Written by Daniel Kaluuya in his first screenwriting credit, and co-directed by Kaluuya with Kibwe Tavares, The Kitchen is a beautifully realised science fiction movie set in a dystopian near-future London, where gleaming new structures exist alongside a sprawling slum - the Kitchen of the title.
Joining the project in post-production, Axis’ VFX division, made up of a team of 25, delivered over 250 shots across several sequences in just 10 weeks. Axis’ VFX Supervisor Gary Kelly and VFX Producer Albert Testani marshalled their team on a tight turnaround to add futuristic skyscrapers, views of The Kitchen, futuristic funeral rites and even a recognisably frustrating run-in with a cash machine. Both the production design and effects work were recognised with BIFA 2023 awards, and it is a testament to the invaluable contributions of the late VFX Supervisor Jonathan Gale, and to Richard Baker who took over the later part of the project.
“The real challenge of this project,” said Creative Supervisor Simon Carr, “was to be able to match the look already set for the film, and to blend the reality of the shooting locations with the imagined future London. Through CG, DMP and extensive compositing, our team was able to do that and to do so and still offer creative ideas and solutions where required. We’re very proud of our work, and to be associated with such a good-looking film”.
