During the promotional tour for his latest film, Oppenheimer, director Christopher Nolan emphasized that it did not feature any CGI shots, leading to misconceptions that digital VFX were absent in the movie. However, the interpretation of his statement is not entirely accurate.

While Oppenheimer indeed avoids traditional CGI, it incorporates digital VFX, particularly the use of “invisible VFX.” This style of VFX is commonly employed in period films and adult dramas, where the primary goal is to enhance the authenticity of the setting without drawing attention to the visual effects, unlike superhero or action films. When executed effectively, these invisible VFX go unnoticed by audiences.

The details of how Nolan integrated digital VFX into Oppenheimer remain undisclosed until official effects breakdowns are released. Nevertheless, it’s confirmed that VFX were utilized in the film, with DNEG, a renowned VFX studio, working on it. This marks the eighth collaboration between DNEG and Nolan. The VFX predominantly involved compositing techniques, aiming to maintain the raw and realistic feeling of the original footage. Andrew Jackson, the production VFX supervisor, collaborated with SFX experts, employing an extensive library of elements, including high-speed explosion shots slowed down and merged in post-production. Most VFX shots were recreated using genuine elements, as Nolan was committed to grounding the visual effects in reality.

Surprisingly, the film’s credits do not acknowledge the majority of the VFX crew. While only 26 VFX crew members, including supervisor Andrew Jackson, are listed in the credits, it has come to light that over 160 people worked on Oppenheimer. The vast discrepancy raises questions about why a significant portion of the VFX team was excluded, with no plausible explanation provided. Notably, many of the omitted workers were from DNEG’s facilities in India.

This practice of not crediting VFX crew members is unfortunately common in Hollywood, partly because VFX artists lack unionization, leaving them with no recourse or penalties for studios when credits are omitted or misrepresented.

In an industry where nearly every individual involved in a film’s production receives recognition, from craft services to on-set teachers and even unrelated “production babies,” it is unfathomable that VFX artists, whose work is instrumental in creating the final on-screen images, are consistently excluded from credits.

Oppenheimer serves as yet another instance where live-action filmmakers like Nolan seem to diminish and misrepresent the crucial contributions of VFX workers to the media, and worse, fail to acknowledge their efforts in the credits. Over 125 individuals who played significant roles in Oppenheimer’s success were unjustly left unrecognized in the credits, highlighting the evident flaws and disrespect within the VFX industry.