According to Prime Focus VFX President and Senior Visual Effects Supervisor Chris Bond, “This sequence was particularly challenging because we weren’t relying on any aerial photography, which would be nearly impossible to shoot at these speeds. Instead, we opted to create nearly everything digitally – the plane, sky, clouds and the destructive Nanomites that eat away the plane.”

In short, Prime Focus used footage of actor Marlon Wayans shot on set in a chair with only the practical cockpit around him, then digitally built the Night Raven plane including its inner-workings and engine, which are revealed as the Nanomites eat away the metal.

Visual Effects Designer/Supervisor Ken Nakada heads up the digital matte painting and 3D environment department in Los Angeles, along with support from Environments Lead Rob Ward, to create the CG sky and clouds using a combination of fluid dynamics, matte painting, CG simulation and particle simulation. Prime Focus also created missile contrails and built the White House and Potomac River entirely in CG.