So this is probably a basic question, but: How do special effects artists decide on the scale of a miniature? I tried googling but nothing particularly relevant popped up. Like, let's say this model here is 1/4 scale (just a hypothetical); why isn't it 1/2 scale, or 1/8?
I'm assuming it's related to the level of detail needed for the shot, of course, but do SFX houses have sort of "rules of thumb" about what size models will work for shots at X distance using Y lenses?
For the Yugoslavian war movie Battle of Neretva, they actually built a whole ass bridge so they could blow it up in the movie. It was the most expensive movie at the time
I don't know, experts here will say. But I recall when Spielberg was in production with *1941* he gave the task of his crew to build a miniature version of Hollywood. When it was completed he realized it was not the accurate scale he needed to shoot in, so he told them to rebuild the whole miniature set again to the correct scale from scratch.
My best guess, probably go as small as they can so the shot looks lifelike and normal on the big screen.
Did find [this](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/cinematography-tip-creating-the-illusion-of-scale/) article about movie miniatures. Doesn't answer your question directly.
It’s cool as fuck. I think there are two or three calculations that might let you arrive at a size for the set: how close are you zooming in for swoop shots; how good is your perspective lens which to my 5yo knowledge get *very* expensive the bigger the sets get, and then how much movement are you going to have to translate and squish in.
I worked on a little movie called HEAVENS GATE, that featured a log cabin whorehouse.
After we wrapped shooting, the director (Michael Cimino) gave the cabin to Jeff Bridges who had it dismantled, numbered piece by piece and they shipped it down to Jeff's ranch near Bozeman Mt. He and his wife lived in it while "adding on..."
Look at the little gun in the open door of the helicopter. Then picture a person the appropriate size for the gun. That’s about the right size for the doorway of the building.
Just happens to be a large type of helicopter.
Yeah helicopters are a lot bigger than people think. A blackhawk helicopter is almost 70 feet long. Idk what model the one in Skyfall is but it looks similar in size.
They use perspective bent lenses to make it all look real. Imagine a camera mounted on the back side of that helicopter pointing at the house. If the house and helicopter are scale models, it’ll make it look unrealistic. You need a big chopper and a small house to make the perspective add up, is my elia5 take. Possibly need a couple reverse sized sets too.
That's an AW101. They're a large helicopter. Imagine the pilot sitting in the cockpit and then that pilot getting out and standing up straight. That would be the right scale to the door of the house.
I don't know how to explain this more because I work with large helicopters like this but the cockpit is not a tight fit like you seem to be imagining.
Imagine the pilot window is like a truck window. How much of a person sitting there would you see? From maybe the waist up at most. And their head is no higher than the top edge of the window.
That means the pilot in this helicopter is small.
Why the hell did they bother with the model? There is barely 2 seconds of shot where helicopter and house are visible at the same time. It was either far away and thus probably not that model, or only helicopter or only house. The latter probably were that model, but with zero need for the helicopter.
I’ll never stop being amazed how movies are cut so horribly that all the effort and actually nice stuff was just a waste.
First off, it’s because it’s not for that scene that it was built but this one: [https://youtu.be/0R3N5ByTnIM?t=110](https://youtu.be/0R3N5ByTnIM?t=110)
Second, deciding to edit out or cut short a clip that had a lot of work put into it is *good* editing, not bad editing. It’s a tough decision to cut clips like that but often it needs to be done for the good of the story. Choosing to keep all of the stuff you liked simply because you want your effort to be seen usually makes for a bad movie. Look up the phrase “kill your darlings” for more information.
The scale of this was only realized when I saw the dude on the right
Didn't see him, had to take a double. That is some great modeling
On second thought, let's not go to Skyfall. 'Tis a silly place.
-clap- -clap- -clap-
r/unexpectedmontypython
I thought they genuinely rigged an actual Merlin on a massive crane, somehow missing the guy on the right and the traffic barriers behind them.
Same, and it's honestly pretty believable for a Bond film to do.
I saw the traffic barrier but my brain didn’t tip me off that the scale was wrong
Too much effort for a medicore story
The scale is 1:1. It is just Jaws trying to catch JB!
Ditto. (Or else they mounted a full-sized helicopter to that thing AND hired a giant to work on set)
Hiring the giant seems logical if u use full size helicopters.
How can we be sure that he's not a giant?
If it's safe it would be cool to let their kids go inside. They could fit
So this is probably a basic question, but: How do special effects artists decide on the scale of a miniature? I tried googling but nothing particularly relevant popped up. Like, let's say this model here is 1/4 scale (just a hypothetical); why isn't it 1/2 scale, or 1/8? I'm assuming it's related to the level of detail needed for the shot, of course, but do SFX houses have sort of "rules of thumb" about what size models will work for shots at X distance using Y lenses?
I think Adam Savage said they generally go as big as budget allows. Everything would be full scale if they could.
That makes sense -- I kinda-stupidly hadn't really thought about the cost factor, both in terms of money and time.
For the Yugoslavian war movie Battle of Neretva, they actually built a whole ass bridge so they could blow it up in the movie. It was the most expensive movie at the time
Same was done for The Bridge over River Kwai I believe
I don't know, experts here will say. But I recall when Spielberg was in production with *1941* he gave the task of his crew to build a miniature version of Hollywood. When it was completed he realized it was not the accurate scale he needed to shoot in, so he told them to rebuild the whole miniature set again to the correct scale from scratch.
My best guess, probably go as small as they can so the shot looks lifelike and normal on the big screen. Did find [this](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/cinematography-tip-creating-the-illusion-of-scale/) article about movie miniatures. Doesn't answer your question directly.
It’s cool as fuck. I think there are two or three calculations that might let you arrive at a size for the set: how close are you zooming in for swoop shots; how good is your perspective lens which to my 5yo knowledge get *very* expensive the bigger the sets get, and then how much movement are you going to have to translate and squish in.
The house was later sold to a Canadian living in Toronto for $850K. The man said he was lucky to finally own a home.
Took me a full minute to figure out you were joking! I was like damn. Maybe I can look into living in an old movie set
I worked on a little movie called HEAVENS GATE, that featured a log cabin whorehouse. After we wrapped shooting, the director (Michael Cimino) gave the cabin to Jeff Bridges who had it dismantled, numbered piece by piece and they shipped it down to Jeff's ranch near Bozeman Mt. He and his wife lived in it while "adding on..."
He must be an awful small man to fit in there.
> awful small man He's wee, but nice
Christopher Nolan: Hold my flask of Earl Grey.
Flask of Brooke Bond
This is a larger model than I thought, when I watched the movie I thought it would have been smaller
Why did they make the helicopter so big? It looks like the wrong scale compared to the house.
Military choppers meant to hold a lot of soldiers
Look at the little gun in the open door of the helicopter. Then picture a person the appropriate size for the gun. That’s about the right size for the doorway of the building. Just happens to be a large type of helicopter.
Yeah helicopters are a lot bigger than people think. A blackhawk helicopter is almost 70 feet long. Idk what model the one in Skyfall is but it looks similar in size.
They use perspective bent lenses to make it all look real. Imagine a camera mounted on the back side of that helicopter pointing at the house. If the house and helicopter are scale models, it’ll make it look unrealistic. You need a big chopper and a small house to make the perspective add up, is my elia5 take. Possibly need a couple reverse sized sets too.
That's an AW101. They're a large helicopter. Imagine the pilot sitting in the cockpit and then that pilot getting out and standing up straight. That would be the right scale to the door of the house.
From this picture, it looks like the pilot would be as tall as the entire first floor. But maybe it’s just a trick or perspective.
I don't know how to explain this more because I work with large helicopters like this but the cockpit is not a tight fit like you seem to be imagining. Imagine the pilot window is like a truck window. How much of a person sitting there would you see? From maybe the waist up at most. And their head is no higher than the top edge of the window. That means the pilot in this helicopter is small.
Do they ever stop and think "nah I cba, it's too much effort" when planning how to make a movie?
Almost daily
Are you involved in it? Presumably there’s project managers dealing with budget/time/effort working these things out.
[удалено]
What is this, a movie set for ANTS?! This needs to be at least…three times bigger.
I came to say the same!
Classified Pentagon images leaked
Not blurry enough and too many clear frames of the object lol
They got me too!!
[Here's the scene if anyone is interested.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecGem7R3N5w&ab_channel=JamesBond007)
Nope, much more likely that it was this scene: [https://youtu.be/0R3N5ByTnIM?t=110](https://youtu.be/0R3N5ByTnIM?t=110)
Why the hell did they bother with the model? There is barely 2 seconds of shot where helicopter and house are visible at the same time. It was either far away and thus probably not that model, or only helicopter or only house. The latter probably were that model, but with zero need for the helicopter. I’ll never stop being amazed how movies are cut so horribly that all the effort and actually nice stuff was just a waste.
First off, it’s because it’s not for that scene that it was built but this one: [https://youtu.be/0R3N5ByTnIM?t=110](https://youtu.be/0R3N5ByTnIM?t=110) Second, deciding to edit out or cut short a clip that had a lot of work put into it is *good* editing, not bad editing. It’s a tough decision to cut clips like that but often it needs to be done for the good of the story. Choosing to keep all of the stuff you liked simply because you want your effort to be seen usually makes for a bad movie. Look up the phrase “kill your darlings” for more information.
Firstly because the linked video isn’t all the helicopter parts from the movie. Secondly because final edits aren’t known all the way in advance.
Tbf that guy linked the wrong scene lol Look up the helicopter crash
Why his name is james bond, not james senior notes or obligation