Terminator 2 Behind the Scenes - The Making of James Cameron's Sci-Fi Action Epic

[@StudioBinder]

Chapters: 00:00 - Intro - Terminator 2 Behind the Scenes 02:10 - Chapter 1: Lighting and Cinematography 07:34 - Chapter 2: Practical Effects 15:42 - Chapter 3: CGI with ILM 18:05 - Takeaways

[@genilsoncechmatucaiii7057]

One more time we Thank you Studio Binder Team. We're waiting for you to BREAKDOWN more NON-AMERICAN movies like CINEMA PADADISO.

[@LouisGedo]

I remember watching this film in the theater when it was released. It was far and away the most incredible sci-fi film ever made then and still holds it's own today in terms of story telling and sheer entertainment.

[@churchill5778]

How was the postproduction pipeline set up for T2? I assume they used ProTools ,Avid, Maya and Nuke?

[@gamezone047]

One of the greatest films ever. This is truly a masterpiece, blows your mind when you learn how hard the team worked, and paid attention to details. The VFX look even better and more believable than in most modern films.

[@Say_When]

1000% agree

[@JonnyRay82]

It's amazing how it holds up over 30 years later. I agree, it looks better than most new films.

[@StudioBinder]

Everything about the film still holds up today

[@rhysthomas5811]

Better than modern films that are just full of over-the-top CGI effects. Like the older films that used practical effects.

[@samik83]

Thats because they used CG only where absolutely needed. Practical VFX goes a long way. In todays movies, It's all green screen, nothing is real and everything's added in post. It kinda loses it's soul when everything is CG, it looks nice but theres always that sense that it's fake and something is missing.

[@Aivoke]

Terminator 2 is my favorite action movie of all time!

[@JonnyRay82]

Absolutely the best there ever was and will be

[@StudioBinder]

one of ours too!

[@stavros693000]

mine too..."the rock" is my second favourite.

[@itsMrNoble]

You’re my favourite action movie of all time, mate, if anyone is…

[@rango1195]

Same here

[@TheWrathfulSlayer]

The fact that the practical effects and visual effects of T2 still hold up today is beyond remarkable!! James Cameron will always conquer not only the box office but also the artistic side of a film!!

[@StudioBinder]

The effort paid off

[@Rommheim1]

Terminator 2 is simply put one of the greatest works of art in history. It really is a huge artistic achievement, and it's a beautiful soft movie about love and coming together under the veneer of a brawny action movie. James Cameron is a creative monster.

[@StudioBinder]

Well said!

[@cpt_nordbart]

Another one would be original Jurassic Park.

[@juanfernandopinzon3310]

This is the only film I can watch over and over again. Soooo advanced for his time!

[@Extraterrestrial82490]

Seriously, it's the only film I can watch endlessly. Since I was a kid I watched this film over 1000 times no exaggeration. Timeless masterpiece.

[@junejuly532]

I still continue to watch it to this day.

[@robhuggins]

#1 favorite movie of all time, hands down... when i got the 4k copy, i literally watched it twice, back to back the same evening.... :D get my cheapo 3D printed t-800 arm in the mail this week!

[@ob1cannobody]

What's impressive is that its aged so well after 32 years.

[@StudioBinder]

like a true classic

[@PavelAveryanov]

yeah, that's why it is masterpiece

[@epochnoir3215]

Woah. This video just made me have an entirely new appreciation for this movie. James Cameron and the teams he works with are all geniuses!

[@StudioBinder]

One of the best in film

[@chrisoconnor8392]

Nah, a genius wouldn't have ruined the franchise with his last installment.

[@JustinLodes]

Yep. Unfortunately his main visual FX guy Stan Winston passes away. He was a true cinematic artist

[@dakaarys8424]

We need more visionary filmmakers like Cameron now more than ever.

[@gamezone047]

There is no chance. Nowadays you are not allowed to be a true visionary filmmaker, now there is a lot of left wing criteria that your film needs to meet before it can go on a big screen. Hollywood has been occupied by global elites, and exploited as a propaganda. Sadly.

[@Cross-CutFilms]

We have loads of them. Newish, old and up and coming. Denis Villeneuve comes to mind.

[@abirbo]

@@Cross-CutFilms Still, till date no one has the vision as Cameron. Just for a second, imagine the vast forest that Cameron designed in his mind while writing Avatar. It is primarily because of his vision that special effect artists can push the boundary and subsequently evolve a technology.

[@StudioBinder]

Not an easy request haha

[@Kalamoren]

@@abirbo sure but Avatar is still just Pocahontas

[@calvinfoo]

The time when movies are filmed with art and skill. Nothing can replace it now

[@StudioBinder]

Lasted the test of time!

[@georgescanvas]

The music score in this film was chilling. All of those dark deliberate dissonant soundscapes perfectly woven into the story line. And Guns & roses for good measure too !!

[@snehitm3516]

HATS OFF TO JAMES CAMERON. HE IS TRULY A MARVEL. Legendary. I can't even imagine how talented James cameron, christopher nolan and other directors are. I am just mind blown. THANK YOU STUDIOBINDER A THOUSAND TIMES FOR DOING THESE VIDEO. A THOUSAND TIMES....Thank god you exist.

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@hossbeki9266]

U absolutely right some scenes are even near impossible to fantom

[@37Kilo2]

Practical effects are great. It's incredible how resourceful, and creative these effects teams are. I'm always amazed at how they make such great scenes come to life.

[@StudioBinder]

Incredible direction and ingenuity

[@sudhakarp1184]

Plse cover the helloman movie.. Im from India..

[@senshai1267]

Even the music gives me chills. The magic of practical effects ! Is just gravy

[@StudioBinder]

It's awesome!

[@thenout]

If this film came out today, just as it is, it would blow people's minds just the same

[@wisdommakubile2127]

100%

[@StudioBinder]

Agreed!

[@chrisoconnor8392]

I don't think so, considering this was a lead in the start of great cgi, other films since have copied its blue print so to try and match those films today...nah it would be good but nowhere near the impact it originally had.

[@shazanali692]

​@@chrisoconnor8392 also if released today it will be digital, which takes away the magic of film, tarrantino is right, we need less digital and more film, it just looks awesome on film

[@jothain]

@@chrisoconnor8392 I kinda disagree. Liquid metal was spot on choice for cgi for the time. Besides there's so much stuff that's mixture, compared to fully cgi stuff that in many cases don't look impressive at all, even on many big budget films.

[@peterlenham3180]

Tracking Robert Patrick's movements with a grid on his body, was also the first early motion capture done in a film. Terminator 2 is a legendary classic.

[@StudioBinder]

Game changer in a lot of areas 💯

[@sreenivasaraghavan9608]

That is 33 years ago and the movie is about AI machines controlling machines

[@sonny5068]

The ending of T2 is so emotionally charged. Such a classic.

[@Say_When]

I was nine.. I'd bawled like a baby.. It's like a family member died..

[@Say_When]

That music! . How was that emotionally impactful.... That and the nuclear explosion going off and going to Hamilton stream watching those bodies evaporate and turn to ash...

[@StudioBinder]

It's awesome!

[@not_enoughmana]

I know now why you 😭

[@kennywilkinson913]

👍

[@Bobywan75]

This movie is a masterpiece ! Action, emotions, beautiful pictures with special effects still holding on.

[@StudioBinder]

One of the greatest action films ever made!

[@JFadel]

I can’t believe these docs are free. They’re so good! And I’m so thankful you guys continue to cover Cameron. It somehow feels that for a man who continues to raise the bar in filmmaking and who happens to own three of the four biggest films of all time, he comes across as extremely underrated. I don’t understand the lack of respect for this man and his work. His films are nothing but masterpieces. So it’s so satisfying to see videos like these that showcase his work. Thank you!

[@DE_Marcos-c2i]

The Combination of Special Effects and CGI makes this movie so special its my favorite movie now

[@One2_million]

I'll be remembering and putting this channel name in my movies as one of my "thank you" card. Thank you STUDIO BINDER for Teaching me film

[@StudioBinder]

Good luck!

[@neil4056]

This is the pinnacle of Human imagination and creativity, such resourceful minds all worked together, something that AI can never achieve.

[@StudioBinder]

That's filmmaking!

[@retrotony4119]

Greatest sequel and action movie of all time. I recently rewatched this movie in a theater and it still oils great to this day. That opening shot with the future war left my jaw on the floor as a 8 year old kid when I first saw it when it came out.

[@TheTriumfAnt]

For me, it's tied with Cameron's other masterpiece, Aliens. I never tire of watching either of them.

[@peterlenham3180]

Sorry but Aliens isn't even close to this masterpiece.

[@nayeebG]

Cameron does as little CGI as possible. That is some ultra S tier level stuff. Respect. 💛

[@StudioBinder]

And he does use it, he creates the best CGI

[@Skrenja]

Yeah, Avatar 2 has no CGI. 🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@peterlenham3180]

@@Skrenja That's because he has the technology now. He used very little then because it was in its infancy. Terminator 2 has the right amount of CGI, which makes it feel real. Avatar has too much, which makes it feel like a video game.

[@cjkalandek996]

I love how Cameron used to shoot his night scenes. With the ambient blue lights that they used to do with a lot of movies back in the day. And I wish they'd go back to doing that.

[@StudioBinder]

I think there's more of a trend now for realistic lighting, so for night scenes filmmakers want to use actual moonlight or mimic it

[@cjkalandek996]

@@StudioBinder I mean, I'm all for realistic lighting, but there comes a point where I'd like to go the stylistic approach every now and then.

[@Skrenja]

I miss the cinematography and creative lighting of the 90's. I think most big-budget movies of the 90's straight up looked better and more artistic then 99% of today's films.

[@cjkalandek996]

@@Skrenja To an extent, I agree. But I'd argue movies in the 2000's still look better than most movies nowadays. Mostly because that was when movies were still mostly shot on film. Whereas most digitally shot movies nowadays (with some exceptions here and there) look bland and boring.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

@@cjkalandek996 Mad Max Fury Road did the day-for night thing. It is a very stylistic choice, and isn’t the best choice for every night/dark scene.

[@Hzombie]

I'm thankful for your free everything, screen writing software and the lessons👏🔥

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@lukahmad5683]

Those miniatures is SOO REALL!

[@gjhoward]

An absolute masterpiece of cinematic history.

[@danbrockettDOP]

Great writing and VO here StudioBinder, I've seen some other BTS pieces for T2 but this one was better than any of them. Well done.

[@StudioBinder]

Appreciate it 🙏

[@rayancedrichaddad1197]

Thousand Thanks StudioBinder. Terminator 2 Judgment Day (1991) is one of my Favorite Movies. A True Masterpiece from James Cameron. And I miss the words to tell how powerful this movie is really inspiring for me. Thank you for this inspiring video that explain the Beauty of this Movie Masterpiece.

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@marwellus1]

Terminator 2 was peak action movie at its best, it had been a real event back then, a true reason to go to the cinema and a blast to watch. It'd got all you ever wanted, it was intense, fresh, smart, funny and touching. It had a soul if I dare to say, fed by Cameron's pashion for this genre and that of all the people that worked on this master piece. The CGI was just the sugar topping, for me just a "foot note" in hindsight since it was still made quite "old school", though it was an introduction to the next era of special effects. Thank you for reminding me of this :) Great little documentary!

[@waraspan755]

This film is around 30 years old - 30 years, three decades - and still one of the best masterpiece. Some nowadays films, I can ´t watch. CGI, cheap effects, but cost 200 million dollars. And my first question: Why are such films so expensive. T2 cost 100 million Dollar and it´s worlds ahead of nowadays films. T2 will still be a masterpiece in 30 years. Thank you, James Cameron, Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert Patrick, ILM and all the other humans they created this timeless film. Thank you for uploading this making of video.

[@peterlenham3180]

Almost 33 years old!

[@leewightman8619]

My favourite movie of all time..the greatest sequel of all time the practical effects are amazing..the future war scene is the coolest thing iv ever seen

[@laikathespacedog3707]

I think what makes Cameron's movies action sequences so spectacular and mind-blowing to this date ,is because of his methods to keep them grounded in order to make them compelling and realistic. This is one of the aspects that Hollywood lacks these days , nowadays most of the filmmakers mostly depend's on CGI for action sequences bcz they think that CGI will help them out to make really appreciating memorable action scenes of all time.

[@cjkalandek996]

Another reason the action of his films are so good is, as Patrick H. Willems said in his James Cameron video, his ability to convey a sense of spatial geography which is essential to creating any action scene; especially big-scale action. For example, in _Avatar_ (2009), during the final battle, the bad guys (both on land and in the air) were coming from the left and our heroes (ALSO both on land and in the air) were coming in from the right and even when the heroes change their direction, it's still shot to convey the direction the bad guys are going, so we have a good idea of where everything and everyone is.

[@laikathespacedog3707]

@@cjkalandek996 nice explanation..

[@StudioBinder]

He also creates great premises for the action to happen

[@aldunlop4622]

And too much content in the CGI too. There’s so much going on in scenes today they lose emotion, CGI artists and directors need to learn the value of restraint.

[@tronam]

Even with a virtual camera he still blocks and shoots as though it were live cinematography, which also helps ground the action and make it feel more “real”. Lots of modern CG heavy blockbusters move the camera around so impossibly fast and erratically that it just amplifies the artifice.

[@papajohn325]

I am amazed beyond words. I feel today's movies with heavy duty VFX lacks the soul this movie had. Immense hard work n depth. Best era of movies. Beautiful video. Thanks for bringing this to us.

[@StudioBinder]

Glad you liked it!

[@remco3819]

It's a masterpiece , so well shot with great action , music , effects and characters. Still my favorite movie.

[@StudioBinder]

Has it all!

[@CadillacDriver]

The background music in T2 is the best ever. Hits you right in the feels.

[@aurora2319]

What a masterpiece of a movie, this was. The CGI was truly groundbreaking at the time. This coverage of how the movie was made, makes if even more amazing how the movie was made

[@RonniMenziesStirling]

This was the first time I ever saw a movie at the cinema more than once, it was mindblowing stuff - I dragged my Mum there the second time, she loved it too! I will never forget seeing the Nuclear Nightmare scene amongst a cinema audience of hundreds of people - when that scene ended, you could have heard a pin drop. It was terrifying. This is, without a doubt, the greatest and most impactful action movie ever made.

[@worldofgreenhell]

Every participant on this one were absolute professional. The result is a masterpiece.

[@StudioBinder]

They're the best!

[@sinbadsailor7667]

I watched it first when I was a child. Watched the movie today for the second time. I was mesmerised by the cinematography and was blown away by the effects. My curiosity to know how they did it back then got me here. I am mindblown by the creativity & perseverance of the team to turn an imagination into reality. Amazing. Thanks for the great video.

[@bubediscuss]

Legitimately one of the greatest films ever made. Nothing satisfies more than T2 when I feel the need to watch a capital M MOVIE!

[@scottjohnnyhelgemoaune2951]

This is gonna be my favorite video of this week

[@StudioBinder]

Cheers!

[@ericdavidwallace]

I have seen so much behind the scenes footage on T2 but this video revealed MANY MORE FACTS I didn't even know about - simply Mind-blowing film. James Cameron is a true visionary and Artist. He is one of my favorite directors and major influences. He has such great taste and style.

[@alexhorswill73]

The greatest movie of all time with an epic soundtrack. Unmatched in every way

[@vilden12]

I LOVE THIS STUFF!!! THANK YOU!

[@180_S]

This channel is amazing and this movie is incredible. Insane special effects that are still believable today.

[@leokimvideo]

T2 and True Lies are two of the greatest films ever made. Done in the infancy of fancy computer Visual Effects that still required a human touch to make magic happen. Both films heavily rely on conventional in camera visual effects that conform to real world physics.

[@PpAirO5]

Agree. 2 of my all time favourites.

[@Tfor2show]

Excellent work on this! It's so nice to see someone other than myself putting out Terminator 2 documentary-style content that actually has a lot of good research and effort put into it. Well done! I just had a conversation about this with Terminator and T2 makeup artist Jeff Dawn. CGI is best when used to ENHANCE practical effects... Not replace them. Which is why T2 still holds up so well today.

[@StudioBinder]

Agreed!

[@marcvialli8469]

Brilliant video. I’ve been watching this movie for 32 years, and know it more than I know myself. And I learnt some new stuff from watching this. Well done.

[@gabrielesimone1372]

One of my all time favorite movies, and this video made it even better ❤️

[@StudioBinder]

Great to hear 💖

[@Tfor2show]

One of the greatest achievements in cinema! 🔥👍🏼🔥

[@Ken-fh4jc]

Robert Patrick doesn’t get the credit he deserves for how he decided to play the T-1000. It was an excellent performance.

[@adamali813]

Fantastic technical breakdown

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

This isn't my sort of film, but I seriously appreciate the skills and imagination that went into making it. Excellent explanations of each type of filming and effects. Thank you!

[@StudioBinder]

Glad you liked it!

[@RCwasteland]

A few years ago, a channel on KZbin tried to recreate the scene where the T-1000 goes through the asylum bars. They couldn’t replicate the way it was done in the movie. It just goes to show that the people involved in the creation of this movie were of a master class.

[@pencilvania777]

🤩 TWINS, TRICKS, CGI, PRACTICAL EFFECT, STUNT DOUBLES, USE OF MINIATURES MODELS, HAND DRAWN STORY BOARDS, MIRROR SHOT WITHOUT CAMERA, .. EVERY TRICK IN A BOOK...THIS MOVIE IS PERMANENTLYYYYYYYY FAVOURITE FOREVERRRR 🤩

[@StudioBinder]

And new tricks too 💯

[@nicolasrage666]

Say hello to your newest subscriber. This was damn good!

[@AllegedlySpiffy]

So excited about this one. T2 is one of my favorite films of all time.

[@StudioBinder]

Hope you like it!

[@tturnquest1]

T2 is great action movie with spectacular action scenes and an emotionally driven story. One of James Cameron’s best work to the date.

[@StudioBinder]

Agreed!

[@kmlgraph]

James Cameron had lots of practice. Five years before Terminator 2, he made Aliens; another groundbreaking science fiction movie.

[@StudioBinder]

He's always building on his previous work!

[@shazanali692]

Also he sat for years in a library while doing a trucking job learning everything about CGI and the art of film making

[@babaarcuszatir]

Wow, just wow. I never imagined the team pulled off practical effects at particular scenes in the movie, I thought it was CGI! Awesome!

[@garypasquill2355]

Stan Winston was often credited as special effects which was wrong, he did practical effects.

[@StudioBinder]

Cameron pulled out every trick in the book!

[@3DSage]

One of the best movies ever!

[@StudioBinder]

👍👍

[@Ecw_Kevin_Torres]

Terminator 2 will always be one of my favorite movie of all time

[@StudioBinder]

Wise pick :)

[@garypasquill2355]

I saw t2 twice back to back.i was blown away both times .

[@StudioBinder]

Does great on repeated viewings!

[@TinyTinyMan]

OMG these guys were GENIUSES!

[@miladtahery]

This is one of the best videos that I ever seen

[@StudioBinder]

Appreciate it!

[@johnbills3056]

This is GOLD explanation. Great work. I'm now a sub of your channel.

[@SIRROM12]

Love Terminator 2! Couldn't stop smiling throughout this whole video!

[@StudioBinder]

Glad you liked it :)

[@abgomz1]

Cameron....what a GENIUS!!!!. Even today after 32 yrs the VFX and CGI artists don't have the balls to do a better job using modern facilities....RESPECT to Cameron and his TEAM.

[@Zed-fq3lj]

Thank you for this wonderful video and insight into the the greatest sci-fi action of all times.

[@StudioBinder]

Happy to :)

[@jin6000]

Absolutely LOVE the videos you guys put out, consistently amazing. This narrator is also my favourite in anything ever (minus David Attenborough). Thanks so much folks!

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@Not_So_Slim_Shady]

People like to goof of Cameron but everything he does pushes the industry forward. Truly one of the greats.

[@bappadey4197]

Really it's a Amazing and Unique creation. Thank you sir 🙏

[@nolsee1176]

Terminator 2 is my favourite movie. Everything about it just hits right. They could not have done a better job with the character arcs, meaningful action scenes, and raising the stakes by making a completely different type of Terminator that is the stuff of nightmares. A shapeshifting liquid metal assassin was a perfect idea.

[@SpielSatzFail]

T2's special effects are a combination of literally EVERY trick in the book. Miniature, puppets, make up effects, stop motion, rear projection, live action & cgi. That's what makes this movie so special (plus the blue tone in all of the night scenes). This was movie magic, and it vanished with modern (cgi) effects.

[@williamsolis1]

Commenting because this channel is so incredible

[@StudioBinder]

we appreciate it :)

[@CPMest81]

One of the best movies of all time, I've easily seen this 300+ times since it was released when I was 10 yrs old.

[@StudioBinder]

That's dedication!

[@emmykayemmanuel3987]

Beautiful piece of art

[@StudioBinder]

🔥🔥

[@naarahjanemorris3121]

Thanks for the Informative Video of behind the scenes on terminator 2 judgement day wow a lot went into making this film.

[@zelgemini24]

“Come with me if you want to live..” and “ I’ll be back! “ those are iconic words of Arnold S😊💓

[@StandUpPhilosopher254]

I still think this is the greatest movie ever made... I know its common to say it Citizen Kane or this or that... but if you really think about it, this movie is truly something special. Not only the ahead of its time special effects that would still be good today, but the fact that it also probably the best action movie ever made, definitely the golden standard of sequels and also a very grounded "father" and son story that touches of more emotional values such as friendship. I could go on and on, but this movie is truly at the top of my list.

[@panzerfaust187]

This movie is a 10 out of 10. It’s the perfect combination of animatronics, rear screen projection, make up, twins for the duplication effect( yes they used multiple twins) etcetera etcetera

[@StudioBinder]

Agreed!

[@luanrodrigues8221]

StudioBinder never disapoints! One of my favorite movies❤

[@nickgiesler3141]

T2 is perfection in every way. I have probably watched it over 100 times.

[@rolytnz]

This movie is still awesome and holds up well. It was one of those movies that, after seeing it in the theatre, I had to sit and decompress for an hour just absorbing what I had just watched.

[@StudioBinder]

we all had a similar experience

[@coffeeandbytes9854]

I've just got a big ole grin on my face throughout this entire thing.

[@muhammedshan8204]

I love this channel ❤️😍

[@StudioBinder]

Love our viewers!

[@realDahenzi]

That was phenomenal! Thank you, StudioBinder ❤❤❤

[@lordhanzo7544]

This is probably my favorite movie of all time Horror, ScFi, and Action movie all in one

[@hoffington]

As a huge Terminator 2 this was great to watch!

[@CptCh4os]

Simply amazing

[@hunterkiller1440]

I wish the sequels of this explored more on the bootstrap paradox on how Skynet and John Connor needs each other in order to exist.

[@StudioBinder]

That would've been interesting 😮

[@NoelBenavente]

T2 is the greatest action/sci-fi movie EVER.

[@StudioBinder]

very may well be!

[@dvader3000]

Great story,great performances,great effects, a great director etc etc Everything came together to form a fantastic movie

[@stephenwilliams3807]

Excellent as always, Studio Binder, but T2 won two Oscars for sound, and the sound in this movie still sets a bench mark after all these years. It is an absolutely essential element to what makes the film great. Perhaps a part 2 on sound design?

[@StudioBinder]

we might!

[@Sveltdre]

My film school instructor worked on this movie, amongst others. Good times!

[@StudioBinder]

That must've been a great experience!

[@DanielTuriman]

I watched this movie repeatedly, never boring

[@nitrousltd]

This video is very well produced. Nice job!

[@StudioBinder]

Cheers!

[@flashchrome]

Wow. It is amazing what a lot of money, intelligence, direction, scripting, producing and acting can do. The lights above the stationary car to imply movement is a stunning solution.

[@StudioBinder]

He had great vision!

[@valhallaxx]

GREAT video. Almost entirely facts that other T2 making-of videos never cover.

[@StudioBinder]

Glad you liked it!