Exploring the Visual Effects of Independence Day Resurgence

Summary

In this article, we will explore the visual effects used in the making of Independence Day Resurgence, a sequel to the original blockbuster film by Roland Emmerich. We will discuss the use of a new N-cam system on set, the collaboration between visual effects teams and art direction, and the extensive work done by Weta Digital on the end alien bus sequence.

Overcoming a 3000 Mile Wide Alien Mothership
The Hive Driven by One Mother of an Alien
Collaboration with Visual Effects Teams and Art Direction
Extensive Work by Weta Digital on the End Alien Bus Sequence

Overcoming a 3000 Mile Wide Alien Mothership

Independence Day Resurgence picks up the action 20 years after the original film, where our heroes need to overcome a 3000 mile wide alien mothership. To help with such a vast undertaking, Roland Emmerich used a new N-cam system on set to allow him and the actors to see exactly what it was going to look like when the blue screen was replaced with the VF.

The Hive Driven by One Mother of an Alien

The effects in Independence Day Resurgence are bigger than the original film, with a bigger ship and a bigger alien. The hive is driven by one mother of an alien, which was supervised by Volker Engel, who has worked with Roland Emmerich on most of his projects. While many companies contributed to the film, Weta Digital was responsible for the end alien bus sequence, led by Joe Leteri and Matt Aitke.

Collaboration with Visual Effects Teams and Art Direction

Weta Digital is a unique company because they make creative suggestions, and they convinced the team to create a bus in CG instead of using live-action shots. They replaced most of the live-action shots with fully CG shots, using their new exterior lighting tool and relatively new Manuka renderer. The collaboration between visual effects teams and art direction is crucial, and Weta Digital provided creative suggestions to make the shots better.

Extensive Work by Weta Digital on the End Alien Bus Sequence

Weta Digital did over 230 shots alone on the end alien bus sequence, which looked almost entirely real but was mostly done in CG. They used the salt flats as reference and created storyboards and previs to plan out the shots. Weta Digital’s unique approach to visual effects and their extensive work on the end alien bus sequence contributed significantly to the success of Independence Day Resurgence.

Conclusion

Independence Day Resurgence is an excellent example of how visual effects can enhance a film’s storytelling and create a more immersive experience for the audience. The extensive work done by Weta Digital and the collaboration between visual effects teams and art direction helped create a compelling and visually stunning film.