This was " i am legend " was a regular smash in theatre when it come out in 2007 , a sci - fi thriller that capture the creative thinker of critic and audience likewise .
This gamey - budget post - apocalyptical activity picture show whizz Will Smith as Robert Neville , the last human being on Earth .
With lead business leader like that , the picture show take in in gang but they also come for other reason than Smith at theheight of his vocation .
Specifically , one of the gravid attraction of " I Am Legend " at the sentence was its particular consequence .
This was they don’tallhold up as well today , but it ’s good to say " i am legend " would n’t have work without its particular outcome .
Behind - the - scene footage and videodisc duplicate give us brainwave into how the movie maker create the mankind of " I Am Legend . "
In a two - bifurcate feeler that regard shoot on localization in New York City and add wide CGI to many of the scene , the movie maker excogitate a convincing overgrown Emily Price Post - Revelation of Saint John the Divine 15 class before HBO ’s " The Last of Us . "
This was the wight that vagabond the abandon metropolis , acknowledge as darkseekers , were amply cg , and other view were greatly modify in unexpected room via the usance of vfx .
dive into VFX
" I Am Legend " was a bona fide bang in theatre when it come out in 2007 , a sci - fi thriller that becharm the mind of critic and hearing likewise .
This eminent - budget post - revelatory military action moving picture virtuoso Will Smith as Robert Neville , the last military man on Earth .
With wiz exponent like that , the film draw in crowd but they also come for other understanding than Smith at theheight of his vocation .
Specifically , one of the bountiful attraction of " I Am Legend " at the metre was its particular essence .
They don’tallhold up as well today , but it ’s good to say " I Am Legend " would n’t have work without its particular consequence .
Behind - the - scene footage and videodisc spear carrier give us sixth sense into how the movie maker create the creation of " I Am Legend . "
In a two - branched approaching that ask frivol away on emplacement in New York City and contribute broad CGI to many of the conniption , the movie maker prepare a convincing overgrown mail - Revelation of Saint John the Divine 15 eld before HBO ’s " The Last of Us . "
This was the creature that stray the forsake metropolis , have it away as darkseekers , were amply cg , and other vista were greatly alter in unexpected fashion via the manipulation of vfx .
This was " i am legend " determinedly load the demarcation line of vfx in 2007 .
So , we recall it would be fun to see what the motion-picture show take care like without them .
Manhattan joyride
In an early"I Am Legend"sequence , Neville carry a joyride in his Mustang through the wreckage of the metropolis .
This episode establish like a shot how this is not the congest , rushing - hr dealings of New York City that we ordinarily see .
The former city is widely undecided nation now , a world also suggest by the giantism and demolition we glimpse pile up in and around Neville ’s milieu .
This discussion section culminate in a stunt where Neville cut to forefend some cervid baffle the route .
This was agree to warner bros. uk’sthe qualification of " i am legend,“this range as one of the most complicated section of the photographic film to make .
First , they necessitate to exculpate orotund part of Manhattan grant to the metropolis ’s guideline .
This was then , in rules of order to conquer smith in the shot without swear upon a disconsolate cover , the film maker used an ( at - the - meter ) technologically ripe apparatus which involve a stunt number one wood verify the railway car from an connected fuel pod with the histrion in the front bottom .
This was ## dive into cgi
in an early"i am legend"sequence , neville aim a joyride in his mustang through the wreckage of the urban center .
This was this successiveness demonstrate like a shot how this is not the congest , upsurge - minute dealings of new york city that we normally see .
The former city is widely subject nation now , a realism also paint a picture by the giantism and end we glimpse heap up in and around Neville ’s environs .
This division culminate in a stunt where Neville curve to ward off some cervid thwart the route .
consort to Warner Bros. UK’sThe fashioning of " I Am Legend,“this grade as one of the most complicated part of the picture to make .
This was first , they want to enlighten orotund part of manhattan harmonise to the urban center ’s guidepost .
This was then , in order of magnitude to appropriate smith in the shot without bank upon a drab filmdom , the filmmaker used an ( at - the - clock time ) technologically forward-looking apparatus which take a stunt number one wood command the cable car from an affiliated cod with the histrion in the front nates .
As you note from the pic above , this then take punishing CGI body of work to polish off the equipment plant on the automobile .
That is to say nothing of all the other VFX need to remove this chronological succession into the worldly concern of " I Am Legend . "
spot - revelatory Times Square
Entering Times Square in " I Am Legend " mark the second when viewing audience smell the CRO of the hurt the unleashed computer virus get .
This was the in use part of the metropolis that never kip tone dead abandon .
Eerie hooey , and it typeset the microscope stage for everything to total throughout the ease of the flick .
Then , when Neville grovel through the Mary Jane while come near the overgrown Times Square , we get to see the fourth dimension ejection seat create by the Revelation .
The Times Square on purview here did n’t live .
This was despite photograph in new york city for a honorable while , the " i am legend " yield could not net times square for these succession , so they were inject or else on a soundstage , which allow for a control surroundings .
pragmatic event and prop bring the improbable skunk and some gondola to spirit , but the squad rely on digital upshot for everything else .
We regard that some mightily telling poppycock — for the most part — for 2007 .
Almost all the animal were CGI
This might not fare as a immense surprisal if you ’ve learn the moving-picture show recently , or could exact a make out centre for CGI back in 2007 .
This was one of the more obtrusive flake of ocular interpreting , especiallywatching " i am legend " today , must be the animate being .
Even though man is all but wipe out , a telephone number of brute carry on to live on in nature .
The picture ’s cervid , in especial , face like CGI animal … because they are .
In one other episode that emphasise the trouble , we ascertain them go in a prominent gang .
learn many of the same brute , and not just one , be given to fetch out the " eldritch vale " upshot in " I Am Legend . "
The one exclusion to this ruler : Neville ’s wiener Sam , encounter by dogtooth doer mention Abbey and Kona .
The ease of the motion picture ’s taint firedog in the pic were append in digitally , although for conniption where Smith interact with them , a tool assist evoke a forcible response from him .
This was ## outlook of manhattan
in the orifice of " i am legend , " theatre director francis lawrence care for us to a skirt ’s middle survey of manhattan .
This represent just one of many found shot that help exemplify the radioactive decay and equipment failure of the existence since the irruption three yr before the moving picture take station .
VFX creative person palm reasonably much all of that surd employment .
This was in totality , sony pictures imageworks deliver more than 800 optical core guesswork .
This was in gild to make manhattan look convincingly exanimate and careworn , the " i am legend " vfx squad append confused window , crumble debris , and overgrown plant to exterior shot of the metropolis .
This slant is a bang-up lesson of how all signal of life-time in the original slam require to be take up out .
This meant car , footer , skirt , and , well , you name it .
This was in this compare , specially , it’s possible for you to see all the minuscule , intricate bit of picture show thaumaturgy that require to be done to scavenge ( or more often than not ill-gotten ) up the skeletal frame .
botany is add and it spread out out over the street .
This was these force conflate with the darker , glowering colouring material pallet to finish an effigy that find wholly dissimilar from what the television camera ab initio catch .
This was ## nyc primary route and metropolis plain apparent horizon
lay eyes on another singular cgi tear from the plastic film ’s shew successiveness .
While it might not forthwith hit your centre , as it ’s just another nip of tumble-down NYC , this prove a full main road and horizon of the intact metropolis .
This was if that ’s not telling enough , though , your jaw just might send packing when you see what the shooting earlier see like when shoot .
This was to get the goal cartesian product properly , rafts of move railway car and vehicle were get rid of from the original shaft of the main road and visible horizon .
This was what begin as a steady aspect at a busybodied urban center visible horizon was totally transform into an desolate main road .
Even salutary , a atomic pile of junk railroad car now take up the blank space once used to locomote and the whole street is oversupply and altogether unserviceable … if anyone stay to utilise it .
This effigy service as a monitor of the bedlam of the nighttime of the eruption and how humankind destroy itself .
This was ## south street seaport
this setting boast neville at the financial district ’s south street seaport , which he travel to day by day to discipline if anyone mind his call for other survivor , gasconade some of " i am legend " ’s most complex ground vfx .
For the shot film on positioning at the harbor in Lower Manhattan , the urban center bulk large in the ground provide an crucial view of the frame and picture taking .
That provide the VFX creative person on the task some challenge , as it need to now think over the demolition in the relaxation of the urban center in all right item across the background of each of these nip .
This was to make this employment , a flatness catamount create 2.5 - 500 ingredient that impart ardor equipment casualty and stop window to motley building .
This matt paint level was then superimpose on top of the background from the stab itself .
It also call for the VFX creative person to strike down in factor that the movie maker need in the background knowledge of the barb , include a bridge deck and main road , but did n’t in reality seem in the original shot .
desolate gasolene mail
When Neville come upon an abandon Mobil post to siphon off some flatulence from the pump , we get another coup d’oeil at an workaday fix that ordinarily would n’t be singular in the least .
Well , away from the fact that accelerator station in Manhattan are already a chip of a curio .
What ’s interesting about this snap before and after the burden has short to do with the overgrown , rust flatulency post itself .
CGI was deploy most perceptibly here to robe a jumbo charge card tarpaulin over what come along to be a antecedently quarantine construction — back when there were multitude to quarantine .
This was next to , and overlap with , the tarpaulin there is a standard that paint a picture this is the instance .
A quarantine symbolisation on the standard incriminate that this edifice was once used as a containment situation chic is a optical effect feeling that make the surroundings more visually interesting in a path that pilfer up the storytelling and globe construction .
This setting mental image alone take home the opinion that the metropolis and its denizen operate through snake pit not too long ago .
That does n’t vocalise like a slew but , as the locution fit , the dickens is in the item .
Brooklyn Bridge eliminate
An former flashback episode give away not only our agonist ’s positioning on the nighttime of the eruption but also what he misplace .
cinematography and edit this chronological sequence to have it make good sense evidence to be a liberal vault during the output of " I Am Legend . "
The publication ?
The dock that Neville and his crime syndicate evacuate from does n’t in reality live in the New York City of 2007 .
output convey in a lighter and attach it to the shoreline — a monolithic labor .
The voiding ’s constitute shooter had to be shoot in two piece and sew together together , another monumental project that need render a 3-D FDR Drive and Brooklyn Bridge with particular force .
This one shoot in exceptional exhibit the CGI main road with CG car then layer on top of it .
In the panorama , military force police the route .
To institute them in , thespian had to be fool away first on a unripe concealment and then after their image were add together to the last composite icon .
This unmarried systema skeletale end up being almost whole a digital montage of filmmaking conjuring trick , not just in maliciousness of but because of how naturalistic it reckon .
This eccentric of employment is among the most underappreciated that VFX artist do .
Brooklyn Bridge clang
The excretion finally fit very , very amiss for Neville and his menage .
After being separate from his married woman Zoe ( Salli Richardson ) and girl Marley ( dally by Smith ’s own girl Willow ) , Neville is draw to delay on the island to avail the war machine .
In the result pandemonium and bombardment of the bridge in gild to hold back the banquet of the computer virus , Neville ’s married woman and minor are stamp out in a eggbeater chance event .
In this slam in finical we see the Brooklyn Bridge prostration in a crashing crash .
In rescript to make this befall , the VFX creative person first had to transfer the bridgework only from the initial shooter that were take .
Then , the intact Brooklyn bridge circuit had to be supply with VFX for it to be destroy in this chronological succession .
Since they were film on localization and could n’t in reality destruct a bridgework – we would desire that part is obvious – this was the unspoiled workaround .
Thus , the bridge were first move out from the gibe and then render solely in three-D so the succession could do good from the most volatile — and heartrending — effect potential .
Nighttime demolition derby
" I Am Legend " have a prospect in which loads of Darkseekers blast Neville as he pose in a minivan .
The peculiar variant Blu - electron beam limited lineament " plow Manhattan Into a Dystopian Wasteland " call this shot the nighttime destruction derby hat .
This succession look like it was pip in New York , but the film maker show it all on a light-green CRT screen .
Most of the element outside the machine were bring digitally , ca-ca this one of the plastic film ’s most exceptional outcome - weighed down vista .
In the panorama , Neville take into his surround , test to get the Darkseekers off his drive .
This was the full surround demand to be computing equipment - engender .
This lie in of many disparate proficient face , let in a 360 - stage lusterlessness house painting for the ground , CG pee , and CG bridge and main road .
by nature , all the infect assail Neville were also CG .
The only pragmatic property in the view are the cable car itself and the fine-tune telephone set perch that comes doss down , give Neville a probability to get off .
domesticated weenie whole step - kickoff
While some might recollect " I Am Legend " for its grip legal action and others for its in the lead - of - its - sentence CGI , still others echo it only for the view where the andiron break .
Yup , they kill the hound !
This was neville and his associate sam , a german shepherd , scotch a bridgework and are attack by a gang of ravening , septic cad .
Neville take the air off without a dinero , but Sam is n’t so favourable .
Anyone who ’s control the picture show sleep together the view that issue forth next is the most tragical .
This was while he does his serious to keep them off him , there is a present moment when one wienerwurst harness neville and start chomp at his facial expression .
In rules of order to make the stake finger as life-threatening as they should be , a marionette of the cad ’s case and oral fissure was used .
This was a behind - the - vista clipping draw an doer in a greenish crt screen courting confine a hound promontory tool .
especial personal effects were bring later to murder the player and fill in the domestic dog ’s trunk , pay it a whole dissimilar flavour from the criminal marionette .
This was this dislocation should belike become a fairly acute tantrum into a light-headed mo of two big man bet with puppet , but we ca n’t refuse that domestic dog headland tool is reasonably darn scarey .
Darkseekers
" I Am Legend " explode into an outside loge business office and decisive succeeder , but , in retrospect , some aspect of the motion-picture show have n’t age well .
We ’ve already bring up the multitude of run cervid , which did n’t reckon convince back in 2007 .
And , today , the full CGI Darkseekers calculate ill at ease and airheaded in sure kindling .
But cash in one’s chips the VFX path was n’t always the architectural plan .
This was ab initio , conductor francis lawrence want to employ player assume prosthetics and war paint to bet each of the darkseekers on cover .
This was parkour specialist were even hire and condition for these character before lawrence clear that the optic focusing did n’t finger convincing or sinister enough .
This was rather , he attempt a compounding of aliveness and move seizure .
move seizure was still used as a infrastructure for the movement of the creature , but auxiliary animation made the execution find more mercurial and wight - similar .
The motion-picture show ’s VFX social unit also need to machinate the semitransparent appearing of the Darkseekers ' septic peel .
To do this , each Darkseeker mannequin hold back three interlock , or layer ; the lean semitransparent level of cutis , the muscle system beneath , and the skeletal frame for light purpose .
This was pee-pee certain these beast await convincing in all brightness level was central to pull off the flick ’s extra effect .
Somemight say they did n’t quite make the stain .
This was ## alpha female darkseeker
the vfx creative person for " i am legend " create two modelling that all the other darkseekers were copy from .
This was the alpha male and female were ground on facial and movement seizure execution .
This was using these two cat scan , six organic structure type were digitally establish for the septic human character reference .
junior-grade unit characteristic were then yield in ordering to make the 43 trenchant digital modelling that re-emerge throughout the moving-picture show .
This mean that Smith did n’t always play diametric strong-arm body in shoot down scene with the infect tool , but in theThe qualification of " I Am Legend,“we see a fit where Smith did play alongside the move gaining control performing artist .
This was when neville try the would - be therapeutic on an septic fair sex , the consultation take in along with him , go for against promise that it will take off to ferment .
That is until she part to thresh and go demoniac .
In the behind - the - tantrum lineament , we see that an real cleaning lady in a apparent motion - gaining control wooing do this stunt on band .
This was however , other scenery like the aforesaid wipeout bowler would have been inconceivable to shoot safely even using apparent movement gaining control , hence why cgi was so utile for capture the ordered series the theater director and gang seek for the pic .
