Watch BlueBolt’s VFX breakdown for The Dog Stars

BlueBolt has posted its VFX breakdown for Ridley Scott’s post-apocalypse thriller The Dog Stars, which follows the lives of the survivors of a global flu pandemic in rural Colorado.

The studio created 92 VFX shots, including extensive 3D environment work to transform the locations in Italy where the movie was shot into a post-pandemic version of Denver.

Much of the distant Denver environment was built in 3D rather than digital matte painting, allowing the team to support multiple camera angles and complex aerial views.

The build comprised more than 180 assets, including buildings, wrecked cars and street furniture, with wide shots featuring around 1,600 building variations.

BlueBolt layered in key details to convey the passage of time, adding weather staining, dust, broken windows and glitching digital displays, using the subtle movements like swaying trees, shutters and debris caught on telephone wires to bring the deserted city to life.

Turning helicopter photography into aerial sequences showing a vintage Cessna plane
The studio also contributed to the film’s Cessna flying sequences, augmenting helicopter-shot aerial photography with environment extensions.

Bluescreen cockpit photography was completed with a digital plane exterior and instrument details, while a CG cockpit made it possible to create dynamic lighting effects.

Studio: BlueBolt
Project: The Dog Stars
Artist credits: On IMDb
Other technical info: On BlueBolt’s website

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