TV Series
Stranger Things Season 5
Industrial Light & Magic
ILM worked on all 8 episodes of Stranger Things Season 5, delivering nearly 1,200 shots. There was a tremendous variety of work, ranging from enormous environments and creature animation to complex, detailed FX and intense world-destruction shots. ILM worked tirelessly around the globe to bring this beloved series to a close in its fifth and final season.
One of the most challenging sequences was the highly complex “MacZ Battle". It was filmed on a large 360-degree practical set surrounded by 50-foot bluescreens. The on-set conditions were a major challenge: night photography, heavy SFX atmosphere, sweeping spotlights, and more than 100 flashing practical lights aimed from every direction. That chaotic and dynamic illumination needed to be hand key-framed for grounding the CG Demogorgons, CG atmospherics, and the full Hawkins environment extension.
There were also over 50 extras, actors, and stunt performers which meant extensive roto, plus multiple wire, rigs, and stuntpad removals. There were 4 CG Rifts on the set which were practically emitting light which had to be accounted for. ILM also enhanced several stunt beats by re-timing and re-positioning soldiers attacked by the CG Demogorgons, without ever replacing performers with digidoubles. The sequence also included a 3000 frame oner with 6 stitched plates.
Other standout sequences include the melting sludge room where all practical sludge was too thin and watery. ILM replaced the quickly rising floor surface sludge as well as the grey goo dripping down the walls. The global team also created an enormous, anatomically referenced membrane wall that was covered in pustules and FX slime and mucous. And additionally, ILM was responsible for the complete destruction of the Upside Down which included hundreds of FX elements, vehicles, and iconic building destruction.
Stranger Things gave ILM the opportunity to achieve the vision of the Duffer Brothers and accomplish intense, quality work which was cinematic in scope and storytelling - fitting for the finale of the beloved series.
CREW
Betsy Paterson - Production VFX Supervisor
Bill Georgiou – ILM VFX Supervisor
Stephen Tong – ILM VFX Supervisor
George Kuruvilla – ILM VFX Supervisor
Elvin Siew – CG Supervisor
Simon Allen – Animation Supervisor
Alex Lay – Compositing Supervisor
Florens Wartenberg – Environment Supervisor
Sebastian Ravagnani – Lighting Supervisor
Brent Droog – FX Supervisor
Kah Jeng Cheong – Creature Supervisor
Tristan North – Look Dev Supervisor