Apple TV+’s The Lost Bus is nominated for Best Visual Effects at the 98th Academy Awards. We are joined by Special Effects Coordinator Brandon K. McLaughlin on the film to discuss his work. Starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera, this visceral docudrama relives the 2018 Camp Fire that ravaged Paradise, California, following a bus driver and teacher racing to save 22 schoolchildren.
Facing the challenge of recreating the deadliest wildfire in California history, Brandon spearheaded a seamless fusion of practical and visual effects. His team constructed six massive fire sets on a Santa Fe backlot, and collaborated with VFX supervisor Charlie Noble to ensure practical flames set the standard for digital effects, creating a fire that felt indistinguishable from reality, per Greengrass’s vision.
When I talked to Paul [Greengrass] for the first time, I said, “I think the best way to approach this and attack this is I give you as much [fire] as physically possible.” We all collectively made sure that there was physical fire in every single scene so that Visual Effects had something to build off of. So when we approached scenes, and we broke scenes down, I would say with our Visual Effects guy, Charlie Noble, I have this, you have this.
The Lost Bus premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025, and received a limited theatrical release in the United States on September 19. The film made its streaming debut on Apple TV+ on October 3.
Feature Image credit to Apple Studios
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