“The models and assets we got from Method were just the base of what we created for the shots,” explains Visual Effects Supervisor, Martyn Culpitt. Image Engine worked with a model of the White House and several models of the grounds and trees supplied by Method Studios, as a basis. Of the fifteen shots that make up the sequence, one was entirely computer generated. Two terrorists occupy the roof of the building, while military vehicles and crowds are starting to assemble on the ground. In the ‘takeover’ sequence, the establishing shot flies over the Washington Monument and reveals the White House. Both incorporated the White House, in its pristine and subsequently destroyed state, the surrounding environments, hard surface animation of helicopters and a digital cast of thousands.

This included two key sequences for the movie: the ‘Takeover’ of the White House and the ‘Aftermath’. Image engine supplied ninety-five shots in total. Ultimately, all of the preliminary discussions with Marc and Volker laid the groundwork for Image Engine’s involvement in “White House Down” because there was a mutual understanding of the kinds of visual effects methodologies that a vendor has to employ to achieve this level of complexity in full digital shots.” “So when the call came in, the company wasted no time in getting up and running. “Image Engine had previously had a great experience working with Volker Engel and Mark Weigert on a large creative previs sequence for the film “2012”,” recalls Walsh. Marc had recently seen “Zero Dark Thirty” and called Visual Effects Executive Producer Shawn Walsh to discuss that film and Image Engine’s work on it, since there was a lot of computer generated helicopter work to do for “White House Down”.

In late 2012, Mark Weigert from Uncharted Territory contacted Image Engine to talk about contributing visual effects for “White House Down”.

Cast of white house down