DEFINITION August 2022 - Newsletter

BOSCH: LEGACY PRODUCTION.

CLEAN-UP Compositor Jeremy Nelson is tasked with removing production remnants from the shot, in scenes like this expansive car chase

I n today’s landscape of film, visual effects are easily spotted. Expertly executed as they are, viewers know in their hearts that heroes do not truly soar down from the sky, hideous beasts do not exist and magical lands will never be found outside of the screen. That’s not to shatter the illusion of cinema; such artistry draws us in to fantastical narratives like never before. But what of cold, hard reality? In the world of detective Bosch – the compelling lead in the series of the same name – there is little room for wonder. In the latest

iteration, Bosch: Legacy , his Los Angeles backdrop is as frosty as ever. Viewers may be surprised to learn any VFX work was done at all, thanks to the skill of creatives like compositor Jeremy Nelson. He and his team’s invisible fingerprints are all over the new series, but a few key moments stand out. “One of the big sequences is a police chase through Downtown LA. Suspects are escaping in a car and a police helicopter is following overhead. You see the city and the vehicle below, as well as the helicopter itself from an even

higher perspective. Police are tracking with a spotlight as it weaves through the streets,” describes Nelson. “What that involved was getting rid of visible crew, trucks, traffic cones, chasing camera cars and more – in big, sweeping helicopter shots. That required a lot of 3D tracking and 3D projection – plus matte paintings, usually done by Alan Munro.” In addition to his hands-on talents, Munro served as VFX supervisor for the show. As the founder of Moving Target, he oversees content throughout the entire production cycle. “We’ve done quite a few helicopter shots on Bosch over the years – but, thanks to Jeremy, this particular one is my favourite to date,” Munro notes. Delivering some of the most exciting results, this sequence is typical of Nelson’s input on the season. As

“Viewers may be surprised to learn any VFX work was done at all, thanks to the skill of creatives like compositor Jeremy Nelson”

27. AUGUST 2022

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