"The Lagos Heist" has been praised for its breathtaking action sequences, and what makes them even more impressive is that they were achieved almost entirely without computer-generated effects.
Director Kayode Peters sat down with NollywoodCV to explain his approach: "I believe audiences can feel the difference between a real stunt and a CGI one. There's a weight and impact to practical effects that digital work can't replicate."
The film's signature chase sequence through Ikoyi was filmed over five nights with a team of 12 stunt coordinators and 30 extras.
"We rehearsed that chase for three weeks before we ever turned on a camera," Peters explains. "Safety was paramount, but so was authenticity."
The production team also built a full-scale replica of a bank vault set in a warehouse in Ikeja, which was destroyed in a controlled explosion for the film's climactic scene.
"That vault set took six weeks to build and 30 seconds to blow up," laughs Peters. "But those 30 seconds are worth it."
Behind the Scenes
How the Stunts in "The Lagos Heist" Were Filmed Without CGI
Director Kayode Peters reveals the painstaking practical effects work that made the film's action sequences feel so visceral and real.