How the ‘I’m a Virgo’ VFX Team Made Jharrel Jerome a Giant

TheWrap magazine: Series creator Boots Riley “wanted to make it feel like it was made in the ’80s, maybe the ’70s,” says visual effects supervisor Todd Perry

I'm a Virgo
Jharrel Jerome in "I'm a Virgo" (Prime Video)

Shunning the Spielbergian practice of withholding a titanic presence from the audience (à la “Jaws” or “Jurassic Park”), Prime Video’s “I’m a Virgo” shows you its titan, a massive baby named Cootie, in the opening seconds of this surrealist series from creator Boots Riley (“Sorry to Bother You”).

We then see Cootie progress into adulthood, as a 19-year old, 13-foot tall young man (played by Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome) confined to a guest house, shielded from California society by his protective guardians (Mike Epps and Carmen Ejogo) until Cootie gets curious, and a “Twamp Monster” (his newly minted Oakland moniker) is introduced into society.

This remarkable effect is a shrewd combination of practical effects, puppetry, some CGI and whole lot of forced perspective.

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