Alfonso Cuarón’s 2018 Netflix release, Roma, grabbed headlines back then for sweeping Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Foreign Language Film.
The film marked Netflix’s first Best Director win and shattered records as the first non-English entry to claim both directing and cinematography honors for one creator.
Seven years on, visual effects supervisor Sheldon Stopsack joined the popular YouTube series VFX Artists React by Corridor Crew, dropping a bombshell. He stated that everything except perhaps three shots involved visual effects work, leaving hosts Wren Weichman and Jordan Allen stunned.
Stopsack, who earned a Mexican Academy Award for his efforts on the project, praised Cuarón’s raw footage as already striking.
Yet the team transformed it through painstaking digital touches that stayed completely under the radar. This recent breakdown has propelled Roma back into conversations, proving its technical depth matches its emotional punch.
Invisible Magic Builds Cuarón’s World
Roma centers on Cleo, a live-in housekeeper for a Mexico City family amid 1970s student unrest and personal turmoil. Cuarón drew from his childhood memories, casting mostly non-actors like Yalitza Aparicio as Cleo, whose debut earned her a Best Actress nod.
The VFX, handled by studios including MPC and MR. X under Technicolor’s umbrella, focused on “invisible effects” to perfect every frame. Teams cleaned up lighting rigs scattered in the family home set, ensuring long continuous takes flowed without distractions.
Roma (Credit: Netflix)
They reshaped walls slightly for ideal compositions, extended views beyond windows to match the era, and painted light digitally to mimic natural shifts.
One standout sequence unfolds at the beach, where towering waves threaten Cleo and the children in a gripping long take. Artists augmented the ocean’s power, blending practical water with simulations for seamless peril that feels utterly real.
Such subtle enhancements recreated 1970s Mexico City streets, removing modern anomalies and adding period details like accurate signage and crowds, all while preserving the film’s raw, documentary feel.
Stopsack likened the process to “painting with light,” a nod to Cuarón’s goal of frames as rich as Ansel Adams’ photos. Every reflection, shadow, and environmental element got fine-tuned, making the 135-minute runtime a testament to hidden craft.
Critics lauded the 96% Rotten Tomatoes score for Cuarón’s visual mastery, unaware of the digital backbone supporting it.
Why Hidden VFX Redefines Cinema Now
This late discovery spotlights a growing trend in prestige films, where flashy CGI yields to seamless integration. Films like Mank and The Crown employed similar tactics, digitally restoring periods or erasing sets without fanfare. Roma’s approach proves VFX elevates storytelling when it vanishes into the service of authenticity.
Cuarón’s history with effects-heavy works like Gravity, which snagged Oscars for its space visuals, informed Roma’s restraint. He collaborated closely with cinematographer Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki, prioritizing thematic depth over spectacle.
Stopsack noted the irony: a film shunning overt VFX won acclaim partly because those effects perfected its grounded realism.
For Netflix, Roma’s resurfaced legacy boosts its prestige slate. The streamer championed limited theatrical runs to qualify for Oscars, paving the way for future wins. As VFX tools advance, more directors chase this invisibility, blending tech with human stories.
Recent reactions on platforms like YouTube have racked up views, drawing new audiences to rewatch and spot the artistry.
Industry pros see Roma as a benchmark for “painting with light” in intimate dramas. Studios like Weta FX, where Stopsack now contributes, build on such techniques for projects blending real and rendered worlds. This revelation challenges viewers to revisit classics, questioning what lies beneath the surface of their favorites.
The buzz extends to Cuarón’s influence on global cinema. His semi-autobiographical tale of class, family, and upheaval resonated worldwide, amplified now by tech revelations. As Corridor Crew’s episode circulates, it invites debates on VFX’s role: essential enhancer or silent hero? Roma answers firmly in the latter camp.
Fans lost it when Monkeypaw Productions hit repost on a claim that Marvel Studios is eyeing Jordan Peele for an MCU directing gig.
The post came with nothing but a pair of watchful eyes emojis, enough to send speculation into overdrive on platforms like X and Reddit. That simple move nodded to reports of Marvel’s interest without spilling any real beans.
The next day, the company doubled down with a cheeky follow-up. They shared an old clip of Peele flashing fake vampire fangs from his Key & Peele sketch days, captioning it to mock how one emoji turned into full-blown Blade theories.
Monkeypaw added they were neither confirming nor denying the chatter, keeping the door cracked just wide enough for hope.
This plays right into Peele’s brand. His films like Get Out, Us, and Nope master social horror with sharp twists on familiar scares, perfect for Blade’s daywalker world of bloodsuckers and moral gray areas. Past whispers say Marvel met with him before, floating ideas like an X-Men take or supernatural team-ups.
Blade’s Endless Development Nightmare
Announced back in 2019, the MCU Blade reboot promised Mahershala Ali as the half-vampire hunter, fresh off his Oscar wins for Moonlight and Green Book. Early hype pegged it for November 2023, but strikes, script overhauls, and director shakeups derailed everything.
Yann Demange stepped off in 2024 after creative clashes, with reports of Ali frustrated over script drafts that sidelined his character behind female leads.
Writers cycled through six names, including Michael Green of Logan fame, while the budget got slashed under $100 million to rein in costs. By late 2024, Disney had yanked it from the schedule entirely, with no new date in sight.
Jordan Peele (Credit: CNN)
Kevin Feige insists the studio stays committed, calling Blade a cherished character they want right. Ali himself told Variety he’s ready whenever Marvel pulls the trigger, urging folks to bug the bosses directly. Mia Goth holds on as a villain, but exits like Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre highlight the chaos.
Wesley Snipes’ multiverse cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine bought time, letting fans cheer the OG while the reboot sorts itself out. Still, six years in, this stands as Marvel’s longest-gestating solo flick, testing patience as Phase 6 ramps up with Avengers: Doomsday looming.
Why Peele Fits the Bloody Bill
Peele’s track record screams Blade savior. Get Out snagged him an Oscar for original screenplay, blending racial tension with genre thrills in ways Marvel craves for mature entries. His output since proves he handles spectacle and subtext, from Nope’s sky beasts to Us’ doppelganger dread.
Marvel has pulled in auteurs before. Ryan Coogler elevated Black Panther with cultural depth; Chloé Zhao brought Nomadland poetry to Eternals. Peele could inject that edge into Blade, maybe weaving in social bites on immortality or outsider status, all while delivering the R-rated gore the original trilogy nailed.
Fan forums buzz with Midnight Sons pitches too, grouping Blade with Ghost Rider and Moon Knight for a darker corner of the MCU.
Reddit threads debate if Monkeypaw gets producer credits like Coogler’s Proximity Media on Wakanda Forever. Peele’s Universal deal stalled his next original, freeing him up as Marvel hunts fresh voices post its superhero slump.
Fan Frenzy Meets Studio Caution
Social media exploded post-Monkeypaw’s posts. Instagram reels and X threads rack up likes, begging Marvel to hand Peele the reins, with edits mashing Nope aliens onto Blade trailers. One viral post tallies 300 upvotes, pushing for it before Ali ages out.
Yet caution lingers. Peele once swore off franchises for full control, and Marvel’s track record with directors demands notes over final cuts. Blade’s mess stems partly from Feige juggling too much, spreading thin across 30+ projects yearly. Insiders note standard meetings happen, but no deal seals yet.
If it lands, expect ripples. A Blade movie could signal Marvel’s pivot to horror-infused phases, teeing up vampires for bigger MCU arcs. Until official word drops, these teases keep the reboot’s pulse faintly beating, with fans clinging to fangs-out hope amid the wait.
