Christian Hejnal
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Christian Hejnal Addams (born June 3, 1969) is an American
visual effects Visual effects (sometimes abbreviated as VFX) is the process by which imagery is created or manipulated outside the context of a live-action shot in filmmaking and video production. The integration of live-action footage and other live-action fo ...
producer and the guitarist and occasional vocalist of the Los Angeles-based rock band Scarling.


Musical career

In the early 1990s, he played in bands such as Candyhateful (previously known as the Brats) and The Drummed. Candyhateful's song "Stay Down" was featured in the 2000 film adaptation of
Anne Rice Anne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien; October 4, 1941 – December 11, 2021) was an American author of Gothic fiction, erotic literature, and Bible fiction. She is best known for writing ''The Vampire Chronicles''. She later adapted t ...
's ''"''
Queen of the Damned ''Queen of the Damned'' is a 2002 horror film directed by Michael Rymer from a screenplay by Scott Abbott and Michael Petroni, and based on the 1988 novel ''The Queen of the Damned'' by Anne Rice, the third novel of the book series ''The Vampi ...
''",'' In 2001 Hejnal began work on a solo album. He invited singer
Jessicka Jessicka Addams (born Jessica Fodera on October 23, 1975) is an American visual artist and musician. Best known by her stage name Jessicka, she was the frontwoman for the alternative rock band Jack Off Jill, and later for the Noise pop, noise-p ...
, whom he had met some months before at a Los Angeles club through mutual friend Lisa Leveridge, to perform vocals on a track he had written; they began recording and rehearsing together and eventually recruited the musicians who would form Scarling. in 2002. In the autumn of 2004, after releasing their first album
Sweet Heart Dealer ''Sweet Heart Dealer'' is the debut studio album by the rock band Scarling., released on February 17, 2004, through Sympathy For The Record Industry. Originally scheduled for release as ''Butcherbourne'', the album was retitled at the last mi ...
, Scarling. was invited to join the lineup of the Robert Smith-curated Curiosa Festival, performing on select West Coast dates alongside
Interpol The International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL (abbreviated as ICPO–INTERPOL), commonly known as Interpol ( , ; stylized in allcaps), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime cont ...
, The Rapture,
Mogwai Mogwai () are a Scottish post-rock band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Barry Burns (guitar, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass guitar), and Martin Bulloch (drums). Mogwa ...
, and he and Jessicka's long-time favorite,
The Cure The Cure are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Crawley in 1976 by Robert Smith (musician), Robert Smith (vocals, guitar) and Lol Tolhurst (drums). The band's current line-up comprises Smith, Perry Bamonte (guitar and keyboards), Reev ...
. Smith described the band's music as "dark, desperate, chaotic, gorgeous pop music, the sound of the end of the world" and ''Sweet Heart Dealer'' was nominated for the 2004
Shortlist Music Prize The Shortlist Music Prize, stylized as (shôrt–lĭst), was an annual music award for the best album released in the United States that had sold fewer than 500,000 copies at the time of nomination. First given as a cash prize in 2001 under ...
. After a series of 7-inch singles on Sympathy, Scarling. announced in early 2005 that their second album, ''
So Long, Scarecrow ''So Long, Scarecrow'' is the second and final studio album by the rock band Scarling. Written and recorded in early 2005, and released on October 25, 2005. It is Scarling.'s only album to feature drummer Beth Gordon. Its title is a reference t ...
'', would appear later that year; it was preceded by the single "We Are The Music Makers" and was released on August 23, 2005. Scarecrow was co-produced by
Rob Campanella Rob Campanella is an American musician, best known as a Los Angeles producer, engineer, and member of The Quarter After. Music career Producer and engineer Campanella has produced and engineered albums for his own band The Quarter After, ...
and received several favorable reviews. ''
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'' gave the album a 5 out of 5 rating and described Hejnal as a, "guitar physicist who holds court over these atmospheric rockers' second album, approximating everything from space-station climates to sperm whales rollin' on E, all while delivering solid songs." In 2006 Hejnal continued to tour in the US and Europe with Scarling. Along the way, touring with such bands as UK shoegaze outfit Amusement Parks on Fire and opening for
The Wedding Present The Wedding Present are an English indie rock group formed in 1985 in Leeds, England, by members of The Lost Pandas. The band has been led by vocalist and guitarist David Gedge, the band's only constant member. Closely linked to the C86 scene ...
and
Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music, electronic band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with the line-up of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher (musician), Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke, the band currently consists ...
. Scarling. are currently working on their new album.


Film career

In addition to his work with Scarling, since 1999, Hejnal has worked for
Sony Pictures Imageworks Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. (simply known as Imageworks) is a visual effects and computer animation studio headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and Montreal, Quebec, with an additional office on the Sony Pictures Studios lot in Culver C ...
, starting out as a production assistant on '' The Ninth Gate'' and ''
Hollow Man ''Hollow Man'' is a 2000 science fiction horror thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by Andrew W. Marlowe, and starring Elisabeth Shue, Kevin Bacon, Josh Brolin, Kim Dickens, Greg Grunberg, Joey Slotnick, Mary Randle, and Will ...
''. In 2000 he became a visual effects coordinator on the film ''
Charlie's Angels ''Charlie's Angels'' is an American crime drama television series created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts for ABC. It originally aired from September 22, 1976, to June 24, 1981, airing for five seasons consisting of 115 episodes. It was produ ...
'', and completed work as the visual effects plate coordinator on ''
Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appearance, first appeared in the anthology comic book ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in ...
'', and as a Digital Production Manager for the films ''
Spider-Man 2 ''Spider-Man 2'' is a 2004 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of Spider-Man. Directed by Sam Raimi and written by Alvin Sargent from a story conceived by Michael Chabon and the writing team of Alfred Gough and Miles ...
'', '' Darkness Falls'' and ''
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio ''The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio'' is a 2005 American biographical film written and directed by Jane Anderson. It is based on the book of the same name by Terry Ryan, and stars Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, and Laura Dern. The film recei ...
'' which stars
Julianne Moore Julie Anne Smith (born December 3, 1960), known professionally as Julianne Moore, is an American actress and children's author. Prolific in film since the early 1990s, she is known for her portrayals of emotionally troubled women in independent ...
and
Woody Harrelson Woodrow Tracy Harrelson (born July 23, 1961) is an American actor. He first became known for his role as bartender Woody Boyd on the NBC sitcom ''Cheers'' (1985–1993), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in ...
. Currently, he is working as a
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effects Effect may refer to: * A result or change of something ** List of effects ** Cause and effect, an idiom describing causality Pharmacy and pharmacology * Drug effect, a change resulting from the administration of a drug ** Therapeutic effect, ...
film producer and is credited as such on the films '' Grandma's Boy'', the
Adam Sandler Adam Richard Sandler (born September 9, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter. Primarily a comedic leading actor in films, List of awards and nominations received by Adam Sandler, his accolades include an Independent Sp ...
film '' Click'', ''
Spider-Man 3 ''Spider-Man 3'' is a 2007 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. Produced by Columbia Pictures, Marvel Entertainment, and Laura Ziskin Productions, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it was directe ...
'', '' Hancock''.
Tim Burton Timothy Walter Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American filmmaker and producer. Known for popularizing Goth subculture, Goth culture in the American film industry, Burton is famous for his Gothic film, gothic horror and dark fantasy films. ...
's ''
Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...
'', 2011's ''
The Green Hornet The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell (director), James Jewell. Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas i ...
'', '' Here Comes the Boom'', ''
Oz the Great and Powerful ''Oz the Great and Powerful'' is a 2013 American fantasy adventure film directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Lindsay-Abaire and Mitchell Kapner from a story by Kapner. Based on L. Frank Baum's early 20th century ''Oz'' books and set 20 ...
'', ''
22 Jump Street ''22 Jump Street'' is a 2014 American adult buddy cop action comedy film directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, written by Jonah Hill, Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman and produced by and starring Hill and Channing T ...
'', ''
Pixels In digital imaging, a pixel (abbreviated px), pel, or picture element is the smallest addressable element in a raster image, or the smallest addressable element in a dot matrix display device. In most digital display devices, pixels are the sma ...
'' and ''
Ghostbusters ''Ghostbusters'' is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, three eccentric ...
''. Christian was the co- producer for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The film was critically well received. ''Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'' won Best Animated Feature Film at the 76th Golden Globe Awards, it won the same award at the 24th Critics' Choice Awards, and won the Best Animated Feature at the
91st Academy Awards The 91st Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best 2018 in film, films of 2018 and took place on February 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. During th ...
, among several other awards and nominations. It was the first non-
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or
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film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature since '' Rango'' (2011), becoming the 6th non-Disney/Pixar film to win this award. Christian won a
Visual Effects Society The Visual Effects Society (VES) is an entertainment industry organization representing visual effects practitioners including artists, animators, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and p ...
award for 'Outstanding Animated Character' in an Animated Feature Motion Picture: 2018, '' Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'' ("Miles Morales"). Critics at
New York Magazine ''New York'' is an American biweekly magazine concerned with life, culture, politics, and style generally, with a particular emphasis on New York City. Founded by Clay Felker and Milton Glaser in 1968 as a competitor to ''The New Yorker'' a ...
listed it at 9 on their list of the best films of the decade. In July 2022, Christian was one of the digital effects producers for '' The Sea Beast'' for
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
. On
Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
, the film has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 based on 20 critics, indicating favorable reviews. The following month, Hejnal rejoined the crew as an executive digital producer of '' Beyond the Spider-Verse'' set to be released in 2023.


Personal life

On February 14, 2006, (
Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a Christian martyrs, martyr named Saint Valentine, Valentine, and ...
) while on a break from touring, he and Jessicka were engaged. Their wedding took place on October 13, 2007, at the Oviatt Penthouse in Los Angeles and was attended by numerous celebrities. The couple took Addams as their new surname."This bride definitely wears black"
Los Angeles Times October 28, 2007


Discography


Albums

*Scarling., ''
Sweet Heart Dealer ''Sweet Heart Dealer'' is the debut studio album by the rock band Scarling., released on February 17, 2004, through Sympathy For The Record Industry. Originally scheduled for release as ''Butcherbourne'', the album was retitled at the last mi ...
'' (2004) – writer, guitar, bass, vocals *Scarling., ''
So Long, Scarecrow ''So Long, Scarecrow'' is the second and final studio album by the rock band Scarling. Written and recorded in early 2005, and released on October 25, 2005. It is Scarling.'s only album to feature drummer Beth Gordon. Its title is a reference t ...
'' (2005) – writer, producer, guitar, vocals


Singles and EPs

* Scarling., " Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole" (7-inch,
Sympathy for the Record Industry Sympathy for the Record Industry (also known as Sympathy Records or Sympathy 4 the R.I.) is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by John Mermis, known as Long Gone John. Notable artists who started on Sympathy and went ...
2003) – writer, vocals * Scarling., "Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole" (CD, Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2003) – guitar, vocals * Scarling., "
Crispin Glover Crispin Hellion Glover (born April 20, 1964) is an American actor, filmmaker and artist. He is known for portraying eccentricity (behavior), eccentric Character actor, character roles on screen. His breakout role was as George McFly in ''Back to ...
" (7-inch, Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2004) – guitar, vocals * Scarling., "Crispin Glover" (7-inch, Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2004) – guitar, vocals * Scarling., "Scarling. / The Willowz" (split 7-inch, Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2005) – guitar, vocals * Scarling., " Staring to the Sun" (CD, Sympathy for the Record Industry 2006 – guitar, vocals, producer


References


External links


Sony Pictures Imageworks profileChristian Hejnal
on IMDB
Scarling.
official website {{DEFAULTSORT:Hejnal, Christian 1969 births Living people American rock guitarists American male guitarists American male singers Record producers from Illinois American rock singers American indie rock musicians Singers from Illinois Sympathy for the Record Industry artists Film producers from Illinois Guitarists from Illinois 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians Scarling. members