Flying in reality: how to shoot flying skates for the blockbuster "Back to the Future 2"

The second part of the legendary trilogy "Back to the Future", released in 1989, excited the audience with technological gadgets, which, as the creators of the picture assumed, would be in use in 26 years. I especially remember the self—tying sneakers from Nike and the flying hoverboard skateboards.

Director Robert Zemeckis also added fuel to the fire, saying that the hoverboard really exists. This, they say, is a military development, the permission for the use of which the film crew managed to knock out with great difficulty. Some even believed it. In fact, there was nothing like that back then, of course. And shooting scenes with riding hoverboards required a fair amount of ingenuity.

(13 photos in total)

Source: LiveJournal/dubikvit

When Marty and the rest of the hoverboards were shown above the knees, the shooting, of course, was carried out on ordinary skateboards.

And to create the effect of floating above the surface, plywood decking was built on the set.

In some scenes, the main character was even rolled on a regular cart.

Much more difficult in the production were shots where the characters are shown in full growth.

Shoes were tightly screwed to the boards, and the actors were attached to a mobile crane with the help of a complex engineering design made of belts and fishing line.

That is, the heroes really flew, albeit without the use of a magnetic field.

The most cunning construction was created for the scene in which Marty flies over the pond.

Of course, it was not easy for both actors and directors to master such skating. Therefore, before the start of filming, large-scale test tests were carried out.