In January 2015, DP, Markus Förderer asked if I’d be interested in operating A camera on Independence Day: Resurgence. Markus and I have worked together before. In the summer of 2014, we worked on Roland’s production of Stonewall. Prior to that, I’d worked with Roland on White House Down in 2012. Both projects were wonderful experiences so I jumped at the opportunity to work with both of them again.
CAMERA OF CHOICE Markus wanted to use his camera of choice, the RED Dragon with the Hawk anamorphic lenses. The nature of this project–the extensive use of blue screen Roland required–called for the NCam live previsualization system. We had used NCam on White House Down just after the system first became available. In the two years since then, great advances had been made on both the hardware and the software making it a must-have tool on effect heavy shows like Independence Day: Resurgence.
Prep took place in Los Angeles at Keslow Camera. They provided all the equipment except the lenses which came from Vantage Films GmbH in Germany. “A” focus puller, Nick Shuster and his 2nd, Hayden Pazanti, along with “B” cam AC, Steve Cueva and his 2nd, Zozo Zovko, did a fantastic job of getting us in top shape for the show.
THE START OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY In April 2015, principal photography started with a chase scene for the ending of the film, a big set piece that took a four days to shoot at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The production then moved to the Albuquerque Studios in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and stayed there for the rest of the 15-week schedule. Timing and information is everything on any blue screen CG shot. In the past, when less blue screen was used and therefore, the expertise was less forthcoming, more guesswork was required.
VFX: BLUE SCREEN Roland and the VFX department had started creating most of the virtual world of Independence Day: Resurgence well in advance of the start of principal photography. When the time came to shoot the real-world scenes, most of which included huge CG set piece, the NCam previz system allowed camera operators, Robby Baumgartner, James Goldman, and me to ground the camera moves with simulated visual reality. This, in turn facilitated the post-production’s implantation of the images. The NCam system is also of tremendous assistance to actors as it enables them to see what their environment is and makes it so much easier for them to interact with it. A good example of the facilitation the system affords is a shot we did in an open field on the studio’s back lot. We were meant to be in Africa. The art department constructed a practical set of the INT./EXT. WARLORD’S HOUSE in the middle of
TRIVIA: Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson), Bill Pullman (Thomas J. Whitmore), Judd Hirsch (Julius Levinson), Vivica A. Fox (Jasmine Dubrow-Hiller) and Brent Spiner (Dr. Brackish Okun) are the only actors to reprise their roles from Independence Day (1996). Director of Photography, Markus Foderer and François Daignault, SOC with actor Chin An on the moon base set. Photo by Claudette Barius
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