+44 (0)7968 613040 or +44 (0)7968 613030 info@elementsfx.co.uk
Writer - Nick Leather
Directors - JOhn Hayes / Jamie Magnus Stone
DOP - Arthur Mulhern
Production Designer - Tom Sayer
Elements special effects was hired to create multiple motion based train carriage sets for the BBC Action drama, Nightsleeper. This tv show follows a pair of strangers on a mission to rescue a train destined for disaster. Packed with action our expertise was required to sell to the audience that the train was real – which of course is truly a plywood set with weeks of work put into making it seem as though its the real thing.
The workshop was straight to work on creating a motion rig that could hold a 27 meter by 4 meter train carriage, carrying 40 actors crew and all the equipment required for filming. It was a huge task, which elements decided to go down the route of a pneumatically operated design. Our established special effects crew, were on set everyday to provide a gentle rocking motion for casual scenes, and a huge range of aggressive motions when the train was in peril.
So many action packed scenes would be unsafe to film on a real train, which is why elements got put in charge of replicating a lot of the exterior moving parts to this train. Arguably the best of these smaller builds was the exterior train coupler, this was photo accurate and fully functional - allowing the actors to truly immerse themselves in the action of decoupling a train. Whilst putting aside any hesitance of real danger, knowing that the Special effects department had built, and were operating a safe and fully controlled environment.
