What techniques were used to film zero-g scenes in The Expanse?

What techniques were used to film zero-g scenes in The Expanse? - Silhouette of Man Standing in Front of Microphone

Most of the zero-g scenes in the SyFy series The Expanse appear to be done with good old cables, some CGI, and actors moving slowly.

But there is one scene at the very beginning of the first episode, where Julie Mao is trapped and weightless in a small room, and, notably, her hair appears weightless. An extended version of the scene is also seen in a flashback in episode 9.

How was that scene filmed? Water tank and color grading? Vomit comet flight? CG hair?



Best Answer

How was that scene filmed?

Wirework and CGI for the hair.

Syfy has an "Inside The Expanse" series of 'behind the scenes' videos.

In the case of this specific scene, it's shown at the very beginning of the first instalment.

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These are also on Youtube.

Episode 1:




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How do they film the Zero G scenes in The Expanse?

Away did the latter. Filming in studios in Vancouver, Canada, the team built a real set for the interior shots of the spaceship. For the space scenes, they attached each actor to multiple wires to simulate the zero gravity movement.

How did they do the weightlessness on The Expanse?

Achieved in the series by having the actors hanging from wires that were later digitally erased, the nature of these scenes (which see the astronauts floating around their ship as they travel to Mars) were cited by members of the cast as some of their toughest moments on set, as well as an unusual factor to try and ...

How did they do special effects for The Expanse?

The first two seasons alone, totalling 23 episodes, comprise over 4,600 stunning VFX shots \u2013 and almost all were finalised using cineSync video review. \u201cThere's way more blue screen and CG than you'd think across The Expanse, beyond the obvious spacecraft and set extensions,\u201d begins VFX Supervisor Robert Munroe.

How do they simulate weightlessness in movies?

To simulate weightlessness, a 30-ton rotating ferris wheel-type set was built for actors to stand at the bottom of and walk or run in place while the set rotated in sync with the actors' speed to keep them at the bottom of the wheel as the set turned.



Adam Savage Meets the Expanse's Key Stunt Rigger!




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