BlueBolt, led by VFX Supervisor Henry Badgett, delivered 280 visual effects shots as the primary vendor for the Disney+ murder-mystery series Shardlake. The studio’s primary focus was on seamless, invisible environment work, notably a CG rendition of the Saint Donatus Monastery, which serves as the series’ central setting. The exterior and interior of the monastery were established in the opening scenes and revisited throughout the show, requiring extensive digital enhancement.
BlueBolt faced the challenge of creating a versatile CG monastery that could be adapted to different filming locations across three countries, including Kreuzenstein Castle in Austria and Castelul Corvinilor in Romania. They also used mist effects to maintain a constant eerie, foreboding atmosphere, despite varied filming conditions. Additional VFX work included blood enhancements, mud effects, and digital matte paintings (DMP) of the Tower of London during the Tudor era.
George Ormond, Executive Producer at The Forge, praised BlueBolt’s contributions: “The central challenge with Shardlake was creating the world of an English Medieval Monastery when they no longer exist. We wanted it to be imposing, atmospheric, and set on desolate coastland. BlueBolt’s work was essential in piecing together the various filming locations and making them feel cohesive. Their ability to blend digital effects seamlessly into the real world was remarkable.”
