“District 9” was possible because it wasn’t completely CG! ? What is the secret behind the realistic emotional expression of “shrimp-type” aliens?

“King Kong” shows off the wonder of one person playing two roles

By the way, Andy Serkis, known for his role as ``Gollum'' in the ` `Lord of the Rings '' series, has a similar role that will go down in film history as an ``important performance whose true face is not visible''. However, if I were to give an example of how Jason Cope in "District 9" uses his "real face" and "masked face", I would probably bring up " King Kong " (2005) starring Serkis. That would be reasonable.

Directed by Peter Jackson, Serkis played the titular role of a giant ape using motion capture. As part of his preparation for the role, he traveled to a wildlife reserve in Africa and interacted with gorillas to acquire the appropriate movements for the movie.

What's more, Serkis also plays the role of the head chef on a ship bound for Skull Island in this work, with his "true face". This is by no means a cameo appearance, but a role with a strong presence and lines. Furthermore, as the head chef, he had to master knife handling, so he literally had to use two different roles in this work. Even if he doesn't reveal his true face, or even if he reveals his true face, it never fades. Serkis' professionalism in that regard is truly impressive.

In a sense, this kind of production that exposes the ``true face'' and ``masked face'' in the same work can be said to be a way of directing the director's attention to the audience. Thanks to special technology, movies can now depict any vision. However, behind the scenes, unseen, a huge amount of sweat is being shed by real people. By deliberately bringing to the fore the analog feel and human touch, the presence of the film and the atmosphere it creates becomes even more realistic.

Although we may be overwhelmed by the visual world the first time we watch it, by paying more attention to the details on the second and third viewings, we too may be able to open up new ways to enjoy it. I wonder if there is?

Text: USHIZU ATSUNOBU

Born in Nagasaki in 1977. When he was 3 years old, he saw ``Superman II'' with his father and became fascinated with movies. After The Graduate from Meiji University, he worked for a movie broadcasting channel and then became a movie writer. Currently, in addition to writing for Eiga.com, EYESCREAM, Real Sound Movie Club, etc., he also contributes to media press and theater programs.

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