Terminator 2 Behind the Scenes — The Making of James Cameron's Sci-Fi Action Epic

Terminator 2 Behind the Scenes — A look behind the scenes of James Cameron’s Terminator 2, including how the team utilized cinematic techniques, practical effects, and CGI to create the action film of the century.

The Making of Terminator 2 ►► https://bit.ly/hs-tt
StudioBinder Blog ►► http://bit.ly/sb-bl

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro — Terminator 2 Behind the Scenes
02:10 - Chapter 1: Lighting and Cinematography
07:34 - Chapter 2: Practical Effects
15:42 - Chapter 3: CGI with ILM
18:05 - Takeaways

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Special thanks to:
Wired ►► https://bit.ly/wi-nb
Urban Shark Productions ►► https://bit.ly/cd-up

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TERMINATOR 2 BEHIND THE SCENES

The making of Terminator 2 is just as fascinating as the film itself. Co-writer/director James Cameron and his crew used every tool available to create the ultimate cinematic experience. In this video, we go behind the scenes of Terminator 2 to uncover the secrets of its creation. We’ll cover topics like how lighting and cinematography, practical effects, and cutting-edge CGI combined to realize Cameron’s greatest action spectacle.

THE MAKING OF TERMINATOR 2 — CINEMATOGRAPHY

Returning from the original, DP Adam Greenberg carried over many aesthetic choices but on an entirely new scale. This includes lighting the terminators in a cold blue light to enhance their brutality and top lighting on Arnold Schwarzenegger to accent his facial musculature. For the iconic highway chase, Greenberg took two weeks to pre-light a 5-mile stretch of freeway, borrowing every available power cord in Hollywood to connect all the lights.

TERMINATOR 2 SPECIAL EFFECTS

Throughout his career, James Cameron has been on the cutting edge of both practical and visual effects. The way he uses models, miniatures, rear projection, and just about every in-camera effect known to man is a testament to his filmmaking prowess. Examples include the animatronics of the T-800 or the nightmarish nuclear blast sequence. And then there are more simple yet effective decisions like hiring twins to play characters replicated by the T-1000. All of this is in service of the story and the experience.

TERMINATOR 2 VISUAL EFFECTS

Of course, not everything could be achieved in-camera. The Terminator 2 visual effects team pushed the craft beyond what anyone had seen before. In his previous film, The Abyss, Cameron tasked the team at ILM to create “the pseudopod” — a tentacle made of water. This was merely a test run for something Cameron had dreamed of since the first Terminator film: a liquid metal terminator. Now, the T-1000 could change shape, walk through bars, and assume the identity of anyone. No one had seen anything like this, which paved the way for future CGI work in films like Jurassic Park.

Filmmakers today might not fully understand why the making of Terminator 2 was such an achievement. But it’s our hope that by looking back on the work of craftsmen and craftswomen like James Cameron that we realize just how far we come and how much we owe to them.


#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

“Bad To The Bone - George Thorogood & The Destroyers
“Main Title Terminator 2 Theme” - Brad Fiedel
“Quantum IV - Makeup and Vanity Set
“Into The Steel Mill” - Brad Fiedel
“Sarah On The Run” - Brad Fiedel
“Attack On Dyson” - Brad Fiedel
“Trust Me” - Brad Fiedel
“Our Gang Goes To Cyberdyne” - Brad Fiedel
“Escape From The Hospital” - Brad Fiedel
“T1000 Terminated” - Brad Fiedel
“Swat Team Attacks” - Brad Fiedel
“Cameron’s Inferno” - Brad Fiedel
“Hasta La Vista Baby” - Brad Fiedel
“Sarah Dream” - Brad Fiedel
“I’ll Be Back” - Brad Fiedel
“Reese Chased” - Brad Fiedel
“Police Station/Escape From Police Station ” - Brad Fiedel
“Future Flashback/Terminator Infiltration” - Brad Fiedel
“The Terminator Theme (Extended Version)” - Brad Fiedel
“It’s Over” - Brad Fiedel

Music by Artlist ► https://utm.io/umJx
Music by Artgrid ► https://utm.io/umJy
Music by Soundstripe ► http://bit.ly/2IXwomF
Music by MusicBed ► http://bit.ly/2Fnz9Zq

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