The use of CGI and all kinds of special effects computer is not strange in large film productions, especially those of Superheros as Spider-Man. However, in many cases these visual effects They are in the most unexpected places, as can be seen in the making of. And it turns out that in movies like ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021), the masks Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland were CGI in some of their scenes mainly for a very simple reason: the difficulty in quickly putting on a real mask.
The reasons why Marvel uses CGI in Spider-Man masks
Although the average viewer won’t notice it, elements like Spider-Man’s mask in scenes where he removes it to reveal the actor’s face is CGI in films like ‘No Way Home’ released in 2021. For the most trained eye it can be relatively easy to detect these visual effectswith some “discrepancies” such as the behavior that what is theoretically a fabric should have.
Happens that When filming these specific shots, the actors never wear a mask or anything that covers their faces.and instead they pretend to put on a. A mask is then added via post-production. The a priori reasons may seem absurd, but they are not at all:
- Putting on a mask quickly and making it look good on camera is not as easy as it seems.
- By pretending to put on a mask instead of putting on a real one, actors don’t mess up their hair; This prevents them from needing hairdressing assistants to give their hair a good look again with each possible new take. This way you don’t waste time or money.
- In scenes where actors wear real masks, it is not just a fabric, but also solid internal structures so that the mask retains its characteristic shape, something that would not be possible with textile material alone. In other words: technically actors not only put on a mask, but also the mold that gives it shape. Recording a scene with real masks taking this into account would be a long, laborious process that would also break immersion.
In short: whenever one of the Spider-Man actors is seen (Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield or Tobey Maguire) inside the wall-crawler’s suit with the mask already on, it is surely part of a physical suit and there are no special effects. But in the scenes where they cover their faces by putting it on or taking it off, it’s CGI.
Another recent controversial case of Marvel due to CGI: Hugh Jackman’s arms in ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’
Another similar topic also about a Marvel production that has given us something to talk about has been Hugh Jackman’s arms in the most recent trailer of ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’. And it turns out that Jackman’s arms are CGI not because the actor is not strong enough -which is-, but to avoid possible problems derived from his skin cancer if he has to film outdoors.
And it is that The special effects added in post-production in many big-budget films are not limited to explosions. and other fireworks, They often have relatively mundane applications. such as the Spider-Man mask or to avoid health problems and to ensure that its performers are safe during filming.
