Set in 1957 West Virginia, October Sky is the true story of Homer Hickam, Jr. As a high school student, Homer seems destined to follow in the footsteps of his coal-mine foreman father, unitil the Soviet launch of Sputnik inspires him to focus his attention on rocketry. Matte World Digital was asked to create a digital matte painting that established a subtle but important seasonal shift.

A river scene was photographed in winter and spring from exactly the same location. A historical train passes through the scene.

The final shot is built around a dissolve from winter to sping. The train is rotoscoped into the whole shot so that it passes through a changing landscape. Digital matte painting enhancements created the flowers and greenery of the spring.