the time you've removed the tourist path, added CG people and
a CG horse, changed the water to CG and added them jumping in,
there is not much left that was original plate.
We would normally try to shoot plates, but this section of the
story was still being flushed out, so we needed to shoot more to
protect the "can you do this angle..." requests. VFX is relied on
to "do anything" and they didn't want to come up short! Some
would call it "hosing it down."
No Time to Die and the Big Build
I began scouting for UM/LM Mark Voyce on No Time to Die in
early 2018. There was a set described in the original version of
the script which was beyond anything I had seen before—and
it was my job to find a build site for it. It was comprised of five
separate large builds within several square kilometres.
There was to be a practical train moving on track surrounded
by industrial buildings and machinery, all enclosed by a massive
security fence made using 300-350 telephone poles. A large area
filled with set dressing would stretch beyond the fence. A set
this large was going to need six to eight months to build so we
were reaching hard for final answers on a few good options in
locations near Calgary.
The director at the time was still shooting another film in
Europe and couldn't attend the early scouts. The designer, Mark
Tildesley, and his art department, anxious to begin the build,
wanted to create a presentation based on actual location options
on which to mount 3D drawings. This would help move along the
approval process.
**Did you know…
Wim Hoff Method
A discipline of rigorous breathing exercises, cold
therapy and training of one's mindset to improve health
and strength.
Recce
Reconnaissance, military scouting; a production term
used in the UK, Europe, India, Australia, New Zealand,
South Africa, Canada and Malaysia which refers to a pre-
filming visit to a location to determine its suitability for
shooting. In the U.S., the term "tech scout" is commonly
used.
Direwolves
In Game of Thrones, they are larger than a pony and can
rip a man's arm from its socket. These fiercely intelligent
creatures play a more prominent and mystical role in the
books because the VFX needed to create them limited
their storyline in the TV series.
The Mandalorian
A Disney+ TV series set in the Stars Wars universe that
uses virtual sets and a 360-degree video wall to create
the series environments.
VFX is relied on to "do anything" and
they didn't want to come up short!
Some would call it "hosing it down."
–Mike Johansen/LMGI
Goat Creek, Alberta, Canada
