Elf Used This Classic Hollywood Technique to Make Will Ferrell Look Even Bigger

As a film critic who has spent countless hours huddled in the dimly-lit corners of cinemas, my eyes have witnessed the grandeur of celluloid storytelling and the intricacies of technical mastery. Among the plethora of films I’ve had the privilege to analyze, few have left such a lasting impact as Jon Favreau’s holiday classic, Elf .

In Jon Favreau’s beloved holiday movie “Elf,” the character Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrell, becomes one of Santa’s friendly and joyful assistants. The filmmakers effectively mined humor from Buddy’s towering stature in various scenes throughout the film. As it turns out, Buddy is actually a human who inadvertently hopped into Santa’s toy sack on Christmas Eve and ended up at the North Pole instead of his intended destination. Raised as an elf for his entire life, Buddy eventually discovers his true identity as a human and sets off for New York City during Christmas time to reunite with his estranged father, Walter Hobbs, played by James Caan.

In the movie “Elf,” while most of it unfolds amidst the bustling cityscape of New York City, its initial scenes are set in the tranquil North Pole. Here, Will Ferrell’s character Buddy lives in an elfin realm, standing significantly taller than his fellow elves, creating many funny situations. The film “Elf” employs a classic cinematic trick called forced perspective to highlight the amusing height disparity between Buddy and the North Pole elves.

What is “Forced Perspective” in Filmmaking?

In filmmaking, forced perspective is a technique used to create an optical illusion on screen. This happens when two objects or actors are positioned close to each other but at different distances from the camera. The object or person closer to the camera appears larger, giving the impression that they tower over another person or object nearby. For instance, in the movie “Elf”, which is highlighted in the Netflix series “The Movies That Made Us”, forced perspective is extensively employed during the early North Pole scenes. By placing Buddy next to other elves using this technique, the filmmakers successfully mined humor from the stark contrast between Buddy’s size and those around him.

In one instance, Buddy is depicted attending a classroom session, where he learns the basics of Christmas joy alongside Santa’s other elves. Despite being seated on an ordinary school chair, Buddy appears towering compared to his peers in the scene. To create this effect, Will Ferrell was positioned at the farthest end of the classroom and set a few feet ahead and to the side of the other actors. By capturing the scene from the right angle, it gives the impression that Ferrell is sitting among the elves in class. Additionally, the clever use of forced perspective in the scene makes Buddy appear much taller than those around him.

In the early scenes set at the North Pole in the movie Elf, a similar technique known as forced perspective is utilized. For instance, during the flashback when young Buddy (Max Favreau) rides his tricycle with his adoptive father, an Elf (Bob Newhart), this effect was achieved by positioning Favreau on a bicycle setup and having a double’s hands on his shoulders, while Newhart sat several feet behind him. Consequently, it appears that Papa Elf is seated right behind Buddy on the tricycle.

Moreover, the movie “Elf” employs forced perspective in various North Pole scenes too. For instance, when Buddy expresses his struggles with toy-making and Will Ferrell’s exasperated elf character calls himself “a cotton-headed ninny muggins,” this was achieved by having Ferrell seated on a raised chair above the rest of the work table, making it appear as if Buddy towered over the other elves. Similarly, forced perspective is used in scenes where Buddy learns about his father from Santa Claus (Ed Asner), with both Ferrell and Asner positioned on an elevated stage that was several feet ahead of the elves, making them seem taller compared to their fellow elves.

In the film Elf, an impressive use of forced perspective can be noticed during scenes where Buddy appears to be sitting on Papa Elf’s lap, both at the start and end (with Zooey Deschanel’s Jovie present in the latter). For these shots, a diving board was set up for Ferrell to sit upon, while Newhart remained seated approximately 10 feet behind him. From a casual observer’s perspective, it appears that Buddy is sitting on Papa Elf’s lap, but in reality, there’s a bit of distance between them, adding humor for the viewers due to their size difference.

Using clever camera tricks called forced perspective, the film Elf skillfully portrays Buddy as the tallest elf at the North Pole. Given its enduring popularity and frequent holiday re-releases, it’s safe to say that Elf showcases one of the most impressive uses of forced perspective in contemporary cinema.

Elf is now streaming on Hulu, Max, and Disney+.

2024-12-09 01:10

What is “Forced Perspective” in Filmmaking?

Read More