STARNO was entrusted with a massive scope of visual effects work for the independent feature Buttons: A Christmas Tale, directed by Tim Janis and narrated by Kate Winslet and Robert Redford. The project required a complete environmental overhaul; while the film was shot in the sunny climate of Los Angeles, the narrative is set in a charming, snow-covered New England-style village during the holiday season.
Our team was responsible for the total seasonal transformation of the film. This included extensive Matte Painting to add thick blankets of snow to streets, rooftops, and trees across dozens of shots. We also executed numerous Day-for-Night conversions, digitally re-lighting daytime plates to create cozy, moonlit winter evenings.
A highlight of our contribution is the film’s entire opening sequence. This fully digital animated introduction follows a glowing yellow star as it glides through a stylized winter village and enters a cottage window. This sequence, along with the rest of the film's VFX, was handled entirely by the STARNO team, covering everything from initial Concept Art and Simulation Effects (snow and particles) to final Compositing.
This visual effects reel showcases the extensive environmental work performed by STARNO. It highlights the complex "Summer to Winter" transformations, where sun-drenched Los Angeles locations were digitally redesigned into snowy New England settings through advanced matte painting, day-for-night color grading, and custom snow particle simulations.
Buttons: A Christmas Tale is a heartwarming musical film that follows the journeys of two orphan girls whose only wish is to find a home for Christmas. With a little help from two guardian angels (played by screen legends Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury), they discover that miracles can happen when you believe.
Set in a timeless era, the story weaves together themes of hope, faith, and the true meaning of family. Featuring an incredible ensemble cast including Jane Seymour, Roma Downey, and Abigail Spencer, the film is a modern Christmas classic that reminds us that we are never truly alone.
STARNO TEAM:Frédéric St-Arnaud, Melanie Carignan, Philippe Savoie Lemay, Clémentine Flicker Rodriguez, Caty DeLadurantaye
Janis Digital Media
Feature Film – 2018