The Gilded Age - Season 2

As one of the lead VFX partners for the second season of ‘The Gilded Age’, DNEG worked on 277 shots across all eight episodes of Season 2. The team created rich environments that brought the majesty and richness of the Gilded Era to life. Key work included the creation of a CG steam train, fireworks show and many environment shots of iconic New York City spots. The challenge was to ensure we created an authentic picture of the era. The team also delivered numerous crowd shots, including complex scenes depicting rioters at a steel mill, and crowds of opera attendees.

The DNEG team designed and animated a full CG train that is used across some of the show’s most important episodes, complete with steam, smoke, and dust.

Fireworks of that time were not as colourful or as synchronised as we see today, the team created an authentic display including interactive smoke FX and had to fine tune the explosions of the fireworks to keep an appearance true to the age.

The team also worked to craft city and rural views of New York City as they would have appeared in the Gilded Age, including key locations such as 61st Street, Wall Street, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Metropolitan Opera House in various stages of its construction.