UNIT Studios and Eleven Film Craft Stunning CG for Paramount+ Series 'STAGS'

Fitzrovia based boutique Longform and Shortform Studio UNIT launches new Film & TV VFX Division and collaborates closely with ‘Sex Education' Production Company Eleven Film creating a CG Photoreal Gorilla and CG Environments for the thrilling new series STAGS, currently available to stream on Paramount+ UK. 

The gripping six-part drama, created by Daniel Cullen and helmed by acclaimed director David Kerr alongside director Giancarlo Sanchez, has been drawing in audiences with its intense narrative and compelling characters. UNIT worked closely, responsible for creating an engaging CG Gorilla and bringing further invisible VFX work to life.

STAGS follows the story of Stu (played by Nico Mirallegro), who heads to South America for his stag do with a group of his closest friends. The group anticipates a week of drink, debauchery and fun but their trip takes a dark turn. Instead of boarding a flight back to the UK, the Stags are sent to a lawless prison island run by two warring siblings. Friendships are pushed to the breaking point, and loyalties are tested as Stu and his mates face a harrowing fight for survival.

David Kerr, known for his BAFTA-winning work on JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN and INSIDE NO 9 (BBC) is the lead director and executive producer, alongside Golden Calf-winning director and associate producer Giancarlo Sanchez whose credits include ARES (Netflix), SANTOS and JOARDY SEASON.

Series Creator and co-executive producer, Daniel Cullen, brings his experience from shows such as BREEDERS (Sky) and BAD SISTERS (Apple TV+) to craft a story filled with unexpected twists and emotional depth. STAGS executive producers are Carissa Hope Lynch, Joel Wilson, Olivia Trench, and Jamie Campbell with Farah Abushwesha serving as producer. 

The production of STAGS saw UNIT’s new Film & TV VFX Team working closely with the talented team at Eleven Film - the contribution was vital to the visual storytelling, delivering 300 VFX shots across three episodes. 

UNIT assembled a dedicated team to bring to life a crucial element of the series - a Photoreal CG representation of a real Gorilla. UNIT’s VFX Supervisor Nuno Pereira led the team to enhance the most realistic movements, fur, eyes and overall emotive performance from the CG creature.

A second skilled, senior team excelled with all other invisible VFX work, ensuring seamless integration of effects across all environments and scenes. 

The total production period spanned 17 weeks and kicked off last year.

International distribution of STAGS is handled by Sony Pictures Television, expanding its reach to global audiences eager for fresh and thrilling content. STAGS is exclusively available on Paramount+ in the UK.

Nuno Pereira, UNIT VFX supervisor said, "Working on 'STAGS' was an exciting challenge, particularly bringing the CG Gorilla to life. Our team focused on achieving a photoreal and naturalistic look, which involved incredibly detailed animation and accurate lighting. We aimed to ensure the creature felt integral to the story, blending seamlessly with the live-action elements and enhancing the overall tension and drama of the series."

Amanda Luckwell, UNIT cofounder said, "We couldn’t be prouder to launch our new UNIT Film & TV VFX division with a hugely talented team of creature, character and environmental VFX artists. Our most recent work creating the CG creature in 'STAGS' required meticulous attention to detail. The complex Gorilla ‘El Niño’ fits seamlessly into the VFX environments we also brought to life, with seamless scene transitions - whereby our goal was to enhance the narrative without drawing attention away from it. The process was extensive, but it allowed us to create a truly emotive CG character and a variety of VFX environments that really elevated the storytelling."

Check out UNIT’s Making Of to hear more from their VFX supervisor Nuno Perieria on the creation of a CG Gorilla El Nino.