Page "Live Free or Die Hard" Paragraph 27

Digital Dimension worked on 200 visual effects shots in the film, including the sequence that shows characters John McClane and Matt Farrell crouching between two cars as another car lands on top of the other cars.

To achieve this effect, a crane yanked the car and threw it in the air onto the two cars that were also being pulled by cables.

The shot was completed when the two characters were integrated into the footage of the car stunt after the lighting was adjusted and CGI glass and debris were added.

In the same sequence, John McClane propels a car into a hovering helicopter, which crashes to the ground.

This was accomplished by first filming one take where an assassin with a rifle jumps from the helicopter, and in the next take the car is propelled into the stationary helicopter as it is hoisted by wires.

The final view of the shot overlays the two takes, with added CGI for the debris and moving rotor blades.

The company also assisted in adding cars for traffic collisions and masses of people for evacuations from several government buildings.