26.01.28 – Rocket Science VFX returned to Rian Johnson’s mystery of the week series POKER FACE, once again tackling complex FX sequences, environments and crowd work, delivering over 500 shots for Season Two.
“Similar to the first season, versatility was key, we knew each episode would bring unique challenges to help support the story of each case as it unfolded. The RS team was excited to work with the Production VFX Supervisor Sam O’Hare and Associate Producer Cameron Angeli once again. Thank you for your trust and collaboration”, says Executive VFX Producer, Christa Tazzeo.
Effects work took center stage at the scene of a murder in the Florida funeral home sequence in episode two, where RSVFX elevated the intensity of the internal blaze with CG smoke and fire designed to build across the scene.
Multiple fire and smoke simulations were created, isolating regions within the 3D layout of the funeral home to control behavior. Each section—roof collapse, hallway fire, stairwell smoke—had tailored settings for color, density, and movement to enhance the narrative progression of destruction. Additional 2D practical elements from plates and library were utilized to achieve the realistic look.
A key priority was timing and control. Rocket Science VFX Supervisor, Kayden Anderson notes, “It was important that the smoke spread the right way with the right timing.” Long simulations were developed to establish the flow of smoke, and the final look was refined through a layered approach. “We ended up with a two layered approach so that we could have the thick, dense, rolling smoke and additional top layer that had more dispersion and a more diffused look,” says Anderson. “This broke up the overly defined shapes and added a lot more depth to the smoke and environment.”
CG falling embers were layered in to further the realism, along with exterior CG smoke and pyro effects for the full fireworks display as the funeral home meets its demise.
Episode 11 body bag moment was a major creative and technical lift for the RSVFX team. The brief called for replicating a cadaver in a plastic body bag, which would fill with a liquid that breaks down the body for disposal.
The bag and liquid were recreated fully CG across the sequence. Anderson explains, “We created a CG body with the plate photography reprojected for the body. There were multiple layers of simulation to get the right look and motion of the liquid in the bag.”
To help define the look, the team pulled references from an unexpected place. “We drew reference from the sous vide process of cooking,” says Anderson. “The liquid was a combination of a thick soap-like material with a sulfuric color to it. We also used some practical photography reference as a guide when designing the look of the bag.”
“The big challenge was getting accurate animation of the bag and liquid. There were a lot of time jumps in the cut that we had to find ways to reconcile. The combination of the bag filling, but also retracting was a tricky balance.”
Alongside the FX-heavy sequences, RSVFX delivered environment and set extension work across various locations, including the lakeside boathouse extensions.
Digital crowd support was called on to extend what was captured practically in the Alabama Cheesemongers minor league baseball sequence in episode five. The goal was to recreate a lively game atmosphere with subtle variations and movement across the field and stands, adding additional spectators where needed while keeping the scale connected to the plate photography supervised by the RS team on-set.
Attention was placed on behavior of the extras and continuity of the crowd. CG spectators were designed to react naturally to events in the scene, with wardrobe colors, specific props like flags, foam fingers and cheese hats, and movement patterns closely matched to the practical extras. This approach allowed transitions between live-action and CG elements to remain seamless.
From the creative mind of writer/director/producer of the hit movies KNIVES OUT and GLASS ONION, Rian Johnson, POKER FACE is a 10-episode mystery of the week series following Emmy nominated Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale, who has the extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. She hits the road in her Plymouth Barracuda and with every story encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve.
POKER FACE is produced by T-Street, MRC and Animal Pictures and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. Nora and Lilla Zuckerman serve as Showrunners and Executive Producers. Other Executive Producers include Ram Bergman, Nena Rodrigue and Iain B. MacDonald, alongside Maya Rudolph and Danielle Renfrew Behrens as Co-Executive Producers.
Watch POKER FACE season 1 and 2 on CBC Gem in Canada and Peacock in the US.