Creating Warm Rain on Set of a Major Fantasy Feature: A Case Study

When the production team behind Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children began planning a key water-based scene, they had two main priorities: realism and comfort. The sequence required a consistent artificial rain effect – but with a key technical twist: the rain had to be warm.

Cold water wasn’t a viable option as this could impact the cast’s wellbeing. The team required bespoke heating and pumping that could easily operate on set, deliver consistent water temperature, and stay hidden behind the scenes. That’s when they turned to the Andrews Sykes team to deliver a fast and reliable solution.

What Challenges Did We Face?

Creating a heated rain effect on a film set presented a number of complex challenges that went beyond merely warming water. Key challenges we faced included:

• Consistent temperature control
• Integrated water circulation
• Priming of paddling pool used in the scene
• Silent operation
• Tight production schedules

How Did We Solve the Problems?

To effectively meet the needs of the production team, we delivered a complete heating and pumping package carefully tailored to the unique demands of the set. Our solution involved:

• Supplying a 250kW boiler hire unit
• Deploying a submersible pump to prime the pool
• Installing water circulation pumps
• Working closely with on-site production team
• Careful positioning of equipment out of view of cameras

The Results

Our solution performed flawlessly. The water temperature stayed comfortable throughout filming, and the visual effect looked seamless on screen. With no disruption to the production schedule, the crew could work efficiently, and the cast stayed comfortable even in extended scenes involving artificial rain.

By combining our heating and pump hire expertise, our engineers helped deliver a solution that was both technically complex and film-set ready. Our ability to respond quickly, install with care, and remain on hand for support helped the shoot progress without any issues.

If you’re working on a film or TV production and need specialist heating or water management support, we’re here to help.

Call us on 0800 211 611 or enquire online to find out how we can support your production.

Read more of our case studies here.