*Front: The White House splinters into a thousand fragments before our horrified eyes, a shot so spectacular it wound up in the Independence Day teaser trailer. "We always get a lot of cheers in the movie theatre when the White House explodes," notes visual effects supervisor Volker Engel with a wry grin.
Right: A model of the magnificent White House in less troubled times. Blowing up the classic building was a painstaking endeavor for the Independence Day special effects crew. *Source: Back of card