The 2010 thriller Black swanStarring Natalie Portman, gets widespread praise for its Clever use of computer-generated effects. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the film about ballerina Nina Sayers loses her grip on reality amid the pressure to compete for the dual roles of the White and Black Swans in Swan Lake was a hit with both critics and audiences upon release. The imagery used to convey Nina’s unraveling leaves a lasting impression, and the VFX that made it happen has impressed professionals 14 years later.
In their latest entry in their VFX reaction series, Corridor crew Members Sam Gorski, Wren Weichman and Jordan Allen discuss a scene in which Portman’s Nina looks at a reflection of herself while standing between two mirrors. Rather than the endless reflections one would normally see, one of Nina’s reflections scratches her shoulder, and then turns back to her. After some back-and-forth guessing as to how it was done, Allen was able to break down the shot and what made it extra challenging:
They are filming from behind a reciprocal mirror, and then for the element of you in the reflection, which is shot on green [screen]. They agree with the light. The same camera move, but interestingly enough, it’s just a guessed camera move… Since it’s not motion control, meaning both camera motions are identical, the compositor has to stabilize one shot and then track it in the original shot. They blend in just the right shoulder of her arm after the interaction is complete with the woman, which is a great subtle way of introducing it, and then they use the wipe of the head to transition away… super well done.
What the VFX meant to Black Swan
The film’s subtle approach meant better immersion
Black Swan was nominated for nearly 200 awards when it was released, including a BAFTA nomination for Best Visual Effects. The visual effects were handled by Look Effects, Inc. and was headed by visual effects supervisor Dan Schrecker. Schrecker, who went to film school with Aronofsky, Helped promote the film and further improved the psychological thriller.
This approach to VFX allowed the audience to truly believe in the world that was presented, even when the images became impossible.
While some of the movie’s 250 VFX shots, such as Nina’s transformation into an actual black swan on stage in Black Swans ending, are very well known, many are subtle, if noticed at all. This groundedness is crucial to the overall effect of the film, as the audience experiences Nina’s break with reality from her perspective, and her hallucinations have to act as if they are real. This approach to VFX allowed the audience to really believe in the world that was presented, even when the images became impossible.
Our take on the visual effects in Black Swan
A key part of a masterpiece by Darren Aronofsky
Black swan was another feather in the cap of director Darren Aronofsky. The Academy Award-nominated filmmaker has made a career out of creating surreal and often disturbing films, but each has an element of relatability that draws in audiences. In the case of Black SwanHe used visual effects to help further illustrate Nina’s descent into madness, and the mirror scene highlighted here is a great example of how successful this strategy was.
Source: Corridor crew