Oppenheimer’s nuclear explosion will not be a digital effect: how did they get it?

It’s not long before Christopher Nolan’s next film. Oppenheimer opens July 21, played by Cillian Murphy. J. Robert Oppenheimerfather of the atomic bomb. It will be a biographical feature film about one of the most important moments in modern human history.

As was Christopher Nolan’s custom, he tried to use as few digital effects as possible during the recording of the film. This includes a nuclear explosion that will be visible on the screen. And behind the achievement is Scott R. Fisher (interstellar, terminator 2, True lies, titanic, Origin).

In an interview with Total JournalFisher discussed the problems of recreation for ‌Oppenheimer explosion with the visual characteristics of an atomic bomb in the safest possible way. They achieved this by using a large amount of chemical, but not nuclear, substances that mimic the mushroom cloud that forms after a detonation.

“Mostly it’s gasoline, propane and the like. We also use aluminum and magnesium powder to enhance the shine and give it a special look. We want everyone to talk about this brilliance, this radiance. . all the more possible.”

miniature explosions in Oppenheimer

Scott R. Fisher explained that the explosions that we will see on the screen during Oppenheimer These will be miniatures of real events that took place decades ago. Small enough to be safely recorded, but large enough to look believable.

“We make them as big as possible, but we make them smaller so that the recording team can work with them,” and, of course, no negative consequences.

Fisher has extensive experience in non-digital and practical visual effects, as well as co-producing with Christopher Nolan. Actually ‌Oppenheimer This will be the sixth time they have worked together. Source, Rise of the dark knight, interstellar, Dunkirk And Dogma.

Moreover, Fischer won two Oscars for visual effects thanks to the last two films he worked on with Nolan.

Oppenheimer opens July 21 in theaters worldwide. In addition to Cillian Murphy, it stars Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Jack Quaid, Josh Hartnett, Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, Alden Ehrenreich, Dane DeHaan and David Dastmalchian.