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One of the most revered texts in the science fiction canon is Frank Herbert’s Dune. In 2021, director Denis Villeneuve took on this “unfilmable” epic, resulting in a blockbuster that captivated audiences around the world. Villeneuve returns this time with Dune: Part 2, taking us back to Arrakis and introducing us to a new world in his Dune universe. (Also read: ‘Dune Part 2’ box office forecast: Zendaya starring Timothée Chalamet expected to gross $80 million in opening weekend)
Much of the first film’s success can be attributed to its skillful adaptation of a complex and nuanced story. The story eschewed the point of expository narration and adopted a “show, don’t tell” approach. But Villeneuve’s visual world-building is just as important. His approach blends practical sets and real locations with stunning visual effects, while always contributing to the story and characters.
production design and props
One of the most striking elements of “Dune” is its depiction of Arrakis itself. Filming took place primarily in the deserts of Jordan and Abu Dhabi, providing the perfect backdrop for Earth’s harsh terrain.
Production designer Patrice Vermette talks about grounding the film in reality, making it easier for audiences to believe in the more fantastical aspects of the story. This meant a practical set for the actors to move around in, and real elements within the set for the actors to interact with. Whether it’s the ornate interiors of the Imperial Palace or the brutalist interiors of Harkonnen’s home, each location feels authentic and lived-in, contributing to the overall sense of realism. As for the “bird flying machines”, two of his machines (one 75 feet long, the other 48 feet long) were built in London and shipped to Jordan.
Cinematography
Cinematographer Greig Fraser was obsessed with the idea of natural light and how it interacted with the sand and characters. For the first big scene, in which a sandworm engulfs a mining vehicle, Villeneuve attaches a flapping flying device to a crane, rotates it 30 feet above the ground to simulate a flight pattern, and uses a giant fan to create wind and blow the sand away. It blew all over the place.
The traditional approach to such scenes is to shoot a wide area to capture the scale of the image from a distance. But Fraser’s approach is the opposite, by grounding the camera on the bird-flying device, the characters are anchored in relation to the sandbugs, allowing us to watch the action unfold as they do. This happens many times in establishing shots, but Villeneuve always uses something relatable and recognizable, usually a human figure, to be able to convey the relative scale of what the audience is supposed to be seeing. Place it inside the frame.
Special effects
Whenever possible, Villeneuve uses special effects to expand and enhance existing elements, rather than creating something completely imaginary. For example, in a scene where a flapping flight device flies across a barren landscape, we first film a helicopter flying through the space, kicking up sand and dust, and then we transfer them to a computer-generated bird flight device. Replaced.
Most importantly, the special effects team moved away from traditional blue and green screens and used “sandscreens.” An earth-toned screen that recreates the effect of natural light on the surrounding sand dunes. Such techniques help more accurately simulate the concrete landscape of reality, making it easier for viewers to accept the more fantastical aspects of the story.
sound design and music
The final important element in Dune’s world-building is its use of sound and music. Composer Hans Zimmer’s score combines traditional Western arrangements with innovative use of indigenous instruments and vocalizations, further enhancing the storytelling. In the case of sound design, one obvious example is the sound of a flapping flying device. A lazy solution was to use helicopter sounds, but the sound designers used a combination of a cat’s purr and a beetle’s flapping wings to more closely approximate the sound of a bird flight device’s wings. This approach makes Dune sound organic, yet otherworldly, and more alive.
Dune is a testament to the power of filmmaking to bring epic stories to life. As audiences gear up for the rest of the story, he is sure of one thing. That means the world of Dune continues to captivate and inspire audiences and future filmmakers alike.
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