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Biopics don’t get any bigger than Christopher Nolan’s epic Oppenheimer. Easily one of the best recent films not only thanks to a suite of impressive performances by an all-star cast, but also thanks to the use of practical effects to recreate the detonation of the first atomic bomb.
If one person knows how something this impressive was achieved, it’s Australian visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson. Jackson has worked with Nolan on Tenet and Dunkirk, but also worked in George Miller‘s award-winning action flick Mad Max: Fury Road and is currently working on its sequel Furiosa.
Want to find out more about recreating the atomic bomb and his experience working with Chris Nolan and George Miller? Read the chat we had with Andrew Jackson ahead of the Oppenheimer home entertainment release set for the 22nd of November, 2023.
SR. After working in 3 films with Chris Nolan. What would you say has been most important thing you have learnt from him?
AJ. The way he approaches film making is quite unique. It’s all about embracing the things that happen in the real world and how they come to be. He always tries to process all the information and not trying to control everything, he gives freedom, he is open to accept new ideas, and that is key for the process.
SR. How would you describe a day on set with Christopher Nolan?
AJ. He is very good to work, on set and off-set during post-production he gives a lot of freedom. He comes up with different ideas. He really understand how to film and what works and what doesn’t. He is very collaborative.
“…We used high explosives underneath barrels of fuel that were launched up to create a mushroom cloud…”
SR. Let’s talk about the impressive scene of the atomic bomb featured in Oppenheimer. That scene was done with practical effects. Nolan really pushed the boundaries here. How was that achieved?
AJ. He wanted to do this film without using a CGI mushroom cloud simulation, he said he already did that for The Dark Knight Rises, that worked well for t so he wanted one explosion as realistic as possible for this one.
He showed me that with a real event like Trinity, which was well-documented using cameras, CGI graphics would be incapable to create the same impact and real-sense. He also also wanted to shoot the Trinity blast as near as possible to he actual Trinity’s location to make the scene feel real for everyone, viewers and actors.
We had permits to shoot at a place called White Sands Proving Ground, which is still a military location that runs bombing test. But instead, the crew recreated their own version in New Mexico, including the tall steel tower used for Trinity.
Cameras were placed in different areas to emulate real-life point of views, and then we shot 8 version with 8 different explosions, with different cameras, different lenses and different frame ratio.
The explosions were made safety and controlled. We used high explosives underneath barrels of fuel that were launched up to create a mushroom cloud. All enabled us to film in detail all the turmoil inside the roiling flame of the explosion. Everything was shot at high speed, and then we slowed down in post-production.
SR. From working with one incredible director to another: George Miller. You worked on Fury Road and you are also currently working on ‘Furiosa’. Can you tell us how different is to work with George compared with Chris Nolan?
AJ. Very different, George likes to use more visual effects and Chris is the opposite, Chris loves to photo grab as much as possible on camera. However George for Furiosa is getting more on camera, but for this type of film, obviously more vfx are needed.
SR. Whats the status of Furiosa as we speak?
AJ. It’s currently in post-production.
SR. What’s your take on the ongoing debate of movies getting rushed with unfinished VFX, just to meet deadlines and get the “product out”?
AJ. It’s simple. Good stuff takes time, you need time to deliver quality work. I can’t talk for other films, but I’m happy in my case, we had the time to do things right.
SR. Just to finish. What advise would you give to young aspiring VFX artists?
AJ. I always give the same advise, just start doing it. Do stuff, try all the available tools, there are plenty of free tools out there, a lot of hardware and software too. Keep doing it.
Oppenheimer – Available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital from 22 November.
Check our Oppenheimer Movie Review here
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