Visual effects have become standard fare in motion picture production. The Location Manager/Scout often collaborates with the live-action director, production designer and VFX team to help create stunning visual effects. Sometimes the results can be surprising as was the case in a recent Volkswagen Beetle commercial.

Location Manager/Scout Jof Hanwright,  “What we basically did was to source elements for the forest and then literally harvest the forest elements for a giant set that was created on stage. We went back and forth about on-location versus stage filming. In the end  the motion control elements needed for the spot required more control of the lighting than on-location would allow.”

What started out as “find the perfect forest floor,” became “find the perfect solution,” resulting in a very clever ad campaign introducing the new VW Beetle.

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