Visual effects have been an integral part of cinema for quite a few decades. Even in the early days of filmmaking, artists used limited technology to create certain visual effects. Through them, practical effects became the go-to method for VFX in films. With the advent of CGI (computer-generated imagery), practical effects took a back seat. However, now practical effects have made a comeback alongside CGI. One such VFX trick involving practical effects impressed the eldest son of Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Earlier today, the 29-year-old actor shared a clip on Twitter. The clip showcased a VFX trick used in the $145 million global phenomenon starring Magot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. The Terminal List actor shared his three-word opinion about the post.

Lights, camera, and visual effects

CGI first rose to prominence in the 1990s with films like Jurassic Park, Titanic, and more. The technique breathed new life into practical effects, assisting VFX artists to add a new level of realism. However, due to its rapid development, VFX-heavy films, like superhero movies, relied nearly 100% on CGI. Yet just as it seemed CGI had spelled doom for practical effects, modern films like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and even blockbuster action films like Mission Impossible rely heavily on practical stunts and effects.

As an actor who is no stranger to the filmmaking process, Patrick Schwarzenegger found a particular practical effect quite impressive. Schwarzenegger shared the clip with the caption, “This is awesome.” The short clip, originally shared by the fan account Mario, captured a driving scene being filmed for Barbie. However, the driving scene was shot in a way they did things before the advent of CGI.

The clip showed a stationary car with spinning wheels and two actors. However, instead of the car, every element of the background moved. The road, the ground, and the various 2D background frames moved at different speeds to replicate a 3D effect. While CGI was used to polish such footage, Greta Gerwig used practical effects to portray her vision of the Barbie world.

While the VFX trick impressed the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, this isn’t the first time he tweeted about Barbie.

Barbie impressed Patrick Schwarzenegger in more ways than one

Earlier, the 29-year-old son of Arnold Schwarzenegger tweeted about Barbie’s marketing campaign. In his tweet, Arnie’s son wrote how the Barbie public relations team has hit the ball out of the park. One of the most anticipated films of the year, the $145 million project didn’t spare any effort in promotions. In fact, the marketing push to build hype for Barbie was global.

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While innovative and widespread marketing doesn’t guarantee success, it did in the case of the Greta Gerwig vehicle. Barbie had a massive opening, and the rave reviews have kept audiences flocking to theaters worldwide. Opening week projections say the Magot Robbie starter might earn $95 million after one week in theaters.

Many people think CGI has taken over the film industry. The reality is different. From Barbie mixing practical effects and CGI to Christopher Nolan using 100% practical effects for his epic Oppenheimer, visual effects will continue to impress cinema lovers like Patrick Schwarzenegger.

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