‘Twisters’ | Scene Breakdown

Hello, I’m Lee Isaac Chung, the director of “Twisters.” This scene unfolds midway through the film and is referred to internally as T4, indicating the fourth tornado sequence. The characters Kate and Tyler, portrayed by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell respectively, are central to this moment. Notably, James Paxton, son of Bill Paxton, makes a brief appearance as a man attempting to escape the tornado with his partner. Other cast members in this sequence include Lily Smith, daughter of our writer Mark L. Smith, Samantha Ireland, Aila Grey as the little girl, and Jeff Swearingen as the ill-fated desk clerk.

Capturing a tornado at night was a key objective for me, inspired by my experiences growing up in tornado alley, where nocturnal tornadoes were particularly terrifying. The aim was to convey the intense, real-time experience of facing a tornado.

Our special effects expert, Scott Fisher, orchestrated the thrilling elements of this scene. For instance, the Coke machine’s top cover was intentionally designed to be blown off by the wind. Jeff Swearingen was rigged for a dramatic pull-back scene, transitioning to a stuntman who was hoisted approximately 60 feet into the air. The trailer crash into the pool’s edge, accompanied by falling debris, added to the tension. Filming was challenging due to the loudness and potential danger, but our actors handled it with great professionalism.

The sequence required meticulous set design and destruction. While shooting in the pool area, crew members simultaneously dismantled parts of the set to depict the aftermath of the tornado. The motel setting was originally a location with three distinct structures. We constructed additional elements in a horseshoe layout, including an office, to facilitate the on-screen destruction.

A highlight of this scene was a dynamic crane shot, expertly executed by our camera operator, Geoff Haley. His technical prowess ensured seamless fluidity and precision throughout this complex sequence.