How ‘Euphoria’ Turned Sydney Sweeney Into a Modern-Day Godzilla

Key Points:

• In this week’s “Euphoria” episode, Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) is depicted as a towering 50-foot woman stomping through Los Angeles in a fantasy sequence symbolizing her rise as an internet superstar, inspired by classic sci-fi films like “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” and “Godzilla.”
• Series creator Sam Levinson collaborated closely with production designer François Audouy and visual effects supervisor David Van Dyke to create forced-perspective miniature sets, using traditional practical effects and minimal digital enhancement to achieve the sequence’s visual impact.
• The miniature city included meticulously crafted models of iconic Los Angeles landmarks, built at varying scales to accommodate different shots, with lighting and set design carefully controlled to maintain a consistent twilight ambiance.
• The production incorporated old Hollywood techniques such as practical effects for Cassie’s interaction with a building, including a giant chest appliance that smashed through glass, and combined physical elements like smoke and explosions to enhance realism on high-resolution 65mm film.
• The creative team aimed to express Cassie’s heightened inner experience through this homage to classic filmmaking crafts, emphasizing purposeful use of miniatures and practical effects rather than relying heavily on CGI, contributing to the show’s distinctive cinematic feel.