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From Skinny Steve to Captain America!
I am sure all of you might remember that scrawny World War II recruit who is later transformed into a tall, muscular superhero with enhanced physical abilities. Yes, I am referring to the most startling visual effect in Marvel’s “Captain America: The First Avenger” movie where Chris Evans is shown as a proverbial 97-pound weakling.
Years ago, this transformation was very easy for Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, when they first drew the character. But when it came to showing this transformation on the big screen, there was a real problem of how to show Evans as both the skinny mild-mannered wimp first and then the muscular commando avenger Captain America. While Timely Comics (later Marvel) could very easily publish different appearances of the same character, both buffed and skinny, the studio’s job was not that easy.
As much as we all agree that it is one of the most amazing displays of visual effect in movies, there is still lot of confusion as to how was it done. Many still believe it is a head replacement on a skinny body double, the ‘Benjamin Button’ style. Others think it was forced perspective and careful camera placement, like how it was most beautifully done by Peter Jackson in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy to make his actors appear as Hobbits. In reality The on-screen transformation of Evans, in fact, was a combination of multiple digital techniques.
The LA-based Lola Visual Effects, was responsible for implementing this visual effect on screen. In fact, Lola VFX supervisor Edson Williams says his company used three different techniques to shrink the then 220 pound Evans to the 140 pound wimp he needed to be. Both director Joe Johnston and Evans, were completely against using a body double through out, as they wanted to capture Evans’ emotions in an authentic manner. As per Williams, this was the most challenging project that Lola VFX had taken up until then, and they nicknamed this entire project, “Steve slimming”.
For a long time the very existence of companies like Lola VFX, or at least the real work they did, was kept a secret. Rumor had it that some of the really BIG STARS were in real life a little less…
