10 Amazing Movie Practical Effects And How They Did It

Considering he is now best known for the almost entirely CGI created Avatar, it might be surprising to see James Cameron on a list of practical effects. However before the CGI revolution he was no stranger to the use of models and recreations.

Cameron had 6 complete Titanic's built, including one of full scale with minor modifications. Many of the scenes with actors do involve green screens and digitally adding them to the deck of miniatures. However the actual sinking, and the legendary splitting scene, were all created using real miniatures shot in slow motion.

The spectacle of the ship splitting, ripping and sinking to the bottom of the ocean feels so captivating and real because we are watching an actual structure split, crumble and sink beneath the water. Clever use of camera angles and a surrounding set helps trick the eye into believing that it is full sized.