MovieChat Forums > Erin Brockovich (2000) Discussion > Opening Car Crash

Opening Car Crash

posted 15 years ago by Buskieboy
16 replies | jump to latest

I've watched this movie quite a few times and I've always been
amazed at the opening shot where "Erin" aka Julia Roberts drives
away from the courthouse and gets slammed by another car.

As far as I can tell, and I've watched it over and over again on tape,
they do the whole sequence in one take. No break-away, no cuts etc.
So, I'm left to assume that Julia Roberts is actually in the car
for the "stunt" crash?

Wow! That is so risky that they didn't have a stunt double
do her crash scene! Did she insist on doing it herself, hence
the one-take shot?

[–] powermaster 15 years ago

It is amazing that you just posted this. I was watching this movie last night and wondering the exact same thing.

When I watched it closer, I noticed that when the camera backs up from her getting into the car and the car drives forward, there is a very quick moment where the reddish metal color of the car takes up almost the entire screen. I am assuming that is where the film cuts away to the stunt car.

(-:-)-:-(-:-(-:-)

[–] Buskieboy 15 years ago

Yeah, I was watching it again too last night
and when that scene came up I was glued to the
screen again, hoping I'd see some kind of clue.

If what you're talking about is the case then the
editor should have won the Oscar! If there is an edit,
which I can't see, then it's a work of art!

[–] marjorie-hillman 15 years ago

I don't know if this is of any help but I seem to remember having read somewhere that the car crash scene is a very good example of CGI effects, i.e. computer-generated imagery. Sorry I can't quote a source for this. Perhaps somebody else can confirm if I've imagined this or if it's right?

Either way, it's a very well produced scene and the transition, if there is one, is, as you've all said, seamless.

I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have done that. No, you were brilliant. (Notting Hill)

[–] Buskieboy 15 years ago

You're correct. In the trivia here it says that the transition is a
melding of live action and some digital manipulation, so that Julia
Roberts getting into the car and driving off is magically melded with
a radio controlled car that is sent into the crash.
If this is in fact true it is one of the most seamless
CGI's I have ever seen.

[–] ambrosesmith 15 years ago

I also have noticed the car crash and wondered how they shot that scene because I KNOW that they wouldn't have put Julia in that position to take the crash. I thought that they may have done some kind of camera trick, where, just at the moment where they only show the side of the car up close, they stopped the camera and switched drivers or spliced 2 scenes together. As an aside: I used to live a half block from that very street. It is Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood, CA. (Lankershim and Magnolia Blvd).

[–] Buskieboy 15 years ago

What ever combo they used to do the scene, they aced it! It is very, very well done. The funny thing is until the last couple of times seeing the movie, I never made the mental connection that it seems she's actually in the car! Then I was blown away watching the scene closer. It's a masterpiece of movie magic.

Cool how you lived so close to that spot. Did you see things others didn't? Special landmarks, stores etc.

(smiley S&M sex show!)

[–] ambrosesmith 15 years ago

The street still looks the same. There is a subway station there and Tokyo Delves, a great place if you are into sushi. i lived in L.A. for 16 years and have seen many movie shoots and recognize many landmarks when I watch movies. I agree with you that the crash scene was very well shot. It is convincing. I do recognize that Erin gets her story wrong in court. He didn't come out of the corner. He ran a red light going straight at a high speed.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mindingart 14 years ago

awesome. just logged onto here with the full intention of asking this very question. I watched in slow motion 3 times last night trying to see the break. Whatever the transition is, it's seamless. what a subtle little bit of movie magic in a scene that could have gotten away without doing it at all. Good filmaking!

[–] smoko 14 years ago

IIRC the camera passes by a pole, and that's when the break takes place. Rest assured, nobody would put Julia Roberts in a stunt crash.

[–] AnonymousBoy 13 years ago

I'm pretty sure the switch is made when the separator between the first car door and the second passes by Julia's face.

Here, I got my HD copy made a frame-by-frame GIF.
http://i.imgur.com/9t4h0.gif

I slowed it down at the part where I think the switch was made. The car does not pass by a pole. During the entire scene nothing appears between the camera and the car.

[–] Buskieboy 13 years ago

That's an excellent set! It must happen there because it's the only place
you could have hidden any kind of seam without giving away the secret!
Great job! It is still one of the best shots and very dramatic when you
realize that you "just saw" Julia Roberts get T-boned!!

[–] Zombie55 13 years ago

I have a question of my own about the car crash scene. Having watched it closely, do you think it was Julia Roberts' or the doctor's fault that the crash occured?

[–] Buskieboy 13 years ago

Hard to tell because it is a bit far away and hard to tell
what the signals were. She was quite pissed off, so I would
imagine she might not of been paying attention. On the other
hand, the doctor might have been rushing to the hospital etc.
and also not paying attention.....

[–] naxo91 13 years ago

if you watch closely, the doctor's car appears long after Erin's light turns green, and he's driving much much faster than what would be legal or safe, so it's clearly his fault.

[–] Gordy90 12 years ago

i know im a bit too late but if you check the trivia it explains how it was done