Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- The Challenge of The Rock’s Physique in VFX 2.1 Slimming Down and Bulking Up 2.2 Transitioning from Real DJ to Digidouble 2.3 Digital Painting and Augmentation 2.4 Stuntman Scenes
- Building Up The Rock 3.1 Creating CGI Versions of Characters 3.2 The Importance of 3D Scans 3.3 Physique Fluctuations and Retopologizing
- Virtual Mass 4.1 Achieving the Illusion of Weight 4.2 Selling “Strength” 4.3 Preestablishing Object Weight 4.4 Newton’s Third Law and Interaction
- Sculpting The Rock 5.1 Stand-In Actor and Face Transformation 5.2 Faking Punches in Slow Motion 5.3 Agility and Speed Challenges in Flight Scenes
- Conclusion
The Challenge of The Rock’s Physique in VFX
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is known for his impressive physique, but in the movie Black Adam, his body posed a unique challenge for the visual effects (VFX) teams. Despite his already muscular appearance, there were scenes where they had to slim him down and others where they needed to bulk him up. These modifications were necessary for the overall aesthetic of the film. Some scenes required 100% CGI, while others involved extensive digital painting and augmentation. Additionally, there were scenes that had to be performed by a stuntman and moments that required a transition from the real DJ to his digital double. Throughout the movie, The Rock’s body was a focal point for the VFX teams, making it a significant problem they had to overcome.
Building Up The Rock
In superhero movies, VFX teams typically anticipate the types of shots they’ll need for visual effects. This includes designing and creating digital environments, inventing futuristic vehicles, and incorporating various CG elements. However, for Black Adam, the VFX teams faced an additional challenge. They had to Create CGI versions of villains and superheroes, which required 3D scans of all the actors. Fortunately, Weta Digital already had a high-fidelity digital asset of Dwayne Johnson, which they had used in previous movies like Central Intelligence, Jumanji, Rampage, Jumanji: Next Level, and Jungle Cruise. However, Dwayne’s physique had changed since the original scan, as he had trained hard for Black Adam. This meant that a new 3D scan was necessary to accurately represent his leaner physique during the reshoots in 2022.
Virtual Mass
One of the most critical aspects of visual effects is conveying the illusion of weight and mass. In Black Adam, the VFX teams had to sell the idea that Black Adam possessed incredible strength and could effortlessly lift heavy objects. However, it was essential to make it appear as a feat of strength rather than a lack of mass on the objects themselves. The teams used various methods to achieve this effect. One method involved preestablishing the weight of objects through the use of physical props on set. For example, in the hoverbike scene, the weight and mass of the bike were constantly reinforced through alternate shots of the physical prop and the CGI effect, ensuring continuity and believability. Additionally, Newton’s third law, which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, played a crucial role in creating realistic movements and interactions between actors and CGI elements.
Sculpting The Rock
In certain scenes where Black Adam appears powerless, a stand-in actor named Benjamin Patterson was used instead of Dwayne Johnson. This provided a unique set of challenges for the VFX teams. They had to transfer Dwayne’s face onto the stand-in’s body, which required complex scanning and superimposing techniques. However, due to the speed and movement of the scenes, it was time-consuming and challenging to achieve a seamless result. As a solution, Teth Adam, the character played by Dwayne, wore a mask to minimize the complexity of face replacement. Another difficulty encountered was the difficulty of faking punches in super slow motion. To ensure a realistic impact, many of the hits had to make actual contact, making the action sequences more immersive for the audience. Additionally, Dwayne’s physique, despite its impressive appearance, lacked agility and speed required for flight scenes. To overcome this, he was either positioned on a chest plate or strapped to a motion-controlled robotic arm or a radio-controlled cart with omnidirectional wheels. The VFX teams also utilized clever slow-motion techniques and quick cuts to create the illusion of speed.
Conclusion
The Rock’s physique presented both challenges and opportunities for the VFX teams working on Black Adam. Their ability to slim down, bulk up, and seamlessly integrate his digital double showcased their skills in bringing a superhero’s physicality to life. Through techniques like preestablishing weight, incorporating Newton’s third law, and utilizing physical props, the teams were able to create the illusion of weight and strength in the visual effects. Moreover, the use of stand-in actors and innovative filming techniques allowed for a dynamic and visually stunning portrayal of Black Adam’s powers. Despite the complex nature of working with Dwayne Johnson’s physique, the VFX teams successfully overcame these challenges and contributed to the overall success of the film.
Highlights:
- Overcoming the challenge of modifying The Rock’s already impressive physique through slimming and bulking
- The importance of 3D scans in creating CGI versions of characters
- Achieving the illusion of weight and strength through various methods
- Challenges and solutions in working with stand-in actors and slow-motion shots
- Innovative techniques used to portray flight scenes and enhance agility and speed
FAQ:
Q: Why did the VFX teams have to modify Dwayne Johnson’s physique? A: The teams had to modify his physique to ensure he looked right in different scenes. They needed to slim him down for some shots and bulk him up for others to maintain visual consistency and fit the character’s portrayal.
Q: Did Dwayne Johnson perform all the action scenes himself? A: While Dwayne performed many of the action scenes, there were instances where a stuntman or a stand-in actor was used to capture specific movements or shots that required a different physique or specific slow-motion shots.
Q: How did the VFX teams achieve the illusion of weight and strength? A: The teams employed various techniques, including preestablishing object weight, utilizing Newton’s third law, and incorporating physical props on set to create interactions with CGI elements and enhance the sense of weight and strength in the visual effects.
