How 'The Last of Us' SFX Artists Created the "Infected" | Vanity Fair

"The irony of it is, I hate mushrooms." The Last of Us makeup designer and visual effects artist Barrie Gower breaks down the extensive work that went into bringing the terrifying fungi-controlled monsters to the screen. From gathering inspiration from the original video game created by Neil Druckmann to getting a full body scan of stunt performer Adam Basil for the Bloater suit, Barrie explains the whole process that went into creating every type of Infected.
Director: Anna O'Donohue
Director of Photography: Steve Montgomery
Editor: Evan Allan
Producer: Funmi Sunmonu
Line Producer: Romeeka Powell
Associate Producer: Rafael Vasquez
Production Manager: Natasha Soto-Albors, James Pipitone
Director, Talent : Lauren Mendoza
Camera Operator: Jess Averback
Production Assistant: Anne Schmitz
Post Production Supervisor: Edward Taylor
Post Production Coordinator: Jovan James
Supervising Editor: Kameron Key
Assistant Editor: Justin Symonds
Gaffer: James Foreman
Sound: Niall Farrelly
DIT: Abbie Lucas
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[@bluesteno64]

Mad MAD respect for Barrie. He and his team did a phenomenal job. I hope I can see these props in person someday.

[@peace4myheart]

The bloater was the best. I was yelling and screaming with joy when he came out of the ground.

[@bluesteno64]

SAME!!!! He was the best💙

[@laurenbendik2006]

Im amazed how they turned him into a digital file, enlarged him, and then put him in.

[@bluesteno64]

@@laurenbendik2006 apparently they also motion tracked Adam! There’s a brief clip in the new interview with Gower that shows Adam in a motion capture suit. They used so much effort for such a short scene.

[@jessetorres8738]

For those who haven't played the games, there are 5 stages of the Infected: Runners, Stalkers, Clickers, Shamblers, & Bloaters. The longer someone is infected, the more they become covered with the fungus.

[@MrAlienkiller]

Shambler isn't a stage, just a mutation as Ellie had never seen them before and they seem quite new to the world

[@andyharris3084]

Shamblers appear in Part 2 and are more of a conjointment of several bloaters with additional evolved traits (like the acid squirting).

[@zurilix]

i hate runners..

[@kristinaketelsen2271]

Love the name Clickers

[@benjaminstiles]

We don’t talk about “stage” 6

[@teruphoto]

0:01 You and me both. It was EXTREMELY satisfying to see the personification of mushrooms get blown away throughout the show 😂

[@flexivefowl8186]

The special effects in this show look better than most movies these days.

[@A_M_Bobb]

It doesn't. There's just the VFX you notice and the ones you don't.

[@ZuraStardust]

@@A_M_Bobbit does, you know nothing

[@Liremuse]

I think it has alot to do with the fact they did 90% practical effects on the sets and actors.

[@abraxasjinx5207]

​@@Liremusepractical effects will always be superior to CGI.

[@Starydayful]

It was so well done that I had to keep looking away😅

[@laurenbendik2006]

Fascinating!!! Amazing detail. Pedro wasnt kidding when he said ‘we’ll call this one olivier’ lol.

[@lizdierdorf]

can’t wait to see how they create The Rat King! ❤

[@JorgiePorgie2011]

I want that miniature bust of the clicker! So cool!

[@bluesteno64]

Wake up babe, new TLOU behind the scenes vid just dropped.

[@KillerTacos54]

Absolutely amazing

[@CuddFresh]

Very interesting. Great show!

[@genessisaleman8851]

WE HAVING A PART 3 ?!😭

[@Flintonda23]

Those things made my skin crawl

[@geoafe66]

deserves more views

[@MattWileyArt]

Just in time for lunch!

[@Langwidere903]

Why am I watching this while eating ugh

[@nickymejias5763]

the Paleontologist for fantisa were wrong it was a T-rex not allo and it said the stego were trying to poke the allo not the trex.

[@nasrullahkhan9172]

PRINCESS HAILEE 51 TRIBES MODEL HAILEE PASHTU SONGS

[@toddfagan7703]

Fearful people entertaining the fearless masses the sickos becoming teachers .what a joke I dont watch silly movies anyway

[@campbellalbertina]

Still prefer the game.

[@JensM-jc5dt]

Him saying "mold slimes", meaning slime molds, refering to them as mushrooms is a bit of a turn off.