The Sympathizer | Case Study
CG
Set Extensions
Explosions
Creatures
FX
HBO's limited series "The Sympathizer," based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, stars newcomer Hoa Xuande as "The Captain" alongside Robert Downey Jr., who portrays a variety of colorful characters. Set in 1975, this cross-cultural satire follows "The Captain," a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy as he is sent to the United States at the end of the Vietnam War, and learns that his spying days aren’t over.
"The Sympathizer" is available now on Max
Scope
Ingenuity Studios delivered 212 shots for this limited series.
We were on set from the very beginning to collaborate with director Park Chan-Wook and ensure visual effects were integrated seamlessly in post-production.
The work ultimately included DMP, CG set extensions and builds, FX explosions, a full face replacement for the myriad of characters played by Robert Downey Jr., and more.
Technology used:
Nuke, Houdini, Maya, Blender, Zbrush, Substance, Renderman, and Karma
The Many Faces of Robert Downey Jr.
In episode 3, we created CG face replacements for three of Robert Downey Jr.’s four characters: the real Robert as CIA Agent Claude, film director Niko Damianos (left), Professor Hammer (center) , and Congressman Ned Godwin (right). Using face replacements allowed for all four of his characters to be in the same room in a single continuous shot.
The heads were first recreated by our CG team, who modeled a series of meticulously detailed facial expressions. Our rigging team then combined the expressions to allow for a full range of facial animation. Once the models and animations were complete the assets were rendered and composited onto the body doubles and atmospheric lighting was added to complete the final look seen in the episode.
Extensions & Explosions
To recreate 70s Saigon, the Ingenuity Studios team created full CG set extensions for a variety of different settings including a theater and roads around the city.
Ingenuity Studios was also tasked with creating the massive explosion of the theater. A combination of CG, compositing, and digital matte painting created the realistic look of the blast.
The Gator
A variety of fully CG creepy crawlies, flies, and rats were developed to add drama, and a full CG alligator gives Downey’s Niko Damianos a scare in the pool.
The gator needed to be versatile, and close up shots called for a strong attention to detail on the skin and eye to make it come alive. When it makes its way into a pool in episode 5, we added water simulations and rigged the natural movement of its swim towards Damianos.
“The Ingenuity Studios team really delivered on ‘The Sympathizer.’ From the massive theater explosion that packs a punch in the first episode, to realistic CG crocodile and creepy crawlies, and two digital face replacement shots that made way for multiple Robert Downey, Jr., characters in a single scene -- they earned unanimous praise from the production-side team.”
-VFX Supervisor Chad Wanstreet
Credits
Grant Miller, Partner and Executive VFX Supervisor
Jack Wesson, VFX Supervisor
Hallana Paula Barbosa, VFX Executive Producer
Juliana Watson, Senior VFX Producer
Aditya Sawant, Production Coordinator
Ben Stommes, Compositing Supervisor
Xiaozhe Hong, Compositing Lead
Didier Daza, Compositing Lead
Nathalia Moya, Compositing Lead
Pamela Navarro, Compositing Lead
Saeed Bidzari, Compositing Lead
Paola Ortiz, Compositing Coordinator
Juan Dominguez, 3D Lead
Kenzo Nishida Santos, 3D Lead
Viridiana Barraza, 3D Coordinator
Whitney Hii, 3D Coordinator
Darryl White, Animation Supervisor
The Many Faces of Robert Downey Jr.
In episode 3, we created CG face replacements for three of Robert Downey Jr.’s four characters: the real Robert as CIA Agent Claude, film director Niko Damianos (left), Professor Hammer (center) , and Congressman Ned Godwin (right).
Using face replacements allowed for all four of his characters to be in the same room in a single continuous shot. The heads were first recreated by our CG team, who modeled a series of meticulously detailed facial expressions. Our rigging team combined the expressions to allow for a full range of facial animation. Once the models and animations were complete, atmospheric lighting was added and the assets were rendered and composited onto the body doubles in the final version of the shot.
The Croc
A variety of fully CG creepy crawlies, flies, and rats were developed to add drama, and a full CG crocodile gives Downey’s Niko Damianos a scare in the pool.
The croc needed to be versatile, and close up shots called for a strong attention to detail on the skin and eye to make it come alive. When the croc makes its way into a pool in episode 5, we added water simulations and rigged the natural movement of its swim towards Damianos.
Extensions & Explosions
To recreate 70s Saigon, the Ingenuity Studios team created full CG set extensions for a variety of different settings including a theater and roads around the city.
Ingenuity Studios was also tasked with creating the massive explosion of the theater. A combination of CG, compositing, and digital matte painting created the realistic look of the blast.
The Sympathizer | Case Study
CG
Set Extensions
Explosions
Creatures
FX
HBO's limited series "The Sympathizer," based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, stars newcomer Hoa Xuande as "The Captain" alongside Robert Downey Jr., who portrays a variety of colorful characters. Set in 1975, this cross-cultural satire follows "The Captain," a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy as he is sent to the United States at the end of the Vietnam War, and learns that his spying days aren’t over.
"The Sympathizer" is available now on Max
The Many Faces of Robert Downey Jr.
In episode 3, we created CG face replacements for three of Robert Downey Jr.’s four characters: the real Robert as CIA Agent Claude, film director Niko Damianos (left), Professor Hammer (center) , and Congressman Ned Godwin (right).
The heads were first recreated by our CG team, who modeled a series of meticulously detailed facial expressions. Our rigging team then combined the expressions to allow for a full range of facial animation. Once the models and animations were complete the assets were rendered and composited onto the body doubles and atmospheric lighting was added to complete the final look seen in the episode.