Focus is a 2015 American romantic crime dark comedy-drama film written and directed by Glenn Ficarra andJohn Requa, starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Rodrigo Santoro.
Apollo Robbins served as a consultant, conceiving and choreographing original sleight-of-hand maneuvers. Directors Ficarra and Requa stated, "Apollo is the foremost expert in his field and is an inspiration to us."
The directing duo and production designer Beth Mickle made a scouting trip to Buenos Aires in June and a second trip with producers Denise Di Novi and Mark Scoon, in which they finally settled to shoot in the neighborhoods of San Telmo, Puerto Madero, Barracas, Retiro, Recoleta and Palermo, as well asEzeiza Airport and a few hotels.
Neil Smith spoke at the Digital Cinema Society forum dropping several hints as to the identity of a film being edited in Final Cut Pro X in a December 2013 presentation. This would make Focus the largest production yet completed in Apple's editing program.
Filming
Principal photography began on September 14, 2013 in New Orleans, and moved over to Buenos Aires on November 19, 2013 for three weeks. The last day of shooting in Argentina was on December 10. Filming wrapped in New York City on December 17, 2013.
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Cast
- Will Smith as Nicky Spurgeon
- Margot Robbie as Jess Barrett
- Rodrigo Santoro as Garriga
- Gerald McRaney as Bucky Spurgeon/Owens
- B. D. Wong as Liyuan Tse
- Robert Taylor as McEwen
- Dominic Fumusa as Jared
- Brennan Brown as Horst
- Griff Furst as Gareth
- Adrian Martinez as Farhad
- Alfred Tumbley as Dogs
- Billy Slaughter as Passing Thief
- Juan Minujin as Barman