The husband-and-wife duo co-direct their first project together, a short which pairs advanced computational photography techniques including Gaussian Splats with indie filmmaking; set in the brutal wilds of 1850s Alta California.
VFX artist Matthew DuVall (Life of Pi, Deadpool, Game of Thrones, Star Trek Beyond) has collaborated with his wife, filmmaker Kelsey Bollig (Hunters, The Fourth Wall, Kickstart My Heart), to co-direct The Bones Exist, a historically imbued short set in the brutal wilds of 1850s Alta California.
DuVall conjures terrifying, otherworldly predators that pull a gold-seeking expedition into a dark descent of guilt, obsession, and high-cost survival. The project combined advanced computational photography techniques with indie filmmaking on the project; DuVall and Bollig used drone-scanned locations to digitally reconstruct and relight the film’s environments and a 16-camera array to capture fire and embers in motion.
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“Gaussian Splatting is set to become the new industry standard because it’s the only way to recreate organic real-world environments accurately,” said DuVall. “Old 3D scans rely on rigid geometry that can only go so far. Gaussian splats fundamentally allow for so much more. They’re made of dynamic points that naturally adjust shape and lighting as you move the camera - delivering richer detail in ways otherwise not possible. Effects like reflections come built-in, making it a faster, smarter, next-generation alternative to traditional 3D scanning. It’s exciting to be the pioneers of this technique in The Bones Exist.”
“At its heart, this is a story about men confronting the consequences of their own choices in a world that feels wild and unforgiving,” added Bollig. “Even within these brutal forces, human or otherwise, there’s a surprising thread of compassion and connection. That duality guided our VFX approach as well: using organic, emergent techniques to build a world that feels alive, emotional, and recognizably human.”
The film stars Alejandro Pena (Mountainhead), Siya Maleki (Joseph of Egypt), Jack Campbell (Underbelly, All Saints), and Michael Mazenko. Wendy Wang and Annalea Fiachi produce. The short is slated for a festival run this year, with plans for a feature adaptation.
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
