Small L.A. Effects Company Helps Bring Surfer's Story to Big Screen

In 2003, up and coming teen surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her arm in a shark attack in Hawaii. Amazingly she was back surfing less than a month after the attack.

"We all go through hard times in our lives," Hamilton reflects, "And I hope people will be encouraged to push on and know that sometimes good can come out of it."

Now her story is being told in the feature film "Soul Surfer".

Engine Room, a small Hollywood visual effects company had the task of digitally removing the left arm of actress Anna Sophia Robb, who plays Hamilton in the film.

"She's in virtually every scene," say's Engine Room president Daniel Schmit. "And she's also often in a bathing suit. We really had no place to hide (the arm) and all through filming.. we were there on set instructing her, where it was best for us to have her arm."

After some hard times business is good for Engine Room. They are currently working in episodic TV, commercials and documentaries.
 

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