Warner Bros Pictures has just released a featurette of exclusive behind the scenes from the making of Tenet. Check it out below to explore those heavy IMAX cameras located everywhere. However, don’t expect to see even one green screen, nor digital cameras.

A pure filmmaking process

This BTS featurette that was released yesterday, sheds more light on the “Nolanization” method, which is: Making it big, live and real. Spoilers free, you’ll not be exposed to any hints regarding the complicated story itself. However, you can see how Nolan shoots, which is not a big surprise but still will contribute to our educational experience and inspiration. It’s a pure filmmaking process for the goal to utilize that huge canvas. Thumb rules are quite simple: Maximum IMAX, minimum green screen, and avoiding digital cameras.

This BTS featurette that was released yesterday, sheds more light on the “Nolanization” method, which is: Making it big, live and real

IMAX cameras everywhere

In the BTS featurette, you are going to see those heavy-duty film IMAX cameras (most of them are MSM models) running huge 65mm film inside of them, located everywhere, mounted like a GoPro in order to get the shots Nolan wants. It appears that many times, DP and Nolan’s cinematic partner, Hoyte van Hoytema was operating those cameras handheld, which is not an easy task, obviously. Hoyte is well experienced in this huge format. Tenet is Hoyte and Nolan’s third mutual project, after blockbusters like Interstellar and Dunkirk. Also, Tenet is Nolan’s eleventh feature film, and his sixth to be shot and released in 70mm IMAX. To learn more about IMAX filmmaking, make sure to check our article: IMAX Filmmaking: What is it like to Shoot on an IMAX Film Camera?

Minimum CGI to enhance realism

According to resources, Tenet has only 280 VFX shots, less than most romantic comedies. This number is also low for director Christopher Nolan himself. The Dark Knight (2008) featured 650 VFX shots, The Dark Knight Rises (2012) had 450, Inception (2010) around 500, and Dunkirk (2017) contained only 429 visual effects shots. Furthermore, Nolan is known for his minimal green screen approach which leads to the elevation of real live-action shots that contribute to realism. That thesis is also well emphasized in the BTS featurette. For a demonstrated reference, you can explore the making of the 747 crashing scene: A real 747 airplane was purchased and crashed into a hangar. No visual effects or CGI were involved in that scene.

Utilizing 65 mm film: No digital cameras were used

FYI, IMAX shoots a 65 mm film. A Kodak 1000′ roll costs about $1,400. Each roll of 1000’ is equal to 3 minutes of the film (when shooting 24 frames per second), so do the math. Moreover, according to the tech spec of Tenet, no digital cameras were used. Here are the cameras that shot the movie;

• Arriflex 765
• IMAX MKIII
• IMAX MKIV
• IMAX MSM 9802
• Panavision 65
• Panavision Panaflex System 65 Studio

Wrapping up

Watching this exclusive featurette can educate us about the way Nolan chooses to tell his story and impress the audiences. Make no mistakes, this film was created technically to be watched on the big screen (cinema theater) or on the huge canvas (IMAX theater). Personally, I wish we had at least one cinema theater opened here in Israel, but unfortunately, they are all closed due to COVID panic. For US moviegoers, check out the film’s dedicated website for movie theaters available in the US (at tenetfilm.com)… there are hundreds of them.

Watch TENET- Behind the Scenes Exclusive below: