Description
How do you build the inside of a sperm whale big enough for an actor to climb through, get tossed around in, and survive? Whalefall production designer Ramsey Avery breaks down the extraordinary practical sets and engineering behind the 2026 film, including a spinning rig that could rotate Austin Abrams 360 degrees while spraying him with water.
In this exclusive Collider interview, Avery reveals how the production recreated a whale's mouth, esophagus, and multiple stomach chambers using articulated mechanisms, moving platforms, translucent silicone, and antibacterial foam. Each set was engineered to simulate the movements of a living whale while remaining safe for actors, stunt performers, and crew.
Avery also explains why the production built four different versions of the whale's stomach, how puppeteers manipulated the sets from underneath, and why extensive rehearsals and camera tests were essential before filming.
One of the biggest challenges was recreating bioluminescence. The team needed programmable lighting that could react to movement, survive underwater conditions, and photograph accurately without compromising the performances.
From practical creature effects to the science behind a sperm whale's anatomy, Avery takes us inside the ambitious production design that helped make Whalefall feel physically real.
Chapters:
0:00 Building the Inside of a Whale for Whalefall
0:59 Four Different Whale Stomach Sets
1:31 The 360-Degree Spinning Rig
2:21 Creating Realistic Whale Tissue and Textures
3:34 Building Safe Practical Sets for Austin Abrams
5:00 The Challenge of Bioluminescent Lighting
7:11 Researching Real Sperm Whale Anatomy
8:11 Filming Underwater and Recreating Marine Life
9:30 Could a Sperm Whale Really Swallow a Human?
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Video By Michael Zimmermann & Joaquin Rodriguez Carvalho
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