We were awarded 300 native stereo VFX shots on the fourth instalment in the Disney/Bruckheimer franchise. The majority of our work can be seen in the carriage chase sequence through Greenwich, featuring Johnny Depp and comprising 200 back-to-back shots.

We had to create large-scale photorealistic 3D environments to fill three large blue screens that were the backdrop on set in Greenwich. We built complex 3D environments including full CG street builds with detailed period buildings, as well as set and background extensions. Atmospheric smoke, smog and fog were added to create an old London feel. And extras, shot in stereo against a blue screen, were seamlessly composited to enhance the busy London street.

To ensure our pipeline could handle any challenges the stereo files brought, we developed some new proprietary tools. These could tackle colour differences between stereoscopic image pairs and respeeds for any given shot.

We also created Barbossa’s peg leg by replacing the blue sock Geoffrey Rush wore on set with a digital peg leg. And watch out for the CG poison dart frog as that was also one of our creations…