HBO’s The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The show is an an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States. The cast is led by Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Ky Duyen and Sandra Oh. Robert Downey Jr., serves as executive producer and plays multiple roles.
As a primary visual effects provider, Ingenuity Studios (www.ingenuitystudios.com) delivered 212 shots across the limited series.
According to production-side VFX supervisor Chad Wanstreet, Ingenuity Studios was assigned the bulk of the work for the series, including pyrotechnics, creature effects, digital face replacements, water simulations, set extensions and compositing.
“I started sending Ingenuity Studios script bids early,” he recalls. “For example, we needed to figure out what the crocodile in Episode 104 would look like and the Ingenuity team went straight to work, identifying an array of photos showing crocodiles that were correct to the geography, with different textures and sizes. This was when we weren't sure if we were even going to use the crocodile. They also provided National Geographic videos and animation tests. So, by the time we decided the crocodile was definitely happening, Ingenuity already had a jump start. When I work with Ingenuity, I know I'm working with team players that are all in for the show. They are consistently an amazing partner. That matters to me.”
“We prefer to be involved early and proactive, rather than reacting to the needs of the show,” adds Ingenuity VFX supervisor Jack Wesson.
Executive producer Hallana Paula Barbosa concurs.
“We made a point to send early concepts and laid out videos to Chad to show how invested we are in our collaboration, and to keep things moving.”
Some of the studio’s work included face replacements for actor Robert Downey Jr.’s characters.
“Director Park (Chan-wook) was very happy with the face replacements in Episode 103, where four of Robert’s characters show up in a continuous shot in the lounge,” Wanstreet explains. ‘We all felt that Jack and the team crushed it.”
In the very last scene, all five of Robert Downey Jr.'s characters show up.
“We weren't exactly sure how we wanted that to play out but we had thoughts around the intention of the scene,” says Wanstreet. “So, I gave Ingenuity a bunch of plates and they sent back four versions of concepts. Director Park reviewed those the second that they arrived and immediately selected one of the concepts. This is the moment that you see with the five characters morphing together. It's a visually impressive moment, and team Downey loved this – so much so that they wanted to know who was behind the work. I was happy to tell them it was Ingenuity Studios.”
“Having worked together for many years, both Jack and I have a shorthand for ‘Chad speak,’” notes Barbosa. “Often we hear ourselves saying ‘Chad is going to want this.’ It's an automatic instinct. I was on-set in Los Angeles for the crocodile in the pool, and then in Thailand for Episode 101, where Bangkok becomes Saigon. Getting to know director Park was an incredible experience. Seeing that he was all smiles for the crocodile work was a great moment.”