As a filmmaker with a deep background in visual effects and practical effects, I can truly appreciate the intricacies and challenges of bringing a CGI bear like Cokie to life. In the production of “Cocaine Bear,” our team had the privilege of working with motion-capture veteran Allan Henry as a practical stand-in for the rampaging mother of two. His presence on set was invaluable for setting the cadence and rhythm of each scene, especially during the intense interactions between Alden Ehrenreich’s character Eddie and Cokie.
As a huge fan and someone whose name is featured in the credits of “Cocaine Bear” (now available on Peacock), I too found it hard to accept that this wild film was genuinely being made. This sense of disbelief persisted throughout the entire two-year, nine-day production process.
He shared with SYFY Wire how the first encounter with director and producer Elizabeth Banks for the film “Cocaine Bear” took him by surprise. “It was almost as if I was receiving a practical joke call,” he expressed. “No experience could have fully prepared me for this unique movie and the chaos that ensued during its production. I kept doubting myself, asking, ‘Is this real? Are we truly making this film? Are we including this scene? Are we keeping that take?'”
“Behind the Scenes of ‘Cocaine Bear’: Wild Scripts and Surprising Cast”
When creating a photo-realistic American black bear under the influence of cocaine for Banks, Wētata FX artists were instructed by the filmmaker. However, it was essential that this animal portrayal did not represent a brainless “slaughter machine” or embodiment of pure evil, according to Hollander’s recollection.
“She expressed that she required connecting deeply with this character. It should have the ability to change rapidly. This woman could turn into a lethal force when necessary, but essentially, she’s tranquil and longs for the comfort of her home. Her fondness for drugs is strong, and if anyone obstructs her or her ‘cubs,’ she may react aggressively.”
If you’ve seen the movie, then you should have no problem completing the sentence.
How Nature Videos & The Revenant Inspired Cocaine Bear’s VFX
As a gamer, I can tell you this: Way back when, during the early planning stages before we even started filming in Ireland as a stand-in for Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Park’s mountains and forests, Weta worked tirelessly to figure out how they would create a realistic digital character that could hold our attention for an hour and a half.
During the preparation period before filming began, we developed the character of the bear extensively. As a result, everyone had a clear understanding of who the bear was going to be while we were shooting. This reduced the need for significant exploration during production and allowed us to start the show well-prepared.
The creature we created, affectionately named “Cokie” by the team, was a unique blend of various real-world inspirations. One significant influence was “Pablo Escobear,” the infamous animal reportedly addicted to cocaine, who is now a mascot at the Kentucky Fun Mall. Hollander commented that this provided an excellent foundation for the character’s appearance. Cokie has a well-defined, honey-colored snout and bears some scars. Unfortunately, he cannot wear his accessory of choice – a blue hat.
YouTube videos showcasing various types of bears in nature, high-definition images of bears on Getty Images, the movie “The Revenant,” and even Hollander’s drooling Boxer were among Cokie’s sources of inspiration. She filmed countless clips of her dog licking coconut oil from its nose as an example, observing how a tongue behaves up close when attempting to remove substances like cocaine.
Through this research, Wētā and the filmmakers maintained a consistent communication, leading to late-night Instagram exchanges showcasing peculiar animal behaviors, as Hollander shares with amusement. A black bear was discovered relaxing in a spa pool and even kicking it back, enjoying the sunset. This intriguing discovery led us to ask, “Can we incorporate some of this quirky behavior into our character?” Subsequently, we constructed a library of initial walk cycles and motion studies, gradually refining the potential traits for our character.
The VFX team chose four distinct “appearances” for Cokie’s character, each representing a stage in her accumulation of destroyed bodies, according to Hollander.
As a devoted fan, I’d describe it this way: In Stage 1, Cokie looked stunningly fresh and radiant, having just stepped out of the hairdresser with her newly styled locks. But then came Stage 2, where her appearance drastically changed as blood splattered across her face, clumping into large, gory chunks of fur. Our effects team masterfully created this grisly base costume, adding dripping geometrical shapes and gore. For Stage 3, Cokie was drenched in blood from head to toe, creating an even more chilling scene. Lastly, during Stage 4, she wore a wet version of her original costume, which we utilized for the waterfall sequence at the end.
Putting the “Cocaine” in Cocaine Bear
It might seem simpler to produce the image of a few million particles of a substance like cocaine compared to creating a lifelike character named Cokie. However, the creation of the cocaine particles proved to be the most complex part of the visual effects project.
Hollander explains, “Simple actions can sometimes require the most time,” he shares, using as an example the intricate scene where officer Bob showers a bear with cocaine from a gazebo roof. The real hurdle in this shot, he notes, was making the drug’s descent appear authentic. “The major obstacle for that take,” Elizabeth protested, “was the unpredictable behavior of the cocaine in mid-air. It moved too rapidly, clumped up unwantedly, didn’t swirl properly – it just wouldn’t cooperate!” The team had to experiment and adjust various factors until they achieved the desired effect.
In the gazebo setting, Cokie engages in deep conversations with other human characters, most notably Eddie, the hesitant drug runner played by Alden Ehrenreich. An intriguing turn of events unfolds when the massive 500-pound bear suddenly collapses on Eddie, revealing her gender during this unexpected encounter.
Allan Henry, an experienced motion-capture artist taught by Andy Serkis, played the role of the enraged mother of two during filming. Contrary to popular belief, no motion-capture data was recorded during this process. Instead, Henry’s presence on set served a crucial purpose in establishing the rhythm for specific scenes, according to Hollander.
I recall vividly that Alden was scheduled to face off against Allan in a wrestling match. My apprehension stemmed from the fact that Allan was a considerable size, yet I didn’t consider him to be a 500-pound black bear. To mitigate this concern, we came up with a solution: we measured the difference between their neck circumferences and fashioned a large, foam-padded helmet for Allan. The helmet gave him an amusing resemblance to Rick Moranis in “Spaceballs.” This turned out to be a brilliant move as it enabled Alden to have an identical target for his grappling techniques. His hair would brush against the black-clad foam neck, creating a visually striking scene. The helmet appeared quite ridiculous during filming, but its impact was remarkable in the final product.
Elizabeth Banks Kept the Head of Cocaine Bear
As a devoted fan, I was thrilled to learn that during the filming of Henry, the production team utilized a meticulously crafted Cokie head by Wētā Workshop. This came in handy for lighting and framing purposes. At the Los Angeles premiere last week, I had the privilege of conversing with the talented actors. They all expressed their gratitude for having the Cokie head prop at their disposal, explaining that it made a significant difference as they weren’t simply acting against an empty space or a person wearing a blue sock on their head.
Surprisingly, the prop was designed to snort cocaine, an amusing detail that wasn’t used. During the construction briefing at Weta Workshop, we playfully suggested, “Why not let the prop snort cocaine?” Hollander shared. “That casual remark became a reality in the build. We didn’t experiment with it, but the nostrils had two small openings and the head interior housed a vacuum attachment. So, theoretically, one could attach a vacuum and inhale some powdered substance. We chose not to try it out as we preferred preserving the build without using any substances on set.”
Through Banks’ appearances on late-night talk shows, we have learned that the bogus head, a prized possession, graces the director’s home office. According to Hollander, there was a scuffle among the team regarding who would take it home after filming. Everyone wanted a piece of it, but Liz insisted, “No! I’m taking this home with me at the end of the day!”
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2024-07-15 19:17