The sixth and final season of LOST debuted on Blu-ray/DVD this week (Walt Disney Home Ent.) along with a complete series set.
The sixth and final season of LOST debuted on Blu-ray/DVD this week (Walt Disney Home Ent.) along with a complete series set. It looks stunning in 1080p, from the beaches and ruins, jungles, underwater moments, not to mention the trippy flash sideways sequences and creepy Smokey.
Look Effects took on more than 350 vfx shots alone for the finale, and the entire season was a challenge embraced by Adam Avitabile, the visual effects supervisor and the crew.
I couldn't drastically change the look [of Smokey] but, for me, I always wanted to put a little bit more character into Smokey through animation," Avitabile says. "We did some subtle things where, depending on the scene, he's not so much this freight train running through everything. He's looking out for that person first, finds him and then zeroes in on him. It makes a slight difference."
That's not to suggest that the final season was devoid of fantastical vfx, but the flash sideways component, for instance, was done without flash. "When a character looks into a mirror, you have the reflection and the character," Avitabile offers. "That's a neat way of representing the duality, but in general, they kept those two existences fairly separate to a certain degree and within the filmmaking and the storytelling."
The biggest vfx sequence (175 shots) happened at the end when the remaining survivors try to escape the island by plane during the destruction, with a wide shot of some of the bluffs falling into the ocean.
Special features for include: • Audio commentaries on four episodes: o LA X o Dr. Linus o Ab Aeterno o Across The Sea • Bloopers • Deleted scenes • The End: Crafting a Final Season • A Hero's Journey – What makes a hero? • See You in Another Life, Brotha: unlocks the mysteries of this season's intriguing flash sideways • LOST on Location: • Epilogue: new chapter of the island's story from executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse The Complete Collection collectible packaging also includes: a Special Edition collectible "Senet" Game as seen in Season Six, a custom Lost island replica, an exclusive episode guide, a collectible Ankh, and a black light penlight.
Special features for The Complete Collection include: • All bonus materials from seasons 1-6 • A unique series of featurettes that takes viewers on very personal tours of Oahu where the series was created, with key cast and crew as they reflect. • Exploring the global phenomenon that is Lost, bonus showcases events ranging from the series cast and crew at San Diego's famed Comic-Con convention to international voice recordings, local events and even fan parties, all of which helped make the show into a worldwide favorite. • A closer look at some of the props with cast, writers and producers, exploring their significance, stories and emotional ties to the characters. • Humorous-yet-emotional look at every character who died on the series • Sixteen "Slapdowns" featurettes showcasing celebrity Lost fans who confront executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse to ask press questions about the final season, including the Muppets and cast members Nestor Carbonell, Michael Emerson, Rebecca Mader and more.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
