LogInEnjoy a look back.
No doubt, the infamous logging truck sequence in Final Destination 2 (2003) is one of the most influential scenes in modern cinema. Few can pass a logging truck today without a sense of unease.
With Final Destination: Bloodlines currently in theaters, Ian Failes from befores & afters dug through Digital Dimension's old website and uncovered some amazing footage from a key moment in the scene, when the logs first fall, along with detailed descriptions of the entire sequence, including the VFX tests created by the studio. Using the footage, he has compiled a remake of their VFX breakdown.
befores & afters
Originally, the log sequence in Final Destination 2 was planned to be filmed practically, but after successful preliminary CG tests, the decision was made to shoot test footage in Vancouver comparing real logs to CG logs. Digital Dimension oversaw the tests and quickly realized that controlling real logs and achieving the necessary liveliness would be nearly impossible.
The team then focused on whether CG logs could offer a more dramatic and believable performance. With the help of storyboards, the CG Supervisor worked on log dynamics and particles, ensuring the pipeline was flexible enough to accommodate changes in timing and shot feel, ruling out manual keyframing. As they experimented with layers for the final composite shot, the results laid the foundation for the actual production effects.
The test shot was a success, proving CG logs would provide better control without sacrificing realism. Digital Dimension was greenlit to create the digital logs, with a Senior Technical Director sent to Vancouver to gather location data and reference photography.
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