Discovering the Curious Phenomena of the Time of Picó and Freixes
This week, El Tiempo de Picó y Freixes has surprised us with a series of extraordinary events that have captured the attention of the whole world. The videos that have been shared are extremely interesting and invite us to dive into a world of curiosities that we surely did not expect to find.
The Amazing Special Effects of the Wizard of Oz Movie
The film The Wizard of Oz, released in 1939 and directed by Victor Fleming with the collaboration of King Vidor, George Cukor and Richard Thorpe, transports us to a fantasy world with spectacular special effects. One of the highlights of the film is the tornado that appears at the beginning, which was an impressive technical achievement for its time.
The special effects for this tornado were done by Arnold Gillespie and Douglas Shearer. Gillespie, inspired by the fabric cones used in airports to measure wind speed and direction, devised an 11-meter-high muslin cone supported by a crane. Despite the technical challenges and a cost of $12,000 at the time, the result was fully satisfactory, managing to impressively simulate the force of a real tornado.
In addition, pendulum movements were used to bring the tornado to life, imitating the dynamics of real tornadoes. However, the creation of this effect was not without difficulties, as there were problems with the rigidity of the tornado cone and the need to hide the mechanism that supported it.
To achieve this goal, glass panels and grayish cotton balls were installed that simulated the ‘mammatus’ of a stormy cloud, thus managing to hide the support of the tornado and give it the desired appearance. Despite the setbacks, the team managed to overcome the technical challenges and create a stunning visual effect that lingers in viewers’ memories to this day.
Challenges and Overcoming in the Production of Mágico de Oz
The production of Wizard of Oz faced various obstacles, from the rigidity of the tornado cone to the poisoning of the film crew due to the projection of yellowish and brownish dust to simulate the effect of a real tornado. Despite these setbacks, the team demonstrated its dedication and creativity to overcome each challenge, achieving an excellent final result that has endured over time.
The Lasting Impact of Wizarding Oz
Despite the challenges faced during its production, Wizard of Oz has left an indelible legacy in the history of cinema, proving that perseverance and creativity can overcome any obstacle. Its impact endures in the collective memory, being a reference in the film industry and an example of the magic of the seventh art.
