Simon Stanley-Clamp from Cinesite supervised the visual effects for Crime 101, working from the start with director Bart Layton. They sought a contemporary style that evoked the aesthetic of 1960s chases, taking classics like Bullitt as reference. The VFX, coordinated with Layton and Working Title, were designed as subtle and integrated elements, far from the usual excess.
A Russian arm and digital elements for a smooth highway shot 🎬
A complex shot showing a casual encounter between vehicles on the highway was resolved by combining practical and digital techniques. A Russian arm mounted on a chase car was used to capture the base movement. In post-production, Cinesite artists worked on the integration and digital extension of the 101 highway environment, achieving a continuous and natural transition between real and computer-generated elements.
Hollywood, your explosions embarrass us 😏
While other films spend millions blowing cars up every five minutes, the Crime 101 team focused on the really difficult part: making their work unnoticeable. Their greatest VFX feat isn't a crash, but getting the audience to leave the theater wondering if there were any effects. An approach so risky it almost seems illegal in today's industry.