Fallout Behind the Scenes - Turning Junkyards into the Wasteland

Video Description

Fallout didn’t rely on CGI to build its world—because the wasteland had to feel real. Here’s how the team blended practical builds and VFX to redefine video game adaptations. Fallout Power Armor: The Real Reason Season 1 Looks So Real comes down to something surprisingly old school: practical craftsmanship. In this behind-the-scenes breakdown, we explore how showrunner Jonathan Nolan and production designer Howard Cummings grounded Fallout’s iconic world in tangible details, from the Brotherhood of Steel suits to the grime smeared across Ella Purnell’s face. The video digs into how the crew worked with high-end effects studios to create functional power armor—hero suits for close-ups, stunt versions for action, and destructible dummies for big moments. Instead of leaning on CGI junk, the team scavenged real junkyards, flea markets, and estate sales to build props that felt pulled straight from a post-nuclear America. This “found object realism” became a core long-tail approach to keeping Fallout’s aesthetic grounded. We also look at the hybrid makeup/VFX pipeline that brought Walton Goggins’ Ghoul to life, why Ella Purnell’s daily makeup routine was so physically demanding, and how the designers balanced game-accurate vault interiors with the show’s need for texture and wear. From LED volume environments to 35mm film grain, Fallout Season 1 blends practical and digital techniques in a way that sets a new bar for adaptations. With Season 2 heading to the Mojave Wasteland and New Vegas, these behind-the-scenes methods are only getting bigger. 0:00 How Fallout Built a Real Wasteland 0:28 Creating Wearable Power Armor 0:58 Turning Junk Into Props 1:32 The Ghoul: Practical Meets VFX 2:10 Ella Purnell’s Brutal Makeup Process 2:47 Real Locations, Real Decay 3:38 Vault Design and Visual Language 4:40 Balancing Practical Effects & LED Volumes Our Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/collider/ www.x.com/Collider Our Website https://www.collider.com For copyright matters, please contact us at: [email protected] #fallout #falloutonprime #waltongoggins #ellapurnell #behindthescenes #explained #collider