Real-life experiences often present the most compelling cinematic experiences. Such was the case in Glen Powell’s recently released American disaster movie, Twisters. Created under the directorial vision of Lee Isaac Chung, the movie had more in common with Powell than the audience knew about.
The movie had a horrifying tornado scene, and in an interview, Glen Powell had revealed that it was inspired by his real-life tornado encounter. Furthermore, the actor’s personal experience will undoubtedly keep the audience riveted.
How Did Glen Powell’s Real-Life Encounter With a Tornado Inspire a Scene in Twisters?
In Hollywood, several movies have taken real-life scenarios as inspiration. But Twisters surely takes this up a notch. Glen Powell explained this when he appeared in an interview (via People) before Twisters hit theaters. In this chitchat, the actor reflected on his first-ever encounter with a tornado at a very young age.
He added that he and several of his cousins were driving with their aunt Taffy to the family ranch. At that moment, he realized that the sky was changing colors and that things were becoming a little scary around him. It was indeed dangerous, given that it was the F5 tornado that struck Jarnell, Texas, in 1997. Further, he added:
I must have been like 8 or 9… we were almost a part of the Jarrell, Texas tornado. If anybody knows about the Jarrell, Texas tornado, it’s an F5, which is the biggest and largest tornado.
Glen Powell described the horrific event in detail, adding that as the disaster loomed, he and his family were forced to seek refuge in a local store. He continued, saying, “It’s something you don’t really forget,” and mentioned how he was turning to his aunt Taffy for guidance during the experience.
The actor also talked about his early years in Texas and how those experiences shaped his participation in the movie Twisters. He also mentioned that the 1996 original Twister had a significant influence on him as a kid.
How Were the Tornados Created on Twisters Set?
In Hollywood, directors have long used CGI and special effects to create several masterpieces. However, things take on a completely new significance when this method is applied to produce a natural disaster. In an interview with Indie Wire, the filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung went into detail about the backstage operations involved in creating the tornado scenes.
The director went on to say that although the crew led by Academy Award-nominated special effects designer Ben Snow produced six realistic tornadoes, it wasn’t enough to convey the enchantment on screen. In order to do this, Chung mostly relied on the work of practical effects artist Scott Fisher and CGI. Fisher took care of everything, from blowing a coke machine across an empty swimming pool to generating realistic wind and rain.
Knowing that Hollywood’s standard equipment would not be adequate for Twisters, Scott Fisher procured two jet engines that could produce winds reaching speeds of up to 170-180 mph. These machines were additionally positioned carefully apart before simulating the strong tornado conditions required for the Glen Powell starrer.
The American disaster movie Twisters had a theatrical release on July 19th.
