A New Era for Stunt Doubles: The ‘Halo’ Camera Rig Revolutionizes Twin Shots in “Sinners”

A groundbreaking camera rig has been developed for Ryan Coogler’s film Sinners, transforming how stunt doubles are used in scenes featuring an actor playing dual roles. This innovation, known as the Halo camera rig, was specifically designed to address the challenges of filming complex interactions between twin characters—both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan—while ensuring safety and realism during stunt-heavy sequences.

“Imagine a harness equipped with a ring holding an array of 10 to 12 cameras that wraps around the face of an actor. It allowed the crew to record the actor’s entire head performance from multiple angles.”

How the Halo Rig Works

• Multi-Camera Array: The Halo rig is a wearable harness fitted with a circular array of 10 to 12 cameras positioned around the actor’s face.
• 3D Performance Capture: This setup captures the actor’s facial expressions and head movements from every angle, creating a detailed 3D model of the performance.

• Stunt Double Integration: For scenes requiring intense physicality or dangerous stunts, a stunt double performs the body movements. The captured 3D facial performance of Michael B. Jordan is then superimposed onto the stunt double’s body in post-production, allowing for seamless and realistic twin interactions that would be impossible with traditional split-screen methods.
• Enhanced Safety and Realism: By using the Halo rig, filmmakers can safely film action sequences without risking the lead actor, while also maintaining the authenticity of the performance in scenes where the twins interact physically.

The Impact on Filmmaking

The combination of classic split-screen techniques and the Halo rig’s advanced 3D capture technology enabled the Sinners team to:

• Film intricate and believable interactions between the twin characters.
• Allow Michael B. Jordan to add nuanced performances to both roles, even in scenes involving complex stunts.
• Push the boundaries of what’s possible in visual effects and stunt work by blending practical action with digital artistry.

This innovative approach has set a new standard for films featuring actors in dual roles, particularly in action genres where physical interaction between doubles is essential. The Halo rig’s introduction in Sinners highlights the ongoing evolution of filmmaking technology and the creative solutions that keep pushing cinematic storytelling forward.