Are the cars destroyed in movies fully functional?

Are the cars destroyed in movies fully functional?

• Thomas O'Reilly
• Jul 30, 2023
• 0 Comments

The Artful Mirage of Hollywood Explosions

Alright, buckle up. Today, we're taking a detour from the clean and quiet streets of Melbourne to the dusty, noisy, and always exciting backlots of Hollywood. Ever wondered what happens to cars in those heart-stopping action sequences? I mean, surely those aren't all perfectly functioning cars they're blowing up or tossing off cliffs, are they? Well, as they say, "all that glitters ain't gold", and likewise, not all Hollywood's glittering cars are fully functional, and I am here to break that down for you.

From Auction to Action: The Journey of a Movie Car

It starts at an auction, where movie studios buy old, beat-up cars that would barely make it down the street without falling apart. You wouldn't want to drive these on your daily commute, trust me. But in the hands of the movie mavericks, these wrecks are transformed to look like they could give a Ferrari a run for its money. That's all part of the illusion - the magic of cinema, baby!

Now, here's a fun little secret. Ever been amazed by the sleek, expensive-looking cars in movies like Fast & Furious or James Bond? Bet you didn't know they were nothing more than beat-up vehicles bought at a bargain. True story; they are often made of fibreglass bodies placed on a working car's platform. Isn't the world of cinema magical - and a touch deceptive?

The Skill That Makes the Thrill: Meet the Picture Car Coordinator

Behind these utterly believable illusions of vehicle coolness is a low-profile hero: the Picture Car Coordinator. This diligent professional sources, designs, and modifies cars to match the director's vision. They often work closely with the production designer to ensure the car meshes with the film's overall look. While Poppy runs around in the background, I always imagined what it'd be like to be a Picture Car Coordinator - having a tangible part in creating a completely different world, where the impossible becomes possible.

The Strategy: Not all Cars are Made Equal

Before you start crying out in car-loving outrage, worry not! Not all cars you see getting demolished are actually crushed or blown to bits. The production team usually sources several versions of the same car model. Some of these cars would be in top-notch shape, designed for the hero shots, while others, often referred to as "stunt doubles", bear the brunt of the high-flying stunts and controlled eruptions. It is this clever strategy that makes it seem like a fully functional car just blew up, leaving audiences worldwide gasping.

Kiss Goodbye to Explosions: How CGI is Changing the Game

With the rise of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI), the need for actual car wreckage has decreased. CGI enables filmmakers to create virtual vehicles and simulate crashes or explosions without harming a single vehicular cog. Think back to films like Mad Max: Fury Road or Transformers; what seemed like endless arenas of car destruction were largely created on a computer. As much as I prefer the charm of practical effects, there's no denying that CGI is evolving the art of filmmaking in car chases and stunts.

Remembering the Classics: Iconic Movie Car Destruction

While we're on the subject, let's take a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard, where countless cars have met their demise in service of an unforgettable action sequence. Let's start with the original Gone in 60 Seconds (1974), featuring a 40-minute car chase that supposedly destroyed nearly 100 cars! Or how about the morbidly amusing scene from Casino Royale (2006) where a stunning Aston Martin is flipped not once, not twice, but seven times for a stunt?

And of course, who could forget the spectacular car-flipping scene in The Dark Knight (2008)? Production teams built a nitrogen cannon to execute that stunt, leading to an explosion so incredible, audiences could hardly believe it was a practical effect. Every time I witness such spectacular vehicle carnage, I can't help but feel a tad emotional. It's like seeing a beautifully carved pumpkin get smashed - magnificent, but oh so tragic.

The Sacrifice: A Car's Final Bow

So, in the midst of rubber-burning races, heart-pounding chases, and explosive crashes, it’s safe to say that the majority of cars meeting a dramatic end in your favourite movies are not fully functional. These demolished cars serve their purpose as sacrificial lambs, going out in a blast of glory to entertain us, the ever-enraptured audience. As I walk Poppy along the sun-kissed beaches of Melbourne, I often think about the fleeting but luminous lives of these Hollywood cars, their fiery endings captivating viewers, leaving a lasting imprint on cinema, and causing a stir in the hearts of car lovers like me.

The Ripple Effect: From Reel to Real

And yet, despite my clear understating of the line between real and reel, I sometimes can't help but cringe at the sight of a perfectly good car getting totalled in a movie. I mean, couldn't they have used that money to help a charity or something? But then, maybe that's just me being overly sentimental. After all, one man's car-bashing is another's Friday night entertainment, right?

With a shrug, I'll sign off for now. Remember folks, in Hollywood, cars don't merely carry actors from point A to point B; they are characters in their own right, their smoky demise as arresting as a hero's last stand. Till next time, keep being curious, keep being excited, and most importantly, keep enjoying Popcorn Cinema!