Hacks production uses VFX to transition final scene from Paris to Las Vegas

The production of the series 'Hacks' utilized complex visual effects and logistical coordination to execute its final scene. Director and co-creator Lucia Aniello detailed the process of transitioning characters Ava (Hannah Einbinder) and Deborah (Jean Smart) from the streets of Paris beneath the Eiffel Tower to the Las Vegas Strip under a replica of the landmark.

To achieve the seamless transition, the crew used in-camera superimposition, allowing the Steadicam operator to view the Las Vegas tower while filming in France, followed by VFX work during editing. The production also required extensive coordination with the Bellagio and Caesars Palace hotels to facilitate reshoots when the lighting and sky conditions were deemed unsatisfactory. The final shot utilized a drone to capture a dive toward the characters, timed specifically to coincide with the Bellagio fountains.