STARNO provided expert Matte Painting services for the critically acclaimed series 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Working as a freelancer for the renowned VFX studio Rodeo FX, our primary mission was to enhance the atmospheric realism of the Montana wilderness during a particularly harsh era in American history.
A significant portion of the work involved snow addition across numerous sequences. While the story is set in the freezing winters of the Montana highlands, filming conditions did not always provide the necessary snow cover required to reflect the director's vision. Our team digitally integrated layers of snow, frost, and winter textures to maintain visual consistency and reinforce the brutal environmental challenges faced by the Dutton family.
In addition to weather enhancements, we performed extensive environmental modifications. Although the narrative is anchored at the Yellowstone Ranch in Montana, many scenes were filmed in diverse locations. To ensure geographical accuracy, we modified the horizon lines by revising or completely adding mountain ranges (DMP) to match the iconic topography of the Big Sky Country.
1923, the next installment of the Yellowstone origin story, introduces a new generation of the Dutton family. Led by patriarch Jacob (Harrison Ford) and matriarch Cara (Helen Mirren), the family navigates the early 20th century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition, and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west, and the Duttons' home.
The series explores the expansion of the Western frontier and the various conflicts that arise between the ranching empire, encroaching modernization, and rival sheep herders. It serves as a bridge between the prequel 1883 and the modern-day Yellowstone series, depicting the grit and resilience required to survive in the Montana wilderness.
Beyond the American West, the narrative also follows Spencer Dutton's journey through Africa and Europe, making 1923 one of the most ambitious and visually diverse chapters in the Taylor Sheridan universe.
Rodeo FX
TV SERIES – 2022-2023