Cadence Effects

Cadence Effects is an independent visual effects and animation boutique based in New Lebanon, New York. Established in 2015 by Craig Crawford, the studio works across feature films, episodic television, streaming productions, commercials and music videos. Its creative approach centers on invisible visual effects: photoreal work that integrates digital elements into live-action photography while preserving the intended look of a scene.

The studio’s capabilities span digital compositing, look development, blue and green screen extraction, 2.5D digital matte painting, 3D environments and set extensions. Its artists combine CGI integration with practical image work, including wire and rig removal, tracking marker cleanup, rotoscoping, cosmetic enhancements and digital makeup. Compositing services also include fluid morphs, split screens, speed ramps, re-timing, plate tracking and grain management.

For shots requiring added action or atmosphere, Cadence develops particle effects, destruction, fire, smoke, explosions, dust and debris. Other work includes blood additions, bullet impacts, muzzle flashes and environmental elements such as haze, fog and rain. The studio also supports 4K and native stereoscopic post-production, with pre-visualization, on-set visual effects supervision and pipeline workflow engineering extending its involvement beyond final shot delivery.

Production work

Cadence’s film work includes Caddo Lake, for which it served as the main visual effects vendor, delivering 83 shots alongside on-set supervision and 3D set extensions. It also contributed more than 165 shots to The Whale, more than 180 to Caught Stealing, and approximately 200 to The Phoenician Scheme.

Its episodic portfolio includes more than 700 invisible visual effects shots across the eight episodes of the first season of 3 Body Problem. Other television credits include Outer Banks, Stranger Things, Servant, Reservation Dogs and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Across these productions, its work ranges from subtle photographic cleanup and cosmetic adjustments to substantial digital environments, combining detailed image manipulation with broader scene augmentation.