‘Whalefall’ Director Brian Duffield on Using Josh Brolin’s Heartbeat For the Whale: ‘Make It Feel as Personal as Possible’

By Tanya Fedak

Tanya Fedak

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Josh Brolin can now add a different kind of role to his resume.

In addition to starring as Mitt Gardiner, the late father of Austin Abrams’ character Jay, aspects of the actor were also used to create the appearance of the sperm whale that traps Jay inside its body for the majority of the film.

As Jay fights for survival, he communicates with the spirit of his father (via Brolin’s voice), which also doubles as the spirit of the whale. Because the its heartbeat triggers a specific lighting effect throughout the film, director Brian Duffield revealed they recorded Brolin’s heartbeat and doubled it for the whale’s, further solidifying the late father’s affinity and connection with the mammal.

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