Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit was my first film with Kenneth Branagh as director, and also gave me another opportunity to work with my favourite Second Unit Director, Vic Armstrong. It was one of those productions I remember simply as a good job with good people.

One of the biggest challenges for the Special Effects department was a courtyard sequence requiring a 360-degree Steadicam shot in heavy rain. There was no practical access for the plant and equipment we would normally position around the set, so the entire rain system had to be brought in over the top of the surrounding buildings.

We ended up installing 24 overhead spinner heads, creating the single largest overhead rain rig I had used on a film up to that point. Because the rig had to sit so high above the courtyard roofline, we needed an extraordinary amount of water and pressure to maintain the density of rain by the time it reached the performers. If you watch the finished sequence, the rain is incredibly heavy — the pumps were working right on the limit to deliver it.

We also designed and rigged a pod-driven car, allowing the vehicle to be driven remotely while the actors concentrated entirely on their performance inside. Some of the development and testing for that system can be seen below.

A technically interesting job, but above all a really enjoyable production — working with Ken for the first time and once again alongside Vic made it particularly memorable.