Have you ever watched the classic holiday movie, “Christmas Vacation,” and wondered if the snow was real? Well, you’re not alone.
Many fans of the movie have debated whether or not the snow in the film was actual snow or just a Hollywood fabrication. So, let’s take a closer look and find out the truth.
The Filming Location
One of the reasons that people speculate about the authenticity of the snow in “Christmas Vacation” is because of where it was filmed. The movie was shot in California, which is not exactly known for its snowy winters. So, it’s understandable why people might question whether or not real snow was used.
The Snow Was Real
Despite where the film was shot, it turns out that yes, the snow in “Christmas Vacation” was real! In fact, it took over three weeks to create all of the snow scenes in the movie using a combination of real snow and artificial snow made from shredded white paper and foam.
How Was It Made?
To create all of the winter wonderland scenes in “Christmas Vacation,” filmmakers used several techniques to make it look as realistic as possible. For example, they used fake icicles made from plastic and coated with wax to give them a more authentic appearance. Additionally, they used artificial frost on trees and other surfaces to make them look like they had been covered with a layer of ice.
However, despite these special effects tricks, most of the snow scenes were created using real snow. The production team shipped in truckloads of fresh powder from nearby mountains to cover entire streets and even entire sets.
Challenges with Real Snow
While using real snow added an extra level of authenticity to “Christmas Vacation,” it also posed some challenges for filmmakers. For instance, because fresh snow is so bright and reflective under sunlight, they had to use special filters on the camera lens to avoid overexposing the shots.
Additionally, because real snow melts quickly under hot studio lights, the team had to constantly replenish the snow during filming. They used snow-making machines to create more artificial snow when necessary and even rented refrigeration units to keep the real snow from melting too quickly.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. The snow in “Christmas Vacation” was indeed real, despite being filmed in California.
The production team went to great lengths to make it look as authentic as possible, even if that meant shipping in truckloads of real snow and using special effects tricks. This attention to detail is just one of the reasons why “Christmas Vacation” remains a beloved holiday classic year after year.