Digital Domain built the entire KC-135 digitally after conducting an intricate survey of the actual plane, obtaining reference photos and the plane's physical dimensions, as well as researching actual videos of KC-135 plane landings. The digital production team, led by VFX Supervisor Eric Barba (VFX Supervisor on "TRON: Legacy") then worked closely with Kosinski to determine stall speed and the kinds of real interactions that would take place between the car and the ground to make the spot wholly believable. Barba's team took care to ensure the tracking was just right, so the camera matches precisely with the live-action to maintain believability. Digital Domain also added atmospheric effects -- exhaust, heat coming off engines, and dust, as well as some sky replacement.
BMW "Refuel"
Directed by: Joe Kosinski
Agency: Grey West
Executive Creative Director: Jack Fund
Creative Director: Michael Wilde
Producer: Florence Babbitt
Account Director: Duccio Brandonisio
Production Company: Anonymous Content
Director: Joe Kosinski
Executive Producer: Jeff Baron
Head of Production: SueEllen Clair
Producer: Julien Lemaitre
Production Supervisor: Jeff Michael
Director of Photography: Alwin Küchler
Animation & Visual Effects by: Digital Domain
President of commercial Division: Ed Ubrich
Executive Producer: Tanya Cohen
VFX Supervisor: Eric Barba
CG Supervisor: Tim Jones
VFX Producer: Kait Boehm
VFX Coordinator: Cedric Williams
Digital Artist: Hnedel Maximore
Digital Artist: Brian Creasey
Digital Artist: Derek Crosby
Flame Artist: Lisa Tomei
Compositor: Kym Olsen
Compositor: Dan Cobbett
Tracking: Michael Lori
On Set Tracking: Marco Maldonado
Editing By: Union Editorial
President/Executive Producer: Michael Raimondi
Editor: Jim Haygood
Assistant Editor: Dylan Firshein
Sound Design by: Mit Out Sound
Sound Designer: Ren Klyce
Sound Design Producer: Misa Kageyama
Sound Mixing by: Lime Studios
Mixer: Loren Silber
Assistant Mixer: Lindsey Alvarez