Pennyworth S2

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Our client asked us to provide floor effects, special props and pyrotechnics for the second series of alternate-history spy drama, Pennyworth. The origin story of Alfred Pennyworth, who later in the DC universe becomes Batman’s butler, plays out against backdrop of a 1960s London overrun by the fascist Raven Union – a scenario offering plenty of scope for stylised atmospherics and stunning set piece effects.

Project Breakdown

Artem provided a standby floor effects team for all episodes of Season 2, bringing in additional support for ‘SFX heavy’ days and set piece work. The drama makes much use of pyrotechnics, particularly in its explosive finale, and required rain, wind, atmospherics, custom makes and rigs.

Hall of Mirrors effect

For a scene in a traditional fairground attraction Artem created and tested a scenic structure, built from panels of breakaway mirror glass supported on a steel frame, which the protagonists crash through while fighting.

Wheelchair Prop

Artem adapted an existing vintage wheelchair supplied by the art department, making it electrically driven, and adding dressing and an air powered dummy ventilator system.

Pyrotechnics - Set Pieces

Artem effects during Season 2 included an exploding car, bullet hits against a coffin, pub explosion, a high building explosion and street mortars.

Car Explosion

Hall of Mirrors

Pub Explosion set-up

Forest Atmospherics - lay-flat setup

Forest Atmospherics

Branch Rig

Haze Lighting Effects in Church

Testing Pyro Effects at Artem

Fire and Pyrotechnics

Pyrotechnics for Street Battle

Pyrotechnic Set-up

Fire in Grate

Behind the Scenes - Fireplace Ducting

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Branch Rig

Our makers moulded and cast a realistic tree branch and designed a spring-rig for a forest scene.

Atmospherics

Artem's standby team created atmospheric effects including haze in a church interior, lay-flat mist set-ups in a forest, wide shots of morning mist on an airfield, general exterior scenes, smoky street scenes during and post the finale battle, and wide-shot rain scenes - using building-mounted rain rigs.

“

Working on a production like Pennyworth is enormously rewarding for an SFX company. Our technicians get to work across such a wide variety of effects, many of which are designed and tested in our West London workshops.

Toby Stewart

Managing Director, Artem

Pennyworth 2 was produced by Warner Horizon Television and was shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and various UK locations.

Season 2 premiered on Epix (US) in December 2020 and was released in the UK on Starzplay (via Amazon Prime) in 2021. All episodes now available. View the trailer here.