Chris Evans is one of the most versatile actors, having essayed roles such as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starred in critically acclaimed films like Snowpiercer and Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Evans has starred in more than his share of science fiction films, with a boatload of world-building involved.
Speaking to GQ about the most iconic roles of his career. Chris Evans talked about the practical effects that were used in Bong Joon Ho’s 2013 dystopian film, Snowpiercer. The actor regaled his experience on set, contrasting it with the time he played Captain America in the MCU, and how he found it easier on these of Snowpiercer.
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Snowpiercer had practical effects, which made it easier
Chris Evans is best known for his role as Captain America, which means he was an integral part of the MCU. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of CGI, which means the Fantastic Four actor found himself working with completely CGI environments. This would mean that Evans would be on set with a lot of green screen, having to imagine in his head how certain scenes would look.
However, this was not the case on the set of Snowpiercer. Evans revealed to GQ that despite not understanding the script, the actor found it much easier to work on the set of Snowpiercer than he did in any MCU film. This was, in large part, due to the production’s use of practical effects. The actor said:
“{It was] incredibly helpful with the tangible environment as opposed to Marvel when you’re talking to green screens, imaginary aliens. Everything was right there and you could touch.”
Practical effects have always been a favoured form of storytelling over CGI among filmmakers. However, it becomes very difficult to sustain a production with practical effects, because it uses a lot more resources than CGI. However, artists like Guillermo Del Toro routinely prefer practical effects over CGI, and their productions can usually sustain the budget of such decisions.
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Chris Evans had trouble understanding the Snowpiercer script
Evans had a little difficulty understanding the script for Snowpiercer. The director, who has also directed critically acclaimed films like Okja and Parasite, usually writes films with novel and unexplored ideas, which can be a little cerebral. The actor said:
“When I first read the script, I didn’t quite get it. I was like, ‘So … what?’ Whenever it’s a movie that’s world-building, you’re creating a completely separate environment. There’s just kind of a conceit that you have to say, ‘OK, so everyone just accepts this, this is just how it is?”
Evans has worked with some intellectual films of his own, having featured in a classic whodunit like Knived Out. When contrasted with films like Fantastic Four and Captain America: The First Avenger, it becomes clear why actors prefer films with practical effects.
