STUDIO RISES FROM DARK BASEMENT OFFICE TO 'STRANGER THINGS'

The visual effects studio that worked on the hit Netflix show “Stranger Things” was born 20 years ago in a dim basement in Old Montreal.

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“Over time, it grew. We’ve seen really strong growth through the years,” Ara Khanikian, who supervises visual effects at Rodeo FX, told AFP at the studio’s current home, a modern office with elegant wood paneling. But it all “really started in the basement of the building next door,” he said with a grin.

Though still headquartered in the Canadian city far from the action in Hollywood, Rodeo FX now has offices in Los Angeles, Paris and Toronto establishing itself as a force in an industry dominated by studios tied to behemoths like Disney and Warner Bros.

The studio’s list of past projects includes major hits, including titles from Tom Cruise’s “Mission Impossible” franchise. But “Stranger Things,” the science fiction and horror series that has shattered streaming records since it debuted in 2016, is a highlight.