Dark Matter is a series that combines visual effects in an impressive way to create fascinating alternative worlds. Based on the novel by Blake Crouch, the plot follows Jason Dessen, a man who is kidnapped and transported to an alternative version of his life. Every time he opens a door, he finds himself in a different Chicago, a variation of the city that changes radically, from futuristic settings to worlds devastated by natural disasters.
The Challenge of Creating Realistic Alternative Worlds
The main challenge for the visual effects team at Folks VFX was designing these different versions of Chicago, ensuring the realism and essence of the original city were maintained. To achieve this, they relied on real references of Chicago, such as photos, videos, and maps. This allowed them to have a solid foundation to modify the city and adapt it to the needs of each alternative world.
Every time Jason opens a door, a new world is revealed, and in each of those worlds, the city must resemble a possible version of Chicago. Whether it's a futuristic Chicago full of skyscrapers or a city covered in snow, the challenge was to maintain a high level of detail and realism in each of those variations.
Innovative Techniques to Create Impactful Worlds
One of the biggest challenges was the snow-covered world, which appears for just a few seconds. Despite its short duration, the details had to be impressive to make the audience truly feel they were in a different place. The same happened with other sequences, such as the tsunami or the burned city. To achieve this, the team used a 2.5D technique, combining 3D shots with background paintings to maximize the visual impact.
"Although these alternative worlds are different, there is always something constant: the city of Chicago, which serves as the foundation for each variation, maintaining its essence."
Creating Memorable Sequences
The team also faced challenges in more complex sequences, such as the restaurant scene, which showed a panoramic view of Chicago from the city's tallest skyscraper. To achieve this view, it was necessary to work on details like the sun's position, the color palette, and how the characters' emotions are reflected in the background.
The Essence of Chicago in Alternative Worlds
Despite the alternative worlds varying radically, they all share something in common: the city of Chicago. This allowed the team to maintain a solid and coherent foundation to work from. Although they modified the city to adapt it to each world, they always ensured each variation made sense within the overall concept of the series.
The Importance of Details in Each Alternative World
The creation process was long and complicated, with teams working on different versions of Chicago simultaneously. However, the most impressive thing was that, despite the variations, the level of quality and detail remained high in each world, even when they appeared for only a few seconds. Everything had to be impactful and memorable, and that is what they achieved with Dark Matter.
For those who appreciate visual effects and the design of alternative worlds, Dark Matter is an excellent example of how effects can bring a story to life in surprising ways. It is a clear example of how visual realism and creativity combine to create immersive and visually impactful experiences.