The arrival of the Atreides family at Arrakeen was accomplished using a beautifully detailed foreground miniature constructed by one of the masters of the technique, Emilio Ruiz del Rio. The process uses a model placed close to the camera (in this case on a high tower in the parking lot of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City) which is strategically placed so that background action in the distance can be photographed through gaps in the model, creating the seamless illusion of live action in a set which would be too difficult and expensive to build full-size.
The full-size background with partially constructed wall.
The live action background at Azteca Stadium to be shot through the foreground miniature
The video crew recording the scene.
The tower supporting the foreground miniature.
The miniature rock wall and entrance to Arrakeen.
Emilio Ruiz del Rio at work on a foreground miniature
Emilio Ruiz del Rio, Pepe Lopez Rodero and Jimmy Devis discuss the shot
Second Unit Director Jimmie Devis behind the camera.
The video crew take over the main camera position
Videographer Anatol Pacanowski at the Arrakeen wall.
No scene complete without wind machines.
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