Elf Used This Classic Hollywood Technique to Make Will Ferrell Look Even Bigger
ComicBook.comStory by Brad Curran
scrn logline
The classic holiday film 'Elf' used a classic Hollywood trick - forced perspective - to make Will Ferrell's Buddy the Elf tower over his diminutive North Pole co-stars.
beat sheet
- Director Jon Favreau employed forced perspective techniques throughout Elf's North Pole scenes, like placing a young Buddy on an elevated bicycle rig to make him appear much taller than Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) behind him.
- Forced perspective was also used to make Buddy look comically oversized in the classroom scene, with Ferrell seated several feet in front of the other 'elf' actors to create the illusion of his towering stature.
call sheet
Will Ferrell, Jon Favreau, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Max Favreau, Ed Asner, Zooey Deschanel, Santa's elves, Netflix, New Line Cinema, Elf (2003)