Uh, Ok. I'd like to hear the details...

[DonDavis]

on how this was made. I don't doubt his ability to do the splits. I do, however, doubt 2 semis could go that far in reverse and remain that stable. I know the easy answer is it was filmed in reverse. But I'm looking for factual, not easy.



Talk amongst yourselves...

[stomachmonkey]

It's not real footage, it's 100% CG.

Look at his face.

Also look at the drivers.

The lighting.

Unnatural camera shake.

etc.....

[Steve Carlton]

Looks real to me and made by Volvo to demonstrate their Dynamic Steering as it says in the ad.

I don't see what you're referring to, SM.

[sc_rufctr]

According to this it's real.

[Nathans_Dad]

I bet it's real. My guess is there was a net under him that was digitally removed though, I doubt Van Damme would risk death for a commercial.

[Laneco]

DAMN fine driving. Hats off to the professionals behind the wheels.

angela

[Racerbvd]

I bet it's real. My guess is there was a net under him that was digitally removed though, I doubt Van Damme would risk death for a commercial.

I don't know, he is looking pretty old, and when was his last real movie??
He is known for his splits..

[stomachmonkey]

Skin texture is really hard to render. His face looks like a really high end render. The eyes and skin usually give it away. Now it could be they just caked on way too much makeup but I've been around my fair share of high end CG and that's how it looks.

The trucks are not identical, slightly different aero packages on top and different trailers yet everything moves in unison. Granted they are not that far apart but they look like they are almost a single unit. The cabs and trailers move the same amount at the same time and Claude does not appear to be counterbalancing.

The drivers just look fake.

His shirt tail moves but nothing else, you'd think his pants would blow a bit?

And there is no reflection of him on either truck.

Now the things that make it look real, the slight adjustments of his feet a couple of times.

And right around :23, look at the very bottom of the screen, reflected in the windshield, inside corners, appears to be camera boom.

So maybe it's bad makeup plus combo of green screen and live truck shots.

For me the way it's lit, the softness of certain things, the textures, looks like really hi end CG.

[stomachmonkey]

Which one is the real one and which is the CG render.

Easy enough side by side but if I posted just the fake one you'd never question it.

[strupgolf]

As a driver on the pro side, I find it hard to believe those trucks can back up at those speeds and keep him on. I'd say it was filmed in reverse. A great ad IMO, byt kind of suspect.

[Steve Carlton]

I'd be shocked if Volvo would fake the video. The trucks are going what, 5mph? I'm sure their Dynamic Steering feature had something to do with it.

Volvo Dynamic Steering - Key features : Volvo Trucks - United Kingdom & Ireland

Director Andreas Nilsson shot the spot in one take, after the production team rehearsed for three days, with just a 15-minute window to catch the morning light. The Volvo team assures us, there are no wires and no CG, just Van Damme doing his thing (they do note that "there were some safety precautions/measures involved, however those installments are not visible in the video").

Jean-Claude Van Damme Does The Splits Between Two Volvo Trucks And It's Spectacular | Co.Create | creativity + culture + commerce

Apparently, Volvo Trucks has been making dramatic videos lately:

Volvo President Does His Own Stunts In Death-Defying Product Demo | Co.Create | creativity + culture + commerce

Volvo Hires A Hamster to Drive a Very Large Truck Up a Very Dangerous Road | Co.Create | creativity + culture + commerce

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

I'd be shocked if Volvo would fake the video. The trucks are going what, 5mph? I'm sure their Dynamic Steering feature had something to do with it.

Director Andreas Nilsson shot the spot in one take, after the production team rehearsed for three days, with just a 15-minute window to catch the morning light. The Volvo team assures us, there are no wires and no CG, just Van Damme doing his thing (they do note that "there were some safety precautions/measures involved, however those installments are not visible in the video").

I agree. There's far more negative publicity at risk to fake this and present it as real. I'd think it'd be a real accomplishment for the company to actually do this.

The reflection at :23 does look like a camera boom. And I'd reckon JCVD is either wearing a harness/safety wire attached to the truck and then THAT was CG'd out. Any CG used was probably just to remove the safety equipment.

At any rate, I like the ad. It has a tongue-in-cheek vibe, while kind of jabbing at his career, while standing on truck mirrors....doing the splits.

[gacook]

Impressive.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

That's actually pretty cool...and funny.

JCVD was a pretty good film--check it out.

[motion]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Which one is the real one and which is the CG render.

Easy enough side by side but if I posted just the fake one you'd never question it.

I was a 3D animator for years. Got out around 2000. That is just amazing, IMHO.

[notmytarga]

Pelican is so up to date. I caught a bit of this on the break room TV today. Now, thanks to you all, I know a lot more and can continue my 'know it all' attitude in there.

Those mirrors showing the front of the truck surely helped. My analysis that the right truck kept its line and the left one did the relative move away. The lines on the 'runway' were likely painted for alignment. And the farthest line to left is the 'we stretched him too far' limit. If they had CGed those out we would be crying foul.

[oldE]

The O/P said, "two semis". The one under his right foot is not a semi-trailer, but is a straight truck. A lot easier to adjust the alignment in reverse. Stamachmonkey noticed there were differences, but in reverse a semi is a whole different breed.

Best
Les

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

It's not real footage, it's 100% CG.

Unnatural camera shake.

etc.....

I presume the camera is on a gyroscopic boom. Camera doesn't move. The unnatural shake would be the trucks rolling over imperfections in the road surface. You'll also notice the trucks and JCVD move in unison.

Originally Posted by Laneco

DAMN fine driving. Hats off to the professionals behind the wheels.

angela

Agree. Regardless of the new steering system abilities, the driver needs to execute the maneuver.
That's part of the details I'd like to know more about.

Originally Posted by strupgolf

As a driver on the pro side, I find it hard to believe those trucks can back up at those speeds and keep him on. I'd say it was filmed in reverse. A great ad IMO, byt kind of suspect.

And this is another part of the details I'm curious about. Power steering is nothing new, but I think this is much more of a "drive-by-wire" system. And I believe they really are going backwards. The straight truck is the one that pulls away. That's easier than drifting away a semi/trailer. Still an impressive feat.

Originally Posted by oldE

The O/P said, "two semis". The one under his right foot is not a semi-trailer, but is a straight truck. A lot easier to adjust the alignment in reverse. Stamachmonkey noticed there were differences, but in reverse a semi is a whole different breed.

Best
Les

Thanks Les, missed that on initial viewing. Having the straight truck pull away and the semi/trailer continue tracking straight tells me more that it's real. If it were CG, why not make both trucks semi/trailers, without markings on the road, and make both trucks drift apart equally? I'm certain the drivers rehearsed and practiced quite a bit. It would be easy to affix a rope, or some other device that is equal to JCVD leg span and do the maneuver over and over. I read they did the shot in one take, at dawn.

I know we live in a CG world, but I think the CG used here was to remove safety gear. Heck, even if they left the gear in, the drivers still need to drive, and JCVD still needs to do the splits, standing on the mirrors. Game show contestants do much more scary/dangerous stuff every week wearing harnesses. Ever watch Fear Factor?

[Steve Carlton]

In one of those links I think it said the truck drivers rehearsed for 3 days. I'm sure the Dynamic Steering feature had something to do with making the stunt easier.

[motion]

You can see his right boot slip slightly at :50.