VFX in Forrest Gump: 1. enhance narrative immersion

The film Forrest Gump is often celebrated as a historical drama that tells a legendary tale of Gump. In the film, the use of CGI and VFX significantly enhances its’ narrative immersion.

(For the screenshots below, there are some Chinese subtitles because this is the only version available to me. I was unable to access official film screenshots from Paramount Plus on YouTube.)

College Football Scene

A stadium filled with crowd replication; people are holding up cards says: “Go Forrest”.

CGI helps to augment the crowd size and create the atmosphere of a major college football game.

The original stadium only has a lower tier to it, CGI added the overall scope of the stadium.

The visual effects here amplify Forrest’s athletic abilities, making his journey more believable and impactful. The integration of CGI with live-action footage helps the audience become immersed in the game and highlights Forrest’s gift in running.

Anti-Vietnam War Rally in Washington, D.C.

CGI is used to depict a large crowd at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where Forrest addresses an anti-Vietnam War rally.

Original scene/ before the treatment of CGI

The CGI here broadens the scale of the event, making it feel historically significant. It allows the character to be inserted into a major moment in American history, enhancing the Forrest’s connection to the era.

Ping Pong Diplomacy

CGI is used to create the rapid and precise ping-pong ball movement during Forrest’s matches against top players. This effect was achieved by using computer-generated ping-pong balls and motion control.

The VFX in this scene highlight Forrest’s unique talent and dedication, portraying his rise in the sport. The visual effect immerses the audience in the intensity of the matches.

How the Ping Pong scene was made by using CGI.

The ping pong game was shoot at paramount studio, there was only 1 tier of people put in to the original scene. The waves of people going up are all painted; everything above that was all painted in and designed by CGI.

Inserting Forrest into historical footage

Forrest in Historical Footage

The film uses CGI to insert Forrest into historical footage with famous figures. This was done using compositing techniques, matching lighting, and creating digitally manipulated dialogue.

This image shows that they position Tom into old archival Footage. And they stripe Tom in behind Lyndon’s hand, while get rid of the original military person in this scene.

These scenes effectively bridge the fictional story with real historical events, enhancing the believability of Forrest’s journey. By placing him directly in these significant moments, the CGI contributes to the film’s magical realism and reinforces the idea of Forrest as an unlikely witness to history.

How the historical footage scene was made by using CGI

Helicopter Scene in Vietnam

CGI & VFX were used to create realistic battle scenes, such as the dramatic helicopter flight.

The intense and chaotic visuals immerse the audience in the dangers of the Vietnam War, reflecting Forrest’s perspective as a soldier. The use of CGI enhances the realism and scale of the battle, helping the audience connect with Forrest’s experiences in the Vietnam War.

Overall, the use of CGI and VFX in “Forrest Gump” enhances narrative immersion by blending Forrest’s fictional story with real historical events, creating visually captivating scenes, and highlighting key aspects of the character’s journey. The effects are integrated in the film so well, ensuring that they serve the story and character development.