In Étoile, the latest creation from Emmy-winning duo Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, viewers are transported into the world of elite ballet with a stellar cast led by Charlotte Gainsbourg and Luke Kirby. Set between New York City and Paris, the series follows two world-renowned ballet companies as they attempt to preserve their legacies through an audacious exchange of star performers. The story leaps between continents, cultures, and performances, weaving together drama, ambition, and artistic rivalry with the signature wit and style of its acclaimed showrunners.
Shot both on location and in studio, the series required a vast array of visual effects. Working under the guidance of VFX Supervisor Lesley Robson-Fosterl, our team at The Yard was tasked with enhancing close to 100 shots across five episodes. Our mandate ranged from subtle digital matte paintings of SoHo streets and Parisian backdrops to one of the most ambitious sequences in the series: a near 3000-frame storm-at-sea scene.
SCOPE OF WORK
Crafting the Storm
One of the most technically ambitious sequences of the series appears in Episode 1, where a small boat—led by one of the main characters, an Etoile dancer who is also an environmental activist—attempts to intercept and board a massive trawler during a storm at sea. Shot as a continuous Steadicam take in a water tank facility in Belgium, the scene required a seamless fusion of practical effects and digital enhancements to achieve a heightened sense of realism and drama.
To create the illusion of a rough, open sea around the scaled ship set, our team digitally extended the practical ecoboat, introduced a fully CG trawler, and developed custom FX systems to simulate ocean and rain dynamics. These digital elements were carefully synchronized with the practical water jets and the subtle motion generated by the rolling platform on set—ensuring perfect alignment between physical and virtual movement.
Every detail of the environment was meticulously crafted, from FLIP simulations and ocean spectrum modeling to procedural foam generation and particle-based volumetric systems that brought rain, mist, and sea spray to life.
Adding another layer of realism, we created a digital fishing net filled with animated CG fish, which interacted convincingly with both the environment and the actors. The result: a visceral, uninterrupted shot that blurs the boundaries between on-set filming and invisible VFX artistry.
Invisible Enhancements, Everywhere
While the storm-at-sea sequence was undoubtedly the most technically demanding, much of our work throughout the series was deliberately subtle, designed to blend effortlessly into the storytelling across the five episodes we contributed to. These invisible effects played a key role in maintaining continuity, mood, and visual authenticity.
Our tasks included:
- Digital set compositing for the port scenes in Episode 1 and SoHo street views
- Poster and LED billboard insertions on the façade of the Paris theater in the final episode
- Background replacements and environmental integration across various scenes
Many shots also required full compositing passes and precise color grading, particularly those needing an autumnal atmosphere in Episodes 7 and 8.
In addition to large-scale effects, we also focused on fine detail work — such as digitally replacing a post-it note across shots or even cloud reflection on the front window of a jet cockpit.
Every enhancement, no matter how small, was carefully crafted to support the visual narrative without drawing attention to itself — proof that the most effective visual effects are often the ones the audience never notices.
