Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1480624
National Geographic lidar scan of Tham Luang, I realized that the real cave system didn't have quite the rocky dramatic setting I was looking for, but I could use the basic shapes of some areas as a place to start, and then enhance each set for the needs of the story. Since there was no visibility in the cave during the dive, it allowed the freedom to create a unique internal cave system to play out specific underwater events in the script. Led by Supervising Art Director Brandt Gordon, the team of Art Directors and Set Designers created basic fly-throughs and animatics in Blender to develop environments and work through the scripted action. We discovered that for the larger chamber sets, like where the divers first enter the cave in Chamber 1, where they set up their internal base camp in Chamber 3, and where they find the boys in Chamber 9, physical models were the most useful and informative. Because of the number of departments involved in the use of each set, not just Ron and DP Sayombhu Mokdeeprom, but the 2nd unit director Charlie Croughwell, the 2nd unit DP Andrew Rowlands, the underwater camera operator Simon Christidis, the dive stunt team supervisor Andrew Allen, all had needs that had to be considered in the design process of each set. The balsa and foam models created by Model Maker Ronnie Rametta were essential in determining wild walls, placement of camera portals, discussing lighting and safety considerations, and conveying action and screen direction for this complicated journey. The models were also carefully detailed by Ronnie to suggest the texture and character of each set. This was invaluable to the construction and sculpting teams in translating the drawings and interpreting the photo research; to ultimately bring these sets to life. VR technology was used primarily for the cave entrance and divers' base camp build at the farm location. The immersive quality of VR was a great aid in showing the key relationship between the divers' camp, where the swath of tents for secondary workers were placed around structures used for meetings and diver support, A. CAVE TUNNEL MODELED IN BLENDER. B. CAVE TUNNEL. CONCEPT ILLUSTRATION. C. DIVERS RETURNING TO CHAMBER 3. CONCEPT ILLUSTRATION. A B C