How Did They Film Christmas Vacation Truck Scene?

By Alice Nichols

If you’re a fan of the classic holiday movie “Christmas Vacation,” then you probably remember the iconic scene where Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) is driving a huge Christmas tree on top of his car. However, what you may not know is how they actually filmed that scene.

The Truck Scene

The scene in question involves a large delivery truck tailgating Clark as he drives down the highway with the tree strapped to his roof. Eventually, the tree falls off and causes mayhem on the road. It’s a hilarious moment that has become one of the most memorable scenes in the movie.

So how did they film it? Well, it turns out that it wasn’t as easy as it looks. In fact, they had to use some pretty clever techniques to make it happen.

The Filming Process

The first step was to film Chevy Chase driving down an empty stretch of highway with nothing on top of his car. They used a special camera rig that was mounted on top of another vehicle and positioned in front of Chase’s car. This allowed them to capture footage of him driving while also getting shots of what was happening behind him.

Next, they filmed a separate shot of the large delivery truck driving behind Chase’s car with nothing in tow. This shot was taken from a different angle using another camera rig mounted on a pickup truck.

Once they had these two shots, they were able to combine them in post-production using green screen technology. They would superimpose footage of the Christmas tree and other vehicles onto the empty areas in each shot, making it look like everything was happening at once.

  • Step 1: Film Chevy Chase driving down an empty stretch of highway.
  • Step 2: Film a separate shot of the large delivery truck driving behind Chase’s car.
  • Step 3: Combine shots using green screen technology.

CGI and Special Effects

In addition to the clever camera work, the filmmakers also used some special effects to make the scene even more memorable. For example, they used CGI to create the illusion of the tree falling off the roof of Clark’s car and bouncing down the highway.

They also used practical effects, such as air cannons and hidden ramps, to make it look like other vehicles were swerving and crashing around the tree. These techniques helped to create a chaotic and hilarious scene that has stood the test of time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, filming the truck scene in “Christmas Vacation” was a complex process that required careful planning and execution. By using multiple camera angles, green screen technology, CGI, and practical effects, they were able to create a memorable moment that has become an iconic part of holiday movie history.

If you’re interested in learning more about how your favorite movies are made, be sure to keep an eye out for behind-the-scenes documentaries and interviews with filmmakers. You never know what kind of tricks they might have up their sleeves!