Exclusive Insights: Iconic Jim Carrey Classic Influences Landmark Barbie Movie Creation!

Warning: Major SPOILERS lie ahead for Barbie!

Summary

Director Greta Gerwig sought guidance from Peter Weir, the filmmaker behind The Truman Show, to improve the on-set atmosphere for Barbie, reflecting the camaraderie among directors in assisting one another in dealing with similar ideas. Barbie and The Truman Show both delve into the notions of venturing beyond comfort zones and facing the truth.

Both movies center on artificial worlds and the characters' quest to uncover truths beyond the simulated environments they reside in.

Drawing direct inspiration from The Truman Show, the blockbuster hit Barbie takes viewers on a journey alongside Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) as they are extracted from Barbieland and thrust into the real world. Here, they face genuine challenges for the very first time. With overwhelming popularity, the film is projected to surpass the $1 billion mark at the box office during the upcoming weekend.

Barbie's entire story is heavily influenced by The Truman Show, as director Greta Gerwig sought advice from Peter Weir, who directed the Jim Carrey classic. Gerwig shared in an interview with AP News that she reached out to Weir for guidance in bringing Barbieland to life, as he had experience creating an artificial town on soundstages for The Truman Show in 1998. Below is Gerwig's quote regarding her conversation with Weir:

"He was incredibly generous with his time. My concept for Barbieland was to create an interior soundstage world, but I knew that soundstages have limitations in terms of scale. They can only be so big, and you can only raise the lights so high. There were certain parts of his movie that were indeed shot on a stage, but there were other parts that couldn't possibly be contained within a stage because of their size, yet they managed to maintain a stage-like feel. Weir explained to me that they filmed many scenes outside in a community in Florida, but they strategically placed large stage lighting fixtures everywhere to maintain the desired lighting effect, even though they were outdoors. However, he did mention that it made the environment extremely hot, reaching temperatures of 120 degrees, and he advised against creating a place that's already hot and making it even hotter. In my experience, directors are incredibly generous when it comes to sharing their knowledge and experiences. They understand the challenges of filmmaking and are always willing to help out by sharing lessons learned from their own projects. Each film brings a unique set of obstacles, and fellow directors are willing to pass on knowledge that they can no longer use since they've already made their respective films. I had a similar experience when making 'Little Women,' as Steven Spielberg was incredibly generous in sharing his research and lighting diagrams from 'Lincoln,' which took place in the same time period. He showed me everything, and it was invaluable. Despite being immersed in our own cinematic worlds, there is a sense of camaraderie within the solitude of the filmmaking process."

Editor's Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the movie covered here would not exist without the hard work and talent of the writers and actors in both unions.

Barbie Echoes The Truman Show's Themes

The Truman Show revolves around the concept of venturing beyond one's comfort zone to confront reality. Truman has spent his entire existence enclosed in a literal bubble, with individuals pretending to be paid actors in his personalized narrative. Instead of choosing to persist in the falsehood after discovering the truth, Truman ultimately breaks free, liberating himself from the constraints of his secluded haven and bravely confronting his fears.

Barbie's story mirrors this narrative, choosing to embrace pain, loss, and even death instead of returning to Barbieland and dismissing the Real World. She forsakes a life surrounded by dolls and ventures into a reality devoid of toys and vibrant pink happiness. Through her existential crisis, Barbie ultimately realizes that life holds value, even in the face of inevitable loss. Similarly, Ken manages to forge his own path, detached from Barbie and unaffected by oppressive patriarchal notions.

Both The Truman Show and Barbie revolve around the confinement of their main characters within artificial worlds, making them remarkably complementary films. Weir's exceptional guidance on creating a more favorable environment for Barbie during filming is a testament to the camaraderie between directors and serves to ensure that Barbie can benefit from Weir's expertise concerning a similar concept. The underlying theme of both Barbie and The Truman Show is the search for truth beyond the realm of simulation, which is why they resonate so powerfully.

Source: AP News