The Invisible Art of Recreating a Tragedy
UPP's work on Five Days at Memorial establishes a new paradigm in visual effects applied to historical dramas. More than mere computer-generated images, each element was carefully designed to:
- Serve the narrative without dominating it
- Maintain absolute historical fidelity
- Respect the memory of those affected
- Create visual immersion without artifices
Forensic Reconstruction of a Real Scenario
The process began with meticulous research:
- Analysis of 300+ photographs from archives and documentary videos
- Laser scanning of the hospital's current facilities
- Interviews with witnesses and medical staff
- 3D modeling in Maya of all key spaces
"We worked like digital archaeologists. Every mark on the walls, every abandoned medical device, every damp stain told part of the story"
Technology in Service of Truth
UPP developed specific tools for this project:
- Progressive flooding system in Houdini based on official records
- Custom shader for contaminated water with sediments
- Deterioration simulation with documented mold patterns
- Asset library with exact 2005 medical equipment
The Human Challenge Behind the Pixels
The technical aspect was always accompanied by ethical considerations:
- Chronologically exact water levels (±2cm precision)
- 47 distinct versions of the main lobby for different moments
- Recreation of lighting conditions according to testimonies
- Humidity effects following scientific studies
Invisible Composition
The work in Nuke included:
- Perfect integration of archive material
- Color correction to maintain temporal coherence
- Image treatment to match old cameras
- Subtle but precise atmospheric effects
A Technical and Human Legacy
This project established new standards for:
- Responsible historical recreations
- Collaboration between VFX artists and forensic experts
- Ethical use of visual effects in real dramas
- Progressive deterioration simulation techniques
UPP demonstrated that visual effects can be as powerful in what they omit as in what they show, always prioritizing truth over spectacle.