Frankenstein's Laboratory: FX Shot

This is a Frankenstein’s laboratory scene inspired by the electrical effects work of Kenneth Strickfaden. I was inspired by Strickfaden’s tesla coils and other electrical machines and gadgets as seen in such films and serials as Frankenstein(1931), Bride of Frankenstein(1935) and The Mask of Fu Manchu(1932).

I wanted to recreate these spectacular electrical effects in CG. I started by creating a procedural model system for tower conductors and hanging conductors so that I could create as many conductors as I wanted at varying heights.

The bolts are particle-based with ray projections. Sparks were created with a simple particle system. The Jacob’s Ladder in the back left of the scene was created in a similar fashion.

The lab table was modeled in Maya with a sheet simulated with NCloth. The chains were simulated and modeled in Houdini. I created the various pyro simulations in Houdini.

The texturing work was done in Substance Painter. All the stonework in the shot is from Quixel Megascans.

The scene was rendered in Redshift 3 and I assembled the comp in Nuke.

If you want to learn about the life and work of Kenneth Strickfaden, I highly suggest the book: Kenneth Strickfaden: Dr. Frankenstein’s Electrician by Harry Goldman.
https://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-Strickfaden-Dr-Frankensteins-Electrician/dp/0786420642