Telling the story of a Spitfire fighter ace will undoubtedly require a substantial amount of special effects work, particularly when considering the necessity to re-create all the aerial and high intense combat sequences.
Indeed, the FX work required for “The Spitfire Shamrock” has been among the most intense FX work we’ve ever done. We put in numerous months of work in designing and bringing to life the battle scenes and aerial sequences.
We actually started work on the CG elements about a year before we commenced shooting.
It began with a deep dive into a wealth of historical resources– gathering and watching as much archive footage as possible. Original “Gun Camera” footage taken from WW2 fighter pilots became a main source of reference for us.
We were even lucky enough to get our hands on some gun footage of and taken by Brendan Finucane himself – a direct connection to that time and place.
One of the most important things for us, in terms of the flying/battle sequences was to attempt to capture what it was like to be in an actual cockpit of a Spitfire, so most of those sequences were shot in a real one.
For obvious reasons though, the Spitfires were not going to fly for real, so in order to create the illusion of the pilots actually flying, we employed a technique known as rotoscoping – which removes the background in order to insert a new one – in our case, usually skies and clouds.
Our primary goal in designing and implementing the FX elements/shots was not only to create the illusion of our cast standing in the middle of a bombed-out city, for example, or fighting desperately in an aerial dog fight, but to help enhance the visual style or “look” of the film.
The look of the film is something we always spend a great deal of time developing and it encompasses everything from the colour palette of a shot to camera angles and, as mentioned above, FX elements.
There were also many “invisible FX” needed or times when we had to “Fix it in post” – “FIP it” as it became affectionally known among the team.
Despite filming in historically accurate locations and working museums, such locations brought their own set of problems. For example, having to digitally remove any modern signage or painting out the fleeting shadows of a boom in the confines of a 1930s bus.
We also utilized invisible FX to enhance various set pieces, adding props or extending rooms.
The above scene was shot at night and the script called for stars to be shinning down on our players, however on this particular night, the sky was overcast and so the stars were added in post-production. This also allowed us control over the size and brightness of the stars, an added bonus.
As always, we were keen to explore other techniques, rather than simply relying on CG. So, alongside working with real aircraft as much as possible, we filmed several scenes in a Spitfire simulator, the world’s only training simulator used for training new Spitfire pilots– courtesy of Goodwood Aerodrome. This enabled some of our cast (and crew) to actually “fly” a Spit.
We also employed the use of miniatures for several shots. We’re firm believers that even in this era of CG magic, traditional special effects techniques can and should continue to play a significant role.
Perhaps the best example of where traditional effects still reigns supreme though, is the art of make-up.
Working diligently behind the scenes as the camera’s rolled, our hard working and dedicated make up team wielded their brushes and skills to not only enhance actors’ appearances but also to transport them into the heart of action-packed scenes.
The simulated sweat glistening on a character’s brow, the oil stains marking the nervous faces of young pilots and the meticulously crafted flesh wounds that convey the human damage of aerial combat, elevated our visuals to a level of realism CG effects can only aspire to match.
It’s by capturing as much as possible on camera that we create a tangible connection between the actor’s portrayal and the audience’s perception. The grit on a performer’s skin becomes palpable, and the depth of emotions conveyed through their expressions is undeniable. This shared experience bridges the gap between fiction and reality.
We truly feel, that by remaining experimental and open to techniques both new and old, the special FX elements will enhance our story and hopefully bring to life the daring exploits of this airborne hero.
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