Blockbusters of recent years like “Aquaman” and the “Avatar” sequels have had to come up with ingenious solutions for shooting scenes set underwater. while the crazy The artist known as James Cameron didn’t even hesitate to submerge cameras and actors in huge tanks of water to get the desired effect, others have had to resort to other means of movie magic, namely practical rigs and wire work to simulate weightlessness. of water. “The Little Mermaid” was no different, according to Melissa McCarthy. At one point during the press conference, the actress revealed the fun fact that all of her scenes required her to hang in the air in various poses as the villainous Ursula:
“No, there is not […] I slid down the shell from time to time on my back [laughs]. But I was never literally on my feet, or we were on platforms or there were different magical things. […] If you were diving, it was a platform. If you were hanging around, it was someone else.
“But no, never on the ground. And this amazing team of dancers and stuntmen who were just our fins or feet, whatever you want to say. So each person had their team, this wonderful, glorious ensemble.”
Talk about a team effort to bring a live-action octopus to life. One has to imagine that Halle Bailey’s experience was very similar, at least under the sea. Acting is a dream job for many, but it’s doubly so when a particular role never requires you to spend long hours on your feet. The key, naturally, is to simply swap out the legs for fins. That easy!
“The Little Mermaid” hits theaters on May 26, 2023.