Zoic Flies High With Serenity  9/20/05

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 9/20/05 -- On September 30th, the Universal Pictures feature film "Serenity" will open nationwide. The film represents an ongoing collaboration between director Joss Whedon and VFX Supervisor Loni Peristere. Peristere and his company Zoic Studios garnered the visual effects Emmy for the series "Firefly" upon which "Serenity" is based and Peristere has served as VFX Supervisor on Whedon's wildly successful episodic programs "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel."

"Zoic brought the same enormous energy and creativity to 'Serenity' that snagged them an Emmy for 'Firefly,'" comments Joss Whedon. "They gave the movie a lived-in, rough-and-tumble reality that made everything more immediate and involving."

"I cannot thank Joss Whedon and John Swallow enough for allowing Zoic to participate on 'Serenity,'" says Peristere. "This was a very personal film for all of us. We have never committed to any other project with as much emotion and vigor as we did on the film. It will always be a foundation project for Zoic and we are eternally grateful."

"Serenity" centers on Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family -- squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.

When Mal takes on two new passengers -- a young doctor and his unstable, telepathic sister -- he gets much more than he bargained for. The pair are fugitives from the coalition dominating the universe, who will stop at nothing to reclaim the girl. The crew now find themselves caught between the unstoppable military force of the Universal Alliance and the horrific, cannibalistic fury of the Reavers, savages who roam the very edge of space. Hunted by vastly different enemies, they begin to discover that the greatest danger to them may be on board Serenity herself.

"Serenity" is written and directed by Joss Whedon; produced by Barry Mendel; and executive-produced by Christopher Buchanan, David Lester and Alisa Tager.

Zoic Studios is a leader in visual effects and CG animation in the commercials, video games, feature film and episodic television arenas. Built on a foundation that allows maximum flexibility and creative product for its clients, Zoic is the Digital Evolution. www.zoicstudios.com.