2. Avatar: The Way of Water
The popular director James Cameron’s long-awaited big-budget sequel to the 2009 film Avatar explores even more of the moon Pandora and, although visual effects technology is integral to this story. Most of the filming, which included live-action shots as well as performance capture shots, which are later enhanced digitally, was done at a studio in Wellington, New Zealand. They face a huge challenge while underwater filming, which took place at Manhattan Beach Studios in a 250,000-gallon tank of water measuring 120 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 30 feet deep, with a propeller system to create a 10-knot current. Kate Winslet even held her breath for an astounding seven minutes and 47 seconds during filming. Production designer “Dylan Cole”, said that he was responsible for designing the world of Pandora and its inhabitants.
Main filming locations: Stone Street Studios in Wellington, New Zealand, and Manhattan Beach Studios in Manhattan Beach, California.