies. ### Liam Gare Head of 2D / VFX Supervisor Born and raised in Adelaide, Liam has established himself as a leading force in Australia’s visual effects industry after honing his skills at Rising Sun Pictures. With direction from industry greats, his creative eye, technical expertise, and leadership skills developed as a comp lead, before working in London at Pixomondo and Framestore. He now leads our team of artists as Head of 2D and Comp supervisor to deliver world-class visual effects for international productions. With credits on films such as Shang-Chi, Furiosa, Ford v Ferrari, Liam has helped bring some of cinema’s most visually complex moments to life. Most notably, working as lead artist on Mickey 17, pioneering the groundbreaking work responsible for the digital twinning of Robert Pattinson, a feat that pushed the boundaries of the technology and artistry involved. Liam pushed his skillset outside of VFX post production working on set for productions such as The Tourist and Furiosa, and numerous music videos for iconic Australian artists such as The Wanderers, Carla Geneve, and The Empty Threats. ### Jeremy Howdin VFX Supervisor Jeremy has two decades' experience across film VFX, television and animation, and is an Emmy-nominated visual effects supervisor. One of the first hires at Stage23, he has helped shape the studio's growth and now leads as Head of 3D and VFX Supervisor. He previously held senior roles at Animal Logic and Mighty Nice, working on large-scale production pipelines. His feature film credits for Stage23 include Anaconda, Monkeyman, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp. He has also worked on Australia, I, Frankenstein, Walking with Dinosaurs, Happy Feet Two and Legend of the Guardians. His Emmy nomination for Outstanding Visual Effects came for Australian sci-fi series Farscape, and he was nominated for VES Best Single Visual Effect of the Year for a hero shot on Knowing. With a background combining a degree in Industrial Product Design from the University of Canberra with advanced training at AFTRS, he was awarded a prestigious scholarship from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, where he also tutored and mentored the early wave of VFX practitioners. ### Stefanie Boensch VFX Producer A creatively driven and meticulous producer with extensive experience leading global production teams across all stages of film and media. Stefanie oversees projects across international studios, aligning creative vision with financial and scheduling goals to deliver world-class content on time and within budget. Stefanie is recognised for building strong client partnerships, streamlining workflows and leading teams with a balance of motivation, structure and adaptability. Her global experience has been bolstered by roles working across Germany, Canada and the UK, most notably as associate producer at MPC. Career highlights include working on Mufasa: The Lion King, Cruella, The One and Only Ivan and Shazam. ### Michelle Martin Executive Consultant & Head of International Business Development — UK Michelle Martin is an international VFX executive consultant. Previously she has worked within senior roles for studios including Framestore, Milk and Pixomondo, contributing to critically acclaimed productions such as The Crown, Black Mirror, The Witcher, Luther and Lovecraft Country. Drawing on her experience within VFX, she is now consulting with creatively driven, agile VFX teams, helping them to grow, navigate complex production challenges and deliver high-quality visual storytelling in an ever-evolving industry. Recognised for bringing together creative teams and stakeholders to align vision with execution, she provides business development as well as strategic guidance on production, content delivery and emerging technologies, enabling both VFX studios and production teams to realise creatively driven projects in an increasingly competitive global market. Based in London, Michelle is driving international creative opportunities and co-production partnerships for Stage23 in addition to building its presence in the UK and Europe. ### Aevar Bjarnason Head of FX Forged in Iceland and reframed in Australia. At Fuel VFX, Aevar realised Ridley Scott's vision for the Orrery, the holographic three-dimensional mapping system at the centre of Prometheus, along with the film's wider hologram work. He went on to Marvel's Iron Man 3 at the same facility, then to senior roles at Animal Logic, Fin Design & Effects and Cutting Edge, where he was CG and VR lead on titles including The Invisible Man for Leigh Whannell. Further credits include Alien: Covenant and Captain Marvel. He joined Stage23 in 2023 as Head of FX. A self-confessed devotee of digital gore, he has relished the studio's slate: VFX supervisor on The Bluff for Amazon, CG supervisor on The Moogai and Maxxxine. Aevar came to Australia from Iceland in 2005, studying multimedia design at Billy Blue before completing a Master of Animation at UTS. A fine arts background gives him the critical eye, paired with a long interest in gaming technology and film. He gravitates to visually strange problems, the ones that have to be cracked from a design standpoint. ### Rhys Davey Lead Animator Rhys works across television, feature, commercials and games, moving between stylised and realistic animation with equal fluency. His credits include Knuckles, SpongeBob 2, Ted 2, Christopher Robin and Ghostbusters (2016). At Stage23 that range has been put to work at both ends, from the stylised character animation of Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp to realistic creature work on Monkeyman and Kangaroo. As lead animator on Monkeyman, Kangaroo and Whale Shark Jack, Rhys drove the anatomical accuracy of the creature work and mentored the animation team, lifting the standard across the project. ### Matt Sato-Smith Head of Lighting Matt Sato-Smith joined Stage23 in 2022, returning to Australia after a rich and diverse 15-year animation career in Japan. He brings more than 25 years across visual effects and animation to the role, leading the lighting department and most recently supervising the VFX team on Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Matt started his career at Animal Logic, refining his craft as a 3D artist before creating space battles and alien worlds as a lead artist on the Farscape television series. He then moved to Tokyo, where he spent 15 years building an extensive knowledge of long-form animation production. Across Marza Animation Planet, Polygon Pictures and Square Enix he worked in lighting, layout and environment roles on animated films, TV series and AAA game titles, serving as senior lighting artist on the opening sequence for the first Sonic movie and on the cyber-noir titles Deus Ex and Hitman: Absolution. The years in Japan also gave him a deep command of the language, culture and visual style. As Head of Lighting he oversees all projects, and alongside Sonic the Hedgehog 3 he relishes the progressive set extension and digital-double work for Dev Patel's Monkey Man. Known to take the extra leap for his projects, he served as VFX supervisor and skydiver on the 2018 PlayStation campaign "You Can Do It" with the acclaimed Japanese director Yuichi Kodama. ## Work ### The Bluff [https://www.stage23.com/work/the-bluff](https://www.stage23.com/work/the-bluff) Studio: MGM Studios Disciplines: Digital Environment, Comp Year: 2026 Director: Frank E. Flowers A Caribbean woman gets her secret past as a rogue former pirate revealed when her island is invaded by vicious buccaneers seeking revenge. Stage23 helped reinvent coastal regions of Queensland into a 19th century Caribbean pirate stomping ground. The Bluff is a historic, Cayman Island set period thriller which Stage23 helped bring to life with over 70 VFX shots including a mix of creatures, FX, pyro, digital environments and matte paintings. Stage23 recreated and enhanced elaborate pirate cave interiors, including pyrotechnic beats and detailed fight sequence injury work, while ensuring Queensland’s vistas played seamlessly as the Caribbean. Much of the biggest buccaneer set pieces are driven by Stage23’s VFX work including the key pirate army home invasion sequence, which includes a bloody and destructive chase through an intricate bluff cave system which is rigged with explosives, hidden weapons, goods and coveted chests of gold. Stage23 brought the underground lair to life with CG bat work and a coordinated series of triggered traps—integrating explosions and fire throughout the caves to support the story’s escalating stakes. ### Anaconda [https://www.stage23.com/work/anaconda](https://www.stage23.com/work/anaconda) Studio: Sony Pictures Disciplines: Digital Environment, FX, Comp Year: 2025 Director: Tom Gormican Best friends Griff and Doug have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favorite movie "Anaconda" When a midlife crisis pushes them to finally go for it, they assemble a crew and head deep into the jungles of the Amazon to start filming. However, life soon imitates art when a gigantic anaconda with a thirst for blood starts hunting them down. Stage23 delivered the bulk of the visual effects for Sony’s Anaconda — morphing Queensland locations and soundstage plates into a living Amazon, while ILM handled the snake. The work spanned rainforest set extensions, day-for-night transformations, environment augmentation, cleanup, and large-scale river travel simulations with CG water and CG boats — including one sequence of more than 300 shots. With much of the external shots filmed across Queensland bushland and waterways, Stage23 were tasked with morphing raw Queensland landscapes into complex Amazonian scenes. Much of the landscape work included changing day to night sequences, adding the environment elements and cleaning up much of the live location shoots and re-rendering them. ### Sonic the Hedgehog 3 [https://www.stage23.com/work/sonic-the-hedgehog-3](https://www.stage23.com/work/sonic-the-hedgehog-3) Studio: Paramount Pictures Disciplines: Digital Environment, Creatures, Full CG Year: 2025 Director: Jeff Fowler Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance. Stage23 crafted pivotal sequences for Marza Animation Planets’ third instalment of the iconic Sonic film. The team designed and built fully digital photorealistic environments to place the Sonic characters in, including detailed work on a giant smoking crater. Stage23’s Head of Lighting Matt Sato-Smith led the team delivering pivotal shots, teasers and key new character development across a demanding time schedule. Highlights of Stage23’s delivery included the post credit sequence which includes the introduction of new character Metal Sonic in a teaser for the upcoming Sonic 4. The project was a full circle creative moment for Matt who served as the senior lighting artist for the first Sonic movie when working for Marza in Japan. ### Bring Her Back [https://www.stage23.com/work/bring-her-back](https://www.stage23.com/work/bring-her-back) Studio: A24 Disciplines: Digital Environment, Creatures, Comp Year: 2025 Director: Danny Philippou; Michael Philippou A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother. Stage23 delivered seamless VFX work that helped shape the key haunting scenes in this multi-AACTA award winning psychological horror feature. The team worked on the pivotal mutilation scene, the harrowing ‘knife’ scene, delivering 2D wound work, prosthetic cover up and object stabilisation. With naturalistic realism being a key part of the filmmakers’ vision, the VFX deployed demanded seamless integration which was showcased across Stage23’s work on physical gore including 2D blood and environmental elements. ### Kangaroo [https://www.stage23.com/work/kangaroo](https://www.stage23.com/work/kangaroo) Studio: Studio Canal Disciplines: Digital Environment, Creatures Year: 2024 Director: Kate Woods Kangaroo is a family comedy and redemption tale about disgraced TV Host, Chris, and a young indigenous girl, Charlie, who work together to rescue and rehabilitate a group of orphaned joeys in a remote Northern Territory outback community. The film is inspired by the life of Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, founder of The Kangaroo Sanctuary, in Alice Springs.  Stage23 co-founder Jonathan Hairman served as VFX supervisor on the feature film which included a team of 21 VFX artists bringing seamless CGI to creatures and remote environments across 12 weeks of production work. The Stage23 team were engaged early in the pre-production phase to assist with creative planning, budget and location a creature wrangling in Alice Springs. Hundreds of hours of research on Kangaroo morphology and anatomy was central to rendering the photoreal, full CG replications of various sized and aged Kangaroos from joeys to the full grown central ‘roo character Roger. Key sequences included working with stunt co-ordinator Dean Gould on the intricate fight scenes between the fully grown ‘roo Roger and lead actor Ryan Corr, involving a stunt actor in a harness as a stand in for the fully CG realised Roger. Intense anatomical study on Kangaroos interactions and behaivour were also vital to the work to replicate naturalistic interactions between the creatures and their environment to create the seamless blend mixing real creatures with digital counterparts. ### Went Up the Hill [https://www.stage23.com/work/went-up-the-hill](https://www.stage23.com/work/went-up-the-hill) Studio: Greenwich Entertainment Disciplines: Digital Environment, Comp Year: 2024 Director: Samuel Van Grinsven A man ventures to remote New Zealand, returning for the funeral of his estranged birth mother and meets her widow for the first time. His mother's spirit returns to inhabit each of their bodies, instigating a life-threatening three-way nocturnal dance and dialogue. Stage23 delivered a suite of visual effects over 145 shots that were integral to the psychological drama’s narrative. Shot in New Zealand, featuring sweeping regional landscapes, the team provided 3D environment design and integration, implementing intricate matte paintings to extend vistas. Central to the work and narrative was the creation of a fully CG frozen lake with tension building ice cracks and water simulations, providing a pivotal scene for the unfolding drama. The film’s unique painterly cinematography demanded meticulous attention to blend CG elements with the live-action plates, ensuring the VFX felt invisible yet essential. ### MaXXXine [https://www.stage23.com/work/maxxxine](https://www.stage23.com/work/maxxxine) Studio: A24 Disciplines: Digital Environment, Comp Year: 2024 Director: Ti West MaXXXine is the finale to the Ti West directed, written and produced horror trilogy, following X and Pearl. Set in the glossy 1980s Los Angeles, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx snares her big break, while the notorious Night Stalker is murdering the starlets of Hollywood which threatens to reveal her sinister past. Stage23 worked across all three of the Ti West created projects wrapping a four- year creative journey as visual effects partner. In MaXXXine, Stage23 re-rendered modern LA into circa 1985 Hollywood with a full CG build of studios and city scapes. Delivering 96 shots the team contributed to film’s seedy underworld noir aesthetic juxtaposed with the high gloss 80’s Hollywood overlay. Stage23’s work was integral to the complex CG gore, wound and blood enhancements required for the thriller and designed an array of retro aesthetics for CRT and VCR TV displays. Key scenes created include a camera flying through CG clouds and into space, dismembered bodies and digital gore enhancements and retro Hollywood studio lot and locations re-creation. The Stage23 team also created the original teaser trailer for the film, prior to its production start! The trailer was screened at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival premier for Pearl as a teaser for the forthcoming third instalment. ### Monkey Man [https://www.stage23.com/work/monkey-man](https://www.stage23.com/work/monkey-man) Studio: Universal Pictures Disciplines: Digital Environment, FX, Comp Year: 2024 Director: Dev Patel An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimise the poor and powerless. Stage23 served as primary VFX vendor on action thriller Monkey Man, which endured a complex and protracted shoot in Indonesia during the 2020’s lockdowns. Working closely with the film’s VFX Supervisor Murray Pope and director Dev Patel during the post process, the Stage23 team assisted the director to sculpt and refine his vision from what had been captured in-camera across a challenging filming process. Stage23 deployed a team of 40 specialists delivering over 340 VFX shots for the film. Stage23’s contributions encompass the full spectrum of VFX, from CGI, to environments, particles, vehicles, crowds, and creature pipelines- specifically the film’s CGI monkey. An assortment of vehicles were another key delivery element with the addition of CGI helicopters, as well as a CG rickshaw for the film’s key chase sequence. Invisible or imperceptible VFX techniques were essential to the process. The focal ‘kitchen fight sequence’ required Stage23 to align footage from 8 different takes into one seamless sequence, with the additions of props, fire, and broken glass to complete the action. Crowds in the film were also supplemented by CGI extras in various scenes, owing in part to the difficulty the original shoot had faced filming during 2020. Location wise, as the movie is set in India, but shot in Indonesia, Stage23 also created the additional buildings, environments, and entire skylines for a digitally rendered Indian city scape. The full process saw Stage23 working on the film for over two years. ### Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp [https://www.stage23.com/work/woody-woodpecker](https://www.stage23.com/work/woody-woodpecker) Studio: Universal Pictures Disciplines: Digital Environment, Creatures, Full CG Year: 2024 Director: Jonathan A. Rosenbaum Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp is a live-action animated sequel to 2017’s Woody Woodpecker. Woody is seeking a new home after being kicked out of the forest. At Camp Woo Hoo, he thinks he's found a forever home, but there's an inspector on the loose who wants to shut down the camp. Filmed on location throughout Victoria, with post-production serviced across Australia, Stage23 provide the vital character design and creation of Woody’s CG cartoon nemesis Wally Walrus. Delivering 99 shots, Wally Walrus was expertly rendered into life and live-action environments by the Stage23 artists and team. Stage23 delivered 3D and 2D visual effects using their in-house virtual production pipeline and technology. Wally Walrus is a fully CG cartoon character voiced by Tom Kenny (SpongeBob Squarepants). ### Whale Shark Jack [https://www.stage23.com/work/whale-shark-jack](https://www.stage23.com/work/whale-shark-jack) Studio: Stan Disciplines: Digital Environment, FX, Creatures, Animation, Full CG, Comp, CG Asset Year: 2026 Director: Co-directed by Miranda and Khrob Edmonds Set in West Australia’s Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef, this environmentally conscious feature weaves the complexities of family, friendship, and the natural world as a young girl comes to terms with the loss of her father by embarking on a risky mission to save her best friend, a whale shark named Jack. Stage23 delivered a complex blend of CG creatures, storm-driven ocean environments and seamless visual effects. At the centre of Stage23's work were two fully realised CG characters: the eight metre adult whale shark Big Jack, and Juvenile Jack, a juvenile whose design presented an exceptional creative and scientific challenge. The rendering of the Juvenile Jack demanded a careful balance of research, anatomical accuracy and cinematic expression as these creatures have rarely been filmed. Particular attention was paid to close up creature anatomy, including the shark eye, where the CG asset needed to hold up under intimate scrutiny, while integrating seamlessly with live-action footage shot alongside real whale sharks at Ningaloo. Beyond creature work, Stage23 delivered extensive environment and effects sequences, creating storm-driven ocean systems and wild weather effects. ### Seriously Red [https://www.stage23.com/work/seriously-red](https://www.stage23.com/work/seriously-red) Disciplines: Digital Environment, Comp Year: 2023 Director: Gracie Otto A realtor pursues a new career as a Dolly Parton impersonator. ### Moogai [https://www.stage23.com/work/moogai](https://www.stage23.com/work/moogai) Disciplines: Digital Environment, Creatures, Comp Year: 2023 Director: Jon Bell In this psychological horror feature from John Bell, a young Aboriginal couple brings home their second baby. What should be a joyous time takes a sinister turn, as the baby's mother starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby. Stage23 brought the mystical and surreal horror creature elements to the production and were responsible to the hero ‘snake’ shot and infant snake hatching scene. The VFX team delivered the design, modelling, rigging and rendering for all the snake components. ### No Way Up [https://www.stage23.com/work/no-way-up](https://www.stage23.com/work/no-way-up) Studio: RLJE Films Disciplines: Digital Environment, FX, Full CG Year: 2024 Director: Claudio Fäh Characters from different backgrounds are thrown together when the plane they're travelling on crashes into the Pacific Ocean. A nightmare fight for survival ensues with the air supply running out and dangers creeping in from all sides. ### C*A*U*G*H*T [https://www.stage23.com/work/caught](https://www.stage23.com/work/caught) Studio: Stan Disciplines: Digital Environment, Comp Year: 2024 Director: Kick Gurry Satirical six-part series directed, produced and written by Kick Gurry, follows four Australian soldiers are sent on a secret mission to a war-torn country and are captured by freedom fighters. Producing a hostage video that goes viral, they realise that being caught might just be the best thing that could’ve happened to them. Stage23 created the underwater sequences for guest actor Sean Penn, who plays himself in the satire. ### Apples Never Fall [https://www.stage23.com/work/apples](https://www.stage23.com/work/apples) Studio: Peacock Disciplines: Digital Environment, Comp Year: 2024 Director: Chris Sweeney, Dawn Shadforth The Delaney family seems happy but Joy disappears, forcing her husband and four adult children to reassess their family history. ### The New Boy [https://www.stage23.com/work/the-new-boy](https://www.stage23.com/work/the-new-boy) Studio: Screen Australia / Roadshow Disciplines: Digital Environment, Comp Year: 2023 Director: Warwick Thornton In the 1940s, during the dead of night, a 9-year-old Aboriginal orphan boy arrives at a remote monastery run by a renegade nun, played by Cate Blanchett. Stage23 co-founder Jonathan Hairman served as the on-set VFX Supervisor for Warwick Thornton's spiritual drama feature film, The New Boy. The team produced the central VFX sequences for the film including a simulated mystical ‘orb’, playful dust motes, a CG bubble on Cate Blanchett's head and a 3D boomerang in flight. ### Three Thousand Years of Longing [https://www.stage23.com/work/three-thousand-years-of-longing](https://www.stage23.com/work/three-thousand-years-of-longing) Studio: MGM Disciplines: Digital Environment, FX, Creatures, Full CG Year: 2023 Director: George Miller A lonely scholar on a trip to Istanbul for a conference discovers a Djinn, who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. Filmed across Sydney and Istanbul, the visually arresting film is richly peppered with mystical and historical fantasy sequences and elaborate narrative weaving, relying heavily on VFX to actualise the intricate worlds within the stories. Stage23 delivered a diverse range of photoreal VFX shots including CG takeovers, digital matte painting, set extensions and compositing. As the central character of the Djinn is a mythical, morphing figure, VFX was central to activating his altered and ebbing states which demanded vapour trails, physical disintegration and bottle immersions. The resonant closing shot of the film, featuring a magical bouncing soccer ball on Primrose Hill was also delivered by Stage23. ### Class of ’07 [https://www.stage23.com/work/class-of-07](https://www.stage23.com/work/class-of-07) Studio: Matchbox / Universal Disciplines: Digital Environment, Comp Year: 2023 Director: Kacie Anning An apocalyptic tidal wave hits during the ten-year reunion of an all-girls high school and the group of women must find a way to survive not just the apocalypse but each other. The eight-part series debuted on Amazon Prime in 2023. Stage23 founder Jonathan Hairman served as on-set VFX Supervisor for the dramedy series filmed in Sydney. Stage23 was responsible for creating the post-apocalyptic world and aesthetic delivering flooded world set extensions across multiple episodes. The Stage 23 team created full CG environments and water simulations, bringing the apocalyptic water-world to full flourish. Pivotal shots included a burning effigy which as fully CG and the seal attack. ### La Brea [https://www.stage23.com/work/la-brea](https://www.stage23.com/work/la-brea) Studio: NBC Disciplines: Digital Environment, Creatures, Full CG Year: 2022 Director: David Appelbaum A massive sinkhole mysteriously opens up in Los Angeles, separating part of a family in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a desperate group of strangers. ### Pearl [https://www.stage23.com/work/pearl](https://www.stage23.com/work/pearl) Studio: A24 Disciplines: Digital Environment, Comp Year: 2022 Director: Ti West The second instalment of creator Ti West’s X horror trilogy is set in 1918. A young woman on the brink of madness pursues stardom in a desperate attempt to escape the drudgery, isolation and lovelessness of life on her parents' remote Texan farm. Stage23 continued its work with Ti West on the next instalment to the original horror feature film series which began with X (2022). Shot in New Zealand and set in 2018 USA, the horror feature is a prequel to the first film. Delivering 105 shots, Stage23’s key work includes the highly stylised dance sequence, featuring a digital matte painted World War II environment with explosions and fireworks. Developing the signature style for this trilogy with the delivery of complex elements of blood, gore addition and enhancement to action sequences. The team also delivered fire enhancements, cinema screen replacements and was dedicated to realising Ti West's painterly aesthetic with multiple sky replacements. ### X [https://www.stage23.com/work/x](https://www.stage23.com/work/x) Studio: A24 Disciplines: Deaging and Digital Make Up, Comp, CG Asset Year: 2022 Director: Ti West In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives. This is the first of a three part horror feature series created by Ti West. Stage23 has worked across the entire ‘X’ trilogy feature film series and was delighted to deliver on the initial feature which became an instant cult slasher classic. Stage23’s key sequences included creature work - bringing an alligator attack to full gory flourish, a gruesome stabbing and a climactic car collision. ### The Portable Door [https://www.stage23.com/work/the-portable-door](https://www.stage23.com/work/the-portable-door) Studio: The Jim Henson Company Disciplines: Digital Environment, Creatures, Full CG, CG Asset Year: 2023 Director: Jeffrey Walker Paul Carpenter is an intern at a mysterious London firm with unconventional employers, including a CEO who wants to disrupt the ancient magical world with modern corporate practices. ## News ### Whale Shark Jack breaches into Europe and the US across multiple platforms [https://www.stage23.com/news/Whale-Shark-Jack-breaches-into-Europe-and-the-US-across-multiple-platforms](https://www.stage23.com/news/Whale-Shark-Jack-breaches-into-Europe-and-the-US-across-multiple-platforms) 2026-10-07 · Releases Western Australian filmed feature film, Whale Shark Jack, co-directed by Khrob and Miranda Edmonds has been sold to multiple broadcasters... ### Stage23 visited the Revelation Film Festival [https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-visited-the-revelation-film-festival](https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-visited-the-revelation-film-festival) 2026-07-29 · Awards Stage23 visited the Revelation Film Festival this month in Perth with our co-founder Jonathan Hairman speaking at the SAE Industry Day with Cottesloe Films director Khrob Edmonds. High praise to Revelation’s… ### London Calling! [https://www.stage23.com/news/london-calling](https://www.stage23.com/news/london-calling) 2026-06-06 · Studio Stage23 is proud to be part of the Ausfilm/Screen Australia, 2026 Partner with Australia initiative being held in London in June. ### Kangaroo secures Best Feature Film at 24th Annual SPA Awards [https://www.stage23.com/news/kangaroo-secures-best-feature-film](https://www.stage23.com/news/kangaroo-secures-best-feature-film) 2026-05-01 · Awards Screen Producers Australia has named Kangaroo the Feature Film Production of the Year in the 24th Annual SPA Awards held of the final night of Screen Forever 40, this week hosted on the Gold Coast. ### Stage23 In the News [https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-in-the-news](https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-in-the-news) 2026-05-01 · Press Ausfilm takes a deep dive into Whale Shark Jack. ### Media Release [https://www.stage23.com/news/stage-23-appoints-michelle-martin](https://www.stage23.com/news/stage-23-appoints-michelle-martin) 2026-04-09 · Studio Stage 23 appoints Michelle Martin as head of international business development & UK based executive consultant ### Stage23 Brings Ningaloo’s Gentle Giants to Life in Stan’s Whale Shark Jack [https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-brings-ningaloos-gentle-giants-to-life-in-stans-whale-shark-jack](https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-brings-ningaloos-gentle-giants-to-life-in-stans-whale-shark-jack) 2026-04-09 · Releases Stage23 Brings Ningaloo’s Gentle Giants to Life in Stan’s Whale Shark Jack ### Kangaroo pounces on Easter screens debuting on HBO Max Aus at number 1 [https://www.stage23.com/news/kangaroo-pounces-on-easter-screens](https://www.stage23.com/news/kangaroo-pounces-on-easter-screens) 2026-04-07 · Releases Kangaroo pounces on Easter screens debuting on HBO Max Aus at number 1 ### In the news: Ausfilm [https://www.stage23.com/news/in-the-news-ausfilm](https://www.stage23.com/news/in-the-news-ausfilm) 2026-03-06 · Press https://www.ausfilm.com.au/news/shedding-skin-and-recreating-the-amazon-on-anaconda-with-stage23/ ### Stage23 VFX helps Amazon’s The Bluff to #1 on Prime Video Worldwide [https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-vfx-helps-amazons-the-bluff-to-1-on-prime-video-worldwide](https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-vfx-helps-amazons-the-bluff-to-1-on-prime-video-worldwide) 2026-03-06 · Releases Amazon’s QLD shot The Bluff seizes control of Prime Video globally ### Kangaroo leaps into the Uk top 12 spot on opening weekend in UK [https://www.stage23.com/news/kangaroo-leaps-into-the-uk-top-12-spot-on-opening-weekend-in-uk](https://www.stage23.com/news/kangaroo-leaps-into-the-uk-top-12-spot-on-opening-weekend-in-uk) 2026-02-03 · Releases StudioCanal’s Australian feature Kangaroo has opened in the UK market, reaching the top 12 in its opening weekend. ### Stage23 recreates 19th century Caribbean pirate antics with The Bluff [https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-recreates-19th-century-caribbean-pirate-antics-with-the-bluff](https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-recreates-19th-century-caribbean-pirate-antics-with-the-bluff) 2026-01-16 · Releases Stage23 recreates 19th century Caribbean pirate antics with The Bluff ### Stage23’s Seamless VFX Shine as Kangaroo leaps to become the year’s top-grossing Aussie film [https://www.stage23.com/news/headline-stage23s-seamless-vfx-shine-as-kangaroo-leaps-to-become-the-years-top-grossing-aussie-film](https://www.stage23.com/news/headline-stage23s-seamless-vfx-shine-as-kangaroo-leaps-to-become-the-years-top-grossing-aussie-film) 2025-12-19 · Releases Stage23 IN THE NEWS December… ### Stage23 IN THE NEWS December ….. [https://www.stage23.com/news/news-december](https://www.stage23.com/news/news-december) 2025-12-19 · Press Stage23 IN THE NEWS December… ### Kangaroo secures 8 AACTA Award Nominations as its tops Aussie box office [https://www.stage23.com/news/kangaroo-secures-8-aacta-award_nominations](https://www.stage23.com/news/kangaroo-secures-8-aacta-award_nominations) 2025-12-19 · Awards Kangaroo secures 8 AACTA Award Nominations as its tops Aussie box office ### FING! set to wildly delight with global debut at Sundance Film Festival [https://www.stage23.com/news/fing-debut-sundance-film-festival](https://www.stage23.com/news/fing-debut-sundance-film-festival) 2025-12-19 · Awards FING! set to wildly delight with global debut at Sundance Film Festival ### The New Boy Out Now in the USA! [https://www.stage23.com/news/the-new-boy-out-now-in-the-usa](https://www.stage23.com/news/the-new-boy-out-now-in-the-usa) 2025-05-30 · Releases Warwick Thornton’s The New Boy is a hauntingly beautiful tale set in 1940s Australia, exploring faith, identity, and resilience through the eyes of a mysterious young boy. Stage23 was proud to contribute to the film’s… ### Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a Huge Success! [https://www.stage23.com/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-is-a-huge-success](https://www.stage23.com/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-is-a-huge-success) 2025-02-07 · Releases Get ready for an electrifying adventure! “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” raced into U.S. theaters on Friday, December 20, 2024, and didn’t slow down as it is still being shown around the world 7 weeks later. This time, Sonic’s… ### Stage23 Original Wins at Beverly Hills Film Fest [https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-wins-beverly-hills](https://www.stage23.com/news/stage23-wins-beverly-hills) 2024-06-13 · Awards Stage23 original Starship has won Best Animated Film at the 24th Beverly Hills Film Festival. ### Woody Woodpecker Goes To Camp Trailer Out Now [https://www.stage23.com/news/woody-woodpecker-2-trailer](https://www.stage23.com/news/woody-woodpecker-2-trailer) 2024-04-12 · Releases Woody is accompanied on screen by the hilarious Wally Walrus, brought lovingly to life by the talented character artists at Stage23. ### A24 Release MaXXXine Trailer [https://www.stage23.com/news/a24-release-maxxxine-trailer](https://www.stage23.com/news/a24-release-maxxxine-trailer) 2024-04-08 · Releases Ti West and A24 are gearing up for the release of MaXXXine. ### ‘Monkey Man’ Makes Waves at SXSW Premiere [https://www.stage23.com/news/monkey-man-at-sxsw](https://www.stage23.com/news/monkey-man-at-sxsw) 2024-03-12 · Awards Director Dev Patel and Producer Jordan Peele have made a big impression at SXSW following the screening of Monkey Man ### Introducing “Stage 23 Engine” – Our Pioneering Game Development and Virtual Production Team Powered by Unreal Engine! [https://www.stage23.com/news/engine_announcement](https://www.stage23.com/news/engine_announcement) 2023-09-29 · Studio Introducing Stage23 Engine ### Stage23 Original Triumphant at Sci-Fi Film Festival! [https://www.stage23.com/news/triumphant-at-film-festival](https://www.stage23.com/news/triumphant-at-film-festival) 2023-09-29 · Awards “Starship” has clinched the top prize at the prestigious Sydney Sci-Fi film Festival ### The New Boy Premieres! [https://www.stage23.com/news/the-new-boy-premieres](https://www.stage23.com/news/the-new-boy-premieres) 2023-06-08 · Awards The Stage23 VFX crew were proud to attend the opening night. ### We’re Thrilled to Announce Our Brand-New Office Space! [https://www.stage23.com/news/brand-new-office](https://www.stage23.com/news/brand-new-office) 2023-05-30 · Studio This move marks a significant step forward in our journey ### Acorns Commercial Goes Live [https://www.stage23.com/news/acorns](https://www.stage23.com/news/acorns) 2022-10-18 · Releases New project released staring Christopher Walken ### Inspired by Unreal Engine 5 [https://www.stage23.com/news/inspired-by-unreal](https://www.stage23.com/news/inspired-by-unreal) 2022-10-13 · Studio Everybody’s using unreal engine and we’re no different. ### Class of ’07 Accomplished! [https://www.stage23.com/news/class-07-accomplised](https://www.stage23.com/news/class-07-accomplised) 2022-09-20 · Releases As work came to an end of Amazon series Class of ’07, Stage23 took the opportunity to celebrate a job well done. ### Maxxxine Teaser Surprises Toronto Film Fest [https://www.stage23.com/news/maxxxine-teaser](https://www.stage23.com/news/maxxxine-teaser) 2022-09-12 · Releases Well, we’ve never created a trailer for a film that’s not been started before, but there’s a first time for everything! ### Premiere of 3000 Years of Longing [https://www.stage23.com/news/premiere-of-3000-years](https://www.stage23.com/news/premiere-of-3000-years) 2022-08-30 · Awards Happy new year from everyone at Stage 23. ### Pearl trailer released [https://www.stage23.com/news/pearl-trailer](https://www.stage23.com/news/pearl-trailer) 2022-07-27 · Releases Trailer time again! Pearl, from A24, coming soon! ### Welcome to the team, Jeremy! [https://www.stage23.com/news/welcome-to-the-team-jeremy](https://www.stage23.com/news/welcome-to-the-team-jeremy) 2022-02-22 · Studio Stage23 is proud to welcome Jeremy Howdin as the latest addition to our growing team. Joining the team as VFX Supervisor, Jeremy brings over 20 years experience with him. ### X trailer out now [https://www.stage23.com/news/x-trailer-out-now](https://www.stage23.com/news/x-trailer-out-now) 2022-02-04 · Releases We’re excited to share the trailer for the upcoming horror “X” from director Ti West ### Stage 23 in Screen Anarchy featurette [https://www.stage23.com/news/stage-23-in-screenanarchy-featurette](https://www.stage23.com/news/stage-23-in-screenanarchy-featurette) 2021-08-11 · Press Thank you to Screen Anarchy, who published a featurette on Stage 23’s “ace VFX” in Rising Wolf ### HCA Film Awards 2021 – congratulations Niki Bern! [https://www.stage23.com/news/congratulations-niki](https://www.stage23.com/news/congratulations-niki) 2021-04-21 · Awards Congratulations Niki Bern! ### Christian’s Interview with Chaos [https://www.stage23.com/news/chris-interview-with-chaos](https://www.stage23.com/news/chris-interview-with-chaos) 2021-02-17 · Press Listen to Stage 23’s Christian Debney discussing the VFX behind Ascendant ### Ascendant Trailer Out Now! [https://www.stage23.com/news/ascendant-trailer-out-now](https://www.stage23.com/news/ascendant-trailer-out-now) 2021-02-02 · Releases Check out the new trailer for Antaine Furlong’s Ascendant. ### Ascendant Trailer Coming Soon! [https://www.stage23.com/news/ascendant-trailer-coming-soon](https://www.stage23.com/news/ascendant-trailer-coming-soon) 2021-02-01 · Releases Keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming trailer for Antaine Furlong’s Ascendant. ### Happy 2021! [https://www.stage23.com/news/new-pastures](https://www.stage23.com/news/new-pastures) 2021-01-13 · Studio Happy new year from everyone at Stage 23. ## Contact contact@stage23.com.au · Fox Studios, Sydney