If only filming on the water was easy and convenient.
But sticking Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan on a ship in the middle of the Indian Ocean isnt feasible.
All they needed was the appearance of an ocean.
David Bloomer/Starz
The page count was funny [inVoyager], executive producer Matthew B. Roberts tells EW.
I think there was 104 pages, and 6 pages are on land.
When I first did the tally, a little aneurysm started in my head.
David Bloomer/Starz
I was like, I dont know how were gonna do it.
Thats just so much on the water, and we want to do it great.
But it just so happened that on the same web connection, a drama with ships!
David Bloomer/Starz
Can we use em?
Do we have to revamp em?
And it ended up working out perfectly, timing-wise.
David Bloomer/Starz
EW obtained this exclusive video and behind-the-scenes shots that demonstrate how those soggy scenes were executed.
This year was much heavier in visual effects than weve ever had, admits Roberts.
The Artemis has short gunnels (or sides), which required heavy use of special effects.
David Bloomer/Starz
The difference between the Porpoise and the Artemis is the gunnels.
When you are on Porpoise, the gunnels are high.
So if you are standing next to them, you dont see the water.
Starz
We get a free shot.
Those arent free, so thats where the green screens come in.
Thats a mighty tall crane, or two, or six.
Ruven Afanador for EW; OUTLANDER TYPE BY LUKE LUCAS
Normally at a shoot, we get a crane out for a day, explains Roberts.
We had 14 to 15 cranes every day.
The production used gimbals to make it seem like the ships were rocking.
At first everybody up there was going, Oh, this is great.
Then about five seconds later, we were like, This is not so great.
The resulting scenes aboard the ships continue to amaze Roberts.
You know, there was no water for miles.
Even seeing this and how its done and built and looking at mock-ups, Im still amazed.
Its truly movie magic.
