For the upcoming feature film Last Breath, our team was tasked with creating one of the largest rocker rigs ever built – an ambitious project that pushed our creativity, problem-solving, and craftsmanship to the limit.
As always we set out to deliver show-stopping practical effects that would play a central role in immersing audiences in the film’s deep-sea drama, which included, a massive, custom-built rocker to simulate a ship’s movement at sea, plus a meticulously designed diving bell, recreated to capture the tension and realism of underwater sequences
The Rocker: one of the largest ever built
The rocker rig for Last Breath was a monster – not just in size, but in complexity. Built to support the weight of the entire set and simulate the motion of a vessel being tossed by waves, the rocker was designed, fabricated, and assembled in just five days on location in a shipping yard in Malta.
From the moment the steel framework arrived, it was a race against time. Every element had to be millimeter-precise: the welding, the hydraulic systems, the structural supports. With only a narrow window before cameras rolled, we worked around the clock to get it built and tested — all while navigating unpredictable weather and tight production schedules.
As Danny puts it:
“Time is our biggest enemy in Special FX. You can’t compromise on safety, precision, or performance – even when the clock’s against you.”
That pressure peaked just 24 hours before filming, when a critical piston failed during final checks. It was a heart-stopping moment – but thanks to the skill and quick thinking of the team, a replacement was sourced and fitted in record time, ensuring the shoot could go ahead as planned. The result? A fully functional, immersive gimbal that brought cinematic realism to the film’s most intense scenes.
The diving bell: creating an authentic underwater experience
Alongside the rocker, we also developed a diving bell set piece to recreate the confined, high-stakes atmosphere of deep-sea diving. This required not only a faithful reproduction of the bell’s interior and exterior, but also custom rigging to allow realistic movement and camera access.
The bell was engineered for maximum versatility – allowing it to be filmed from every angle, lit internally for dramatic effect, and moved in sync with the actors’ performances. We paid close attention to how materials responded to water, pressure effects, and confined-space acoustics to enhance realism on screen.
Practical effects like these are all about creating genuine tension – and audiences will feel the pressure and claustrophobia thanks to the physical environments we built
At Real SFX, we live for this type of challenge. We’re passionate about bringing physical, in-camera effects to life – from large-scale gimbals to intricate set pieces. The Last Breath rocker and bell builds pushed our team to innovate and adapt under pressure, and we couldn’t be prouder of the final results.
Whether it’s replicating the movement of the sea or the silence of the deep, we believe there’s no substitute for real, physical effects – and we’re thrilled to see our work come to life in such a powerful film.
Last Breath is now in cinemas – don’t miss it. And if you’re looking for a team that can deliver world-class gimbals and practical SFX, you know who to call.
