Visual Effects with a Range Rover in Scotland

Satellite Drop, a short film about a young US Marine on his first deployment to a military intelligence base in Scotland. The comedy was filmed in Southern California with visual effects to simulate the rugged landscape of Scotland.

We met at 5am at a San Diego Fire-Rescue training facility.  In order to get the crane shot Mike Towe, of M2 Digital Post, and Mike Brueggemeyer, of the Amalgamated Grommets) operated a DJI Osmo camera on the end of a boom pole.

Later in post production, the background with palm trees was tracked and replaced with a photograph of a Scottish landscape. The Land Rover was rotoscoped and replaced into the scene. Fog and atmosphere was added to help blend the scene together. Finally, the clip was graded to match the film.

Satellite Drop is a short film based on the true story of a young US Marine on his first tour of duty in Scotland. PFC Johnston (played by J Vasko-Benezek) and Sergeant Wright (played by Justin Savage) are tasked with Satellite Drop Duty. Their task takes them from one end of the base to the other to retrieve a canister of intelligence and deliver it to the Watch Officer (played by Jennie Olson Six) before time runs out.

Thanks to:

• Brueggemeyer.com
• M2 Digital Post
• Amalgamated Grommets
• Land Rover Club of San Diego
• San Diego Film Office
• San Diego Fire-Rescue Department