Christopher Nolan’s commitment to practical filming is back on the forefront. For his grand interpretation of The Odyssey, the Academy Award winning director is said to have built a giant 40 feet tall Trojan horse to shoot the classic moment from the Greek myth story. Instead of depending on CGI extensively, Nolan decided to build an enormous practical set and get into the massive structure along with close to 20 actors. The project has been lauded for its large scale practical effects and The Odyssey is the first major film to be shot on IMAX 70 mm cameras.
Nolan Chose a Real Trojan Horse Over CGI
Instead of making the famous Trojan Horse using computer-generated images, Christopher Nolan is said to have created an impressive physical one of 40 feet in height. With the huge set, actors and crew were able to engage with it physically, which would give them a better sense of immersion. It is part of his habit of using practical effects rather than computer-generated ones. Nolan has used rotating staircases in Inception and planes in Tenet. He always tries to take practical filmmaking to the next level.
Christopher Nolan Climbed Inside With the Cast
Another fascinating behind-the-scenes story concerns Nolan himself entering the wood horse together with 20 actors and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema to determine how the claustrophobic scene could be shot. As per Matt Damon, the director did not know how the shots were going to come together but developed them during his time with the actors on the set. The peculiar way of doing things helped create a very intense vibe which, according to the actor, was absolutely authentic since the claustrophobic situation enabled the actors to get into the skin of legendary Greek soldiers who might have found themselves inside such a structure.
A Massive Production Built Around Practical Filmmaking
The Odyssey is one of the major productions for Christopher Nolan with scenes shot in six different nations, the use of real ships, huge practical sets, and limited computer-generated imagery. In addition to the Trojan Horse, this movie has also used huge physical sets for recreating this epic story from Homer. Through the combination of practical effects with advanced IMAX cameras, Christopher Nolan has attempted to make a film feel like an earthy affair even though the setting is of a mythological nature.
Why the Trojan Horse Scene Is So Important
The Trojan Horse is one of the most familiar icons of Greek mythology, thus forming an important element of the storyline in The Odyssey. Nolan did not want viewers to see the Trojan Horse just as another special effect but rather experience the suspense along with the characters inside the structure. This realism is expected to turn the scene into one of the highlights of the movie. Using real sets, IMAX filming, and Nolan's unique attention to details, the mythical Trojan Horse can turn into one of the most iconic scenes in Nolan's filmography.
Final Take
Building an actual Trojan Horse measuring 40 feet in height is Nolan’s way of staying true to his practical approach in filmmaking. This way, by getting into the structure together with his actors and shooting in such conditions, the filmmaker proves yet again how he keeps pushing the limits of contemporary cinema through his work. As the world is eagerly awaiting “The Odyssey,” the sequence of the Trojan Horse has already become one of its major draws.