P1: Explain how special effects are used to generate audio-visual content
- Special effects are effects that are physical and used to improve or enhance a scene. Here I'll go through different examples of special effects used, and what effect they have:
Mechanised Props (15:38-16:50)
Mechanised Props are used often in films within genres like horror and sci-fi, particularly when it involves creatures that are hard to replicate/bring to life any other way. This effect includes the use of robotics and animatronics, ranging from the very simple to complicated robotics and machinery. These can be used to enhance a scene by making creatures or objects that are typically unrealistic or unusual come to life and look convincing. This can enhance the general atmosphere of a piece, for example, making a creature in a horror movie more convincing. In the video you can see Rick Baker talk about the mechanised gremlins he created for the second Gremlin's movie |
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Stunt Props
Stunt Props are props that are typically used for action sequences, enhancing them by creating more visceral impact. Theses are things like balsa wood, sugar glass or rubber swords/knives, which can be smashed or used to attack, creating a visceral impact without causing any real injury. This can be seen in this clip from "Scott Pilgrim Vs the World." For example, at 1:25 the main character falls down and crashes through some wood. This is balsa wood, making it safe to use, and still impactful. In the fight scene later between 2:30 and 3:00, the skateboards are all also made of balsa wood, creating the same impact. |
Scale Models
Scale Models are often used in film for sequences that would otherwise be very difficult, expensive or dangerous to film. For example, instead of using a real helicopter in a scene, a detailed scale model can be used instead. With the right editing, this can look and feel very convincing to the viewer, while saving the film makers a lot of money. In this clip from 'V for Vendetta', the parliament building is being blown up alongside spectacular fireworks (3:27 onwards.) Obviously there would be a few difficulties with actually blowing up parliament, so instead a small, highly detailed scale model of parliament is blown up with pyrotechnics. This looks highly realistic, and alongside other effects and editing, the sequence looks convincing and enhances the scene. |
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P2: Explain how Visual Effects are used to generate audio-visual content
- Visual effects are effects that are added to a scene in post, using software (premiere, after effects etc.) which enhance the visuals of a scene. Here are some examples of visual effects techniques commonly used, and what effect they have.
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Digital Compositing
Digital compositing is the process of combining different layers of visual elements form different sources into one image. The goal is for all of these different elements such as filters, background images, lights etc. to come together and create a complete image that looks natural to the scene that is being created. For example, a more blue filter, some light-dim and more snow effects can be layered together over live-action footage of a scene set in a snowy area to make the scene look like it was shot in a cold winter location. This can be seen to great effect in the video clip to the left, which shows sequences from popular HBO series 'Game Of Thrones' and how digital compositing is used to bring the scenes to life and enhance the immersion and realism within them. |
Blue Screen
Blue Screen chromakey is a technique in which a blank blue screen is placed behind and around actors as they act, and a background location or other objects/characters are edited in. Typically this is used for adding in backgrounds when the scene cannot be filmed on location or on a set. In the video on the right many examples of blue screen usage within 'Star Wars episode II' can be observed. These usually add in sci-fi backgrounds to fit the sci-fi theme of the movie, as well as adding in CGI aliens. This use of blue screen enhances the movie as it puts the actors in these amazing sci-fi settings, making the film much more immersive and creating a sense that these sci-fi settings as well as the aliens that inhabit them are believable and realistic. A few good examples can be seen in the video from 0:23-0:30 |
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Green Screen
Green Screen chromakey is a similar effect to blue screen, in the sense that both are used to edit in things such as backgrounds, and CGI elements. Green screen is typically better used for scenes that involve people, as skin tones stand out better against a green screen than a blue screen. In this music video, a green screen is used to make the artist 'Ski Mask the slump God' look like he's small on a table, with cigarettes and drinks around him to give a size scale. This is shown at 0:18-0:20 then again at 1:12-1:18. This enhances the video as it creates a very surreal effect in making it appear as though the artist has been shrunk to this small size. This adds to the already strange and psychedelic nature of the video. |
CGI
CGI (computer generated imagery) is a method of generating realistic 3D images and animations to be added into scenes. This is usually used to create creatures, vehicles, or other objects that would be difficult to create with practical effects. When used tastefully, and combined with other techniques to maintain consistency and realism, this effect can really enhance a scene, by allowing for extreme and imaginative concepts to be integrated into a scene in a way that looks and feels convincing to the viewer. In the video to the right, you can see examples of CGI with the fairy creatures at several points. One for example being at 3:45-3:50. These fairies were created using CGI and add to the sense of wonder and fantasy in the scene, while making this concept believable |
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Matte Painting
Matte Painting is a technique that uses a 2D painting (either painted by hand or digitally) as the background or element for a scene. It allows for intricately designed backgrounds/elements to be used in a film without going through the process of using green screen or CGI to create the background desired. The video to the left shows the use of different matte paintings throughout the 'Star Wars' Franchise. This is shown at 0:09-0:29 and again shown and explained at 0:33-0:56. In these examples, matte paintings are used to create backgrounds and settings that look natural and intricate, as if they were part of a "large set." This enhances the scenes, as it allows for intricacy of the scene that makes the scene more convincing and believable, making this sci-fi world feel real and alive. |
Morphing
Morphing is a technique in which one element such as a character or object is transformed into another object smoothly without the camera cutting away. This can be used to emphasise sci-fi or fantastical elements. The video on the right shows the character 'Mystique' from the 'Xmen' series using her mutant power to transform into different people, which is done through morphing. This enhances the scene, as it makes the idea of these mutant powers more believable and realistic by showing the morphing and how it works without cutting away. This in turn makes the movie and it's setting and characters more immersive. |
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Rotoscoping
Rotoscoping is a visual effect in which elements of a scene are hand drawn in, frame-by-frame. This music video by 'Dream Theater' heavily utilises this technique, as most of the visuals within the video (characters, backgrounds, objects etc.) are drawn in by hand frame-by-frame. |
3D Graphics
3D graphics are a type of animation that utilise CGI and 3D models for visuals. The video on the right shows 3D graphics being utilised in Toy Story, which was one of the first ever fully 3D animated films. This 3D animation is what the film is made up of, and allows for expressive, realistic looking characters within animation. |
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