Stunning visual effects in World Invasion

MANILA, Philippines - In Columbia Pictures’ sci-fi action thriller World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles, the City of Angels is destroyed by unknown alien force... and visual effects supervisor Everett Burrell.

Preparing to do his worst, Burrell flew in a helicopter between San Diego and Los Angeles, taking digital photos of the southland — wide shots that would become the background plates for the film for Burrell to use as a tool of his trade. “Once (director) Jonathan Liebesman had chosen the shots he liked, we could add smoke, fire and city destruction,” Burrell explains.

But making the destruction was just the beginning — Burrell and his team were also responsible for creating the destroyers. Liebesman collaborated with a team of artists to create the aliens and bring his vision to life. “It’s always difficult to get the design down because there are endless possibilities,” says Burrell. “CGI allowed us to tinker with the look all through production, until he was completely satisfied.”

World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles is now showing nationwide.