MPC completed approximately 600 shots over 12 months of post-production on Suicide Squad. Our work consisted of a mix of CG characters, environment builds and set extensions, FX heavy fire and destruction shots. The shots at MPC were divided between the Vancouver, Montreal, London and Bangalore MPC sites.
Suicide Squad was shot on film using anamorphic lenses, with some supplemental digital footage for 2nd unit elements and backgrounds. MPC’s on-set crew photographed hundreds of the films props, sets and locations for texture reference, which were used to re-create digital versions in post-production. To aid in creating realistic digital doubles, ICT’s Lightstage X was used to photograph the cast and produce skin detail on a micro level. MPC used these textures to assist in the creation of the digital double for Harley Quinn.
MPC Vancouver was mainly responsible for the Tower Ascent sequence, where the Suicide Squad battle inside the Federal Building. This included the cubicle battle between the Suicide Squad and the EAs, and a scene where Diablo defeats the EAs by setting them ablaze. MPC’s work was to build a CG set extension, animate the CG EAs, and add explosive fire FX, smoke and destructions effects.
MPC Vancouver was also responsible for the Ring of Debris, from early design through to the final compositing. The inspiration for the effect was a practical reference of Tesla coils, and the intricate shapes and lighting patterns they generate. MPC worked closely with the film makers through different iterations of the design to make sure that its look, action, and function matched the story telling points.
MPC Montreal created the effects for two of the films big action sequences, First Contact and the Rooftop Escape. In the First Contact sequence, the team created thousands of destruction effects for the battle between the Squad and the Demon Soldiers. In the Rooftop Escape sequence, MPC Montreal created the virtual environment surrounding the Madison City Federal Building. The centerpiece of this virtual set is a huge burning skyscraper that provides a dramatic backdrop for the fierce gun battle taking place.
MPC Montreal also created the transformation and teleportation effects for Enchantress. Artists created CG doubles of various body parts for the transformation of June Moon into Enchantress. The Enchantress teleportation effect consisted of two primary effects elements, black smoke and fractal tendrils. For the black smoke, MPC used Maya to generate simulations for the volumetric smoke. For the fractal tendrils, Houdini was used to simulate, surface and render.
MPC London looked after shots spread across multiple sequences, these included the space and land based shots where we see the tentacle storm cloud spreading and destroying as it goes. As well as the scene where the imprisoned El Diablo kills his fellow inmates with a ring of fire and then leaves a flaming “BYE” in the air.
