In the 1989 holiday classic, “Christmas Vacation,” there is an unforgettable scene where Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) and his family are driving home with their Christmas tree tied to the roof of their car. As they approach an 18-wheeler, chaos ensues as the tree becomes dislodged and causes mayhem on the highway. Many people have wondered how this iconic scene was filmed, and we’re here to break it down for you.
The Setup
Firstly, let’s talk about the setup. The crew used a stretch of highway in Colorado that was closed off for filming. They brought in a real semi-truck and two cars – one to represent the Griswold’s car and another to serve as a dummy car for the stunt.
The cars were rigged with special effects equipment that allowed them to detach from the wheels so that they could slide around on the road without causing any damage or danger to the actors or crew. The Christmas tree was also rigged with special effects equipment so that it could be released at just the right moment.
The Filming
Now let’s get into how they actually filmed this scene. To capture all of the action, they used multiple cameras – both on the ground and in helicopters. In fact, there were over 30 cameras used just for this scene alone!
The cameras on the ground were positioned strategically along the highway to capture different angles of the action. Meanwhile, helicopters flew overhead capturing aerial shots of all of the chaos unfolding below.
The Stunts
Of course, no action scene would be complete without stunts! For this particular scene, a team of stunt drivers were hired to drive both cars involved in the accident. They had to rehearse extensively to ensure everyone’s safety and get each shot just right.
One particularly impressive stunt involved one of the cars flipping over multiple times. This was achieved using a special ramp that was built specifically for this scene. The car was driven up the ramp at a certain speed and angle so that it would flip over and land safely on its roof.
The Final Product
After all of the filming and stunts were completed, it was time to put together the final product. The editing team had their work cut out for them, as they had to sift through hours of footage to find the best shots and angles.
In the end, they were able to create an incredibly memorable scene that still captivates audiences today – almost three decades later!
Conclusion
So there you have it – a breakdown of how they filmed the iconic truck scene in “Christmas Vacation.” It’s clear that a lot of planning, hard work, and skill went into making this scene happen. From the special effects equipment to the multiple cameras and talented stunt drivers, every detail was carefully considered in order to create an unforgettable moment in movie history.