THE INVISIBLE MAN PRODUCTION.
Revealed by robots
NO FAKERY Using advanced robotic technology rather than post-production magic made the ‘invisible’ movements more convincing
T he concept of The Invisible Man, a character first introduced in HG Wells’ 1897 novel of the same name, has been a source of fascination for many years. Just the thought of a human who can become unseen, and the potential consequences of such power, has captivated audiences in various forms of media for decades. From adaptations in film and television to video games and even comic books, the concept of invisibility continues to be a popular theme in pop culture. The original film adaptation of The Invisible Man was released in 1933, directed by James Whale and starring Claude Rains as the titular character. This was groundbreaking for its time, known for its special effects and dark, suspenseful storytelling. Yet, despite its success, the technology available at the time meant many of the scenes that could have been dynamic remained stagnant or limited in their execution. Fast-forward to today and the technology available to filmmakers is unrecognisable compared to 1933.
The most recent remake (of note) is the 2020 version, in which Elisabeth Moss takes the lead as a woman who suspects she is being stalked and psychologically manipulated by her supposedly dead former partner (played by Oliver Jackson- Cohen), who has now obtained the power to turn invisible. Audiences are set to welcome another version. But before you question why we need another adaptation, the latest take on the sci-fi story sees 6 Degrees Romania and MRMC partner up to create a rather different approach. For starters, the duration of the entire film is more like that of a trailer. “At the moment, the movie is around the two-minute mark,” explains director Damian Groves. “We don’t have an exact length yet as we’re still working on the post. We filmed everything at 75 frames and intend to work on the complete length, so we have maximum flexibility for time remapping the single shot.” The rationale behind the decision was to make it as accessible as possible to 2023’s audiences.
The Invisible Man has had lots of iterations over the years, but nothing quite like this one
WORDS. Robert Shepherd IMAGES. Dorian Culmer & Oana Olariu
31. JUNE 2023
Powered by FlippingBook