Showing posts with label special effects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label special effects. Show all posts

Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda Review

Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda
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Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda ReviewMushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda, by Peter H. Brothers, is a fascinating look at the career of a man who was not only one of the most important Japanese filmmakers of the 20th century, but also one of the most overlooked. While Akira Kurosawa justifiably gets accolades among film-scholars for such classics as Seven Samurai and Throne of Blood, it is the fantasy cinema of Ishiro Honda that has been beloved by moviegoers around the world for over fifty years. In films such as Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan, Honda introduced us to some of the most memorable movie-monsters of all time, capturing the imaginations of generations of audiences. Yet the man behind the movies has remained largely unsung.
Here at last is the story of that man. In his book, Peter H. Brothers introduces us to the passions, the fears, the hopes, and the regrets of Ishiro Honda, offering a rarely-seen glimpse into the director's formative years and the life experiences that would influence all of his work. The book's in-depth biography traces Honda's life from early childhood to his initial experiences with Toho Studios, follows him through his wartime experiences, and then examines closely his prolific career. Each chapter focuses on a different era, beginning with the creative triumphs of the fifties, following up with the commercial successes of the early sixties, and finally exploring the creative differences between Honda and Toho that brought his career to a bitter halt.
The subject is vast, and there are times when one wishes that the material could have been explored in more detail. But despite this, facts emerge that have seldom, if ever, come to light, and both casual readers and fans of Honda's work will find much of interest. Of particular interest are Honda's rarely-discussed non-fantasy films, especially Eagle of the Pacific and Farewell Rabaul, commercial and critical successes that paved the way for the blockbusters that were to come. Equally fascinating, though, is the detailed analysis of each of Honda's fantasy films. The author's deep respect for Honda's work is evident on every page, yet he remains admirably objective, not shying away from harsh criticism when the director's work was less-than-satisfactory, yet always managing to find something positive to say, showcasing highly-entertaining films that many critics and mainstream movie-goers have unfairly dismissed.
The book is not perfect. There are a number of misprints throughout the book, and these will hopefully be corrected in any future printing. However, the positive aspects easily outweigh any negatives. It is engaging, informative, and highly entertaining. For students of film theory looking to explore the impact that Japanese fantasy filmMushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda OverviewHere, for the first time in English print, is the inspiring story of a humble and soft-spoken man who became one of the most-prolific directors in the history of fantasy films. Raised in a primitive Japanese village by a Buddhist monk, Ishiro Honda fell in love with films at a young age and soon enrolled in film school with the intent of one day becoming a director. Called to enlist in the Imperial Japanese Army druing World War II, he returned with a knowledge of the futility of war and a dread of the atomic age. A dedicated craftsman who directed over 80 films during a remarkable 60-plus year career, Honda is undeservedly remembered mostly as the "greatest director" of the famous Japanese monster film series; however, he was in fact much more. Utelizing a wide-variety of source material never before assembled into one volume, Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men is an objective critical analysis and definitve study of a man whose fantasy films - when seen in their original versions - are "beautiful nightmares" of quality and subtext which transcend the visceral thrill of watching monsters destroying cities. Honda's admirers include George Lucas, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg and his films are masterpieces of entertainment that have enthralled audiences for generations . . . and will for generations to come.

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Techniques of Special Effects of Cinematography (Library of Communication Techniques, Film) Review

Techniques of Special Effects of Cinematography (Library of Communication Techniques, Film)
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Techniques of Special Effects of Cinematography (Library of Communication Techniques, Film) ReviewFor many years, Raymond Fielding's "Techniques of Special Effects Cinematography" was the quintessential "how'd they do that?" manual for the field of Visual Effects. Apart from back issues of American Cinematographer magazine, if you lived outside the Los angeles area, this was your best source of info on everything from stop-motion and front screen projection to matte paintings and miniatures.
Since many of the techniques in the book are now accomplished digitally, it makes this book a great film HISTORY book as well. But even still, for the filmmaker who wants to utilize tried & true, old school effects techniques (out of curiosity, artistic choice or necessity) this is THE book that covers it all. My only reason for giving it 4 out of 5 stars, is the lack of info on Digital Effects and CGI.Techniques of Special Effects of Cinematography (Library of Communication Techniques, Film) Overview

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The Vatican to Vegas: The History of Special Effects Review

The Vatican to Vegas: The History of Special Effects
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The Vatican to Vegas: The History of Special Effects ReviewNot only students and scholars of the history of art, architecture, film, animation, western culture can rejoice at the publication of Norman Klein's epic and illuminating history of special effects illusionism, from the 17th century to the present. This book also promises delight to the common reader interested and engaged with the peculiar culture our times. As spectacle morphs to ever stranger forms, Klein offers an invaluable set of tools for analyzing, understanding, critiquing and surviving its massive leveling wash.
Klein's thesis, that large-scale special effects consistently function within a dialectic of political power and powerlessness, not only newly opens important influential fields for his spectacular research and interdisciplinary penetrations, but delights, in a rich and novelistic narrative,sparkling with brilliant characters (Ben Jonson, Mary Shelley, Edgar A. Poe, Charles Babbage, Jules Verne, George W. Bush) and bubbling over with cascading, interconnected information. The writer also lays bare his own private history, how special effects intervened in his Coney Island Youth and his Los Angeles adulthood, as a useful, literary casestudy. Special Effects emerges not simply as a hegemonic tool of repression but as a perplexing and evolving field of invention, influence and ambitious expression still as liable to charm as depress.
In particular, Klein's research on the history of technology was of particular use and interest to me. But the book serves happily, with its brilliantly organized index and "search engine" as a hand-book of effects history and theory in all disciplines. Klein crosses boudaries between history, theory, sociology and literature, offering important new realizations without ever overlooking, or short-shrifting the achievements of scholars dedicated to those particular fields. Vatican to Vegas, indeed, offers a brilliant example of the promise that interdisciplinary engagement offers writers of the future. I haven't read Klein before, but I'm telling you, I'll start now.
I won't start praising the pictures, though they're fascinating.
Buy this book and nail it to your desk or bedside table. In our current "Electronic Baroque" (a key Kleinian term), it grows more and more relevant every day.The Vatican to Vegas: The History of Special Effects Overview

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Filming the Fantastic, Second Edition: A Guide to Visual Effects Cinematography Review

Filming the Fantastic, Second Edition: A Guide to Visual Effects Cinematography
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Filming the Fantastic, Second Edition: A Guide to Visual Effects Cinematography ReviewWow! It covers enough information on the current art of special effects to give the neophyte an excellent overview of what's possible and for the professional to accomplish.
This book is going on my shelf next to Raymond Fielding's The Techniques of Special Effects Cinematography, Bernard Wilkie's Creating Special Effects for TV & Film, Special Effects in Motion Pictures by Frank P. Clark and Bernard Wilkie's The Technique of Special Effects in Television. The huge advantage for Mark's book is that it brings the classic techniques into the digital age. It is full of Illustrations and photos that serve his text well.
Mark's experience from decades of personal and notable professional work is evident from the real world solutions he offers. His personal anecdotes and techical instructions give the reader useful and practical knowledge of a wide variety of techniques.
What I liked is the appreciation and references to the great masters of effects like Willis O'Brien and Albert Whitlock and many others.
Mark Sawicki knows his stuff and presents it for the curious and the advanced film maker.
Well done. I highly recommend this book. A must for Effects Artists everywhere. I kid you not!Filming the Fantastic, Second Edition: A Guide to Visual Effects Cinematography Overview
Don't waste valuable time and budget fixing your footage in post! Shoot the effects you want effectively and creatively the first time. This full-color step-by step guide to visual effects cinematography empowers you to plan out and execute visual effects shots on a budget, without falling into the common pitfall of using high-end computer graphics to "fix it in post," which can be an expensive, drawn out process. Instead, learn how to put your shots together before you start shooting-whether you're working in digital or film. Learn how to effectively photograph and create miniatures, matte paintings, green screen set ups, crowd replication, digital rear projection, and so much more to create elements that will composite together flawlessly.

The main purpose of effects is to promote the story, not just to wow an audience with amazing tricks created digitally. This book describes methods for creating seamless effects that don't call attention to themselves but enhance the scene as a whole. The technical foundations of film and digital capture are given in the introductory chapters of the book, and you are presented with real world scenarios that illustrate these basic concepts in a practical sense. Step-by-step illustrations of photographic element creation empower you to learn how to effectively pre-plan and execute your own visual effects challenges.
* Hundreds of full-color set photographs show you exactly how it's done* Includes step-by-step information on green screen setup* Real-world examples and exercises throughout

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielberg's Classic Film Review

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielberg's Classic Film
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielberg's Classic Film ReviewI literally grew up on Spielberg's early films and was lucky enough to enjoy in my youth such classics as JAWS (an all-time fave), E.T. and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. I can't put into words how amazing it was to see these films in a theatre with a fresh audience. Most prominent in my mind is CLOSE ENCOUNTERS for the simple fact that I got to see it at one of the best movie houses in L.A. -- The Cinerama Dome in Hollywood which featured a massive, arched screen (this was decades before IMAX) and incredible sound system.
Ray Morton has been able to bring back such fond moviegoing memories with his well detailed book on CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND that explores virtually every aspect of this movie's genesis. I felt like a kid again as I found myself reliving an incredible movie that has stood the test of time. And now there is a book to stand proudly at its side.
I should also mention that Mister Morton has another book called KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF AN ICON that I also found very entertaining and taught me pretty much every thing there is to know about the furry icon.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielberg's Classic Film Overview"Morton has written the definitive book on this innovative movie by Steven Spielberg...Meticulous research of this caliber is not found in other books on Close Encounters. Fans will find Morton's take informative and fascinating." - Library Journal. Steven Spielberg's 1977 masterpiece used all of the power and magic of cinema to tell a story of man's first meeting with extraterrestrial beings. Renouncing the fear and pessimism of the day, writer/director Spielberg boldly envisioned this as a peaceful, spiritual event full of hope and possibility. This awe-inspiring message made a powerful impact on audiences desperate for something to believe in. The film was a massive box-office hit and revolutionized the movie industry; along with Star Wars, it helped to create the modern blockbuster and ushered in a new era of hi-tech effects. Based on in-depth research and the recollections of many of the film's principal creators, Close Encounters is the first book to chronicle the making of this classic film from its inception through its tumultuous production to its many releases in "special" editions. The book features new interviews with star Teri Garr, producer Michael Phillips, photographic effects supervisor Douglas Trumbull, production designer Joe Alves, and several cinematographers, screenwriters, and special-effects legends. John Hill, Jerry Belson, Hal Barwood, and Matthew Robbins; and special effects legends Richard Yuricich, Robert Swarthe, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, Greg Jein, and Rocco Gioffre.

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The Visual Effects Producer: Understanding the Art and Business of VFX Review

The Visual Effects Producer: Understanding the Art and Business of VFX
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The Visual Effects Producer: Understanding the Art and Business of VFX ReviewI have read this book -cover to cover- and must say that as a reference guide it is the most comprehensive, easy to read and understand book on the subject ever written! It covers everything from inception to going to the movie to see the project!
Susan and Chuck have done a fantastic job of taking difficult to understand concepts and breaking them apart into easy to understand and execute ideas. The illustrations and photos help tremendously and I am just awe-struck at how comprehensive this book is.
It will surely save the reader hours of time and tons of money that would have otherwise been ill-spent on set learning the lessons the hard way.
What is also amazing is how up to date this work is. It even covers Hoyt Yeatman's HDRI technology.
WOW! Hat's off to you two for taking this huge undertaking on, and then doing such a fantastic job with what could have been a yawn. I wish we had had this book 20 years ago!!!
Thank you both!The Visual Effects Producer: Understanding the Art and Business of VFX Overview
Go behind the scene of the behind the scenes to learn how the business of producing the dazzling visual effects we see in movies and on TV works. With decades of combined VFX production and supervisory experience in Hollywood, the authors share their experience with you, illuminating standard industry practices and tips on:

* preproduction planning* scheduling* budgeting* evaluating vendors and the bidding process* effective data management* working on-set, off-set, or overseas * dealing with changes in post-production * legal issues (contracts, insurance, business ethics), and more

Also included are interviews with established, successful Hollywood VFX Producers about their career paths and how they got to where they are now.From pre-production to final delivery, this is your complete guide to visual effects production, providing insight on VFX budgeting and scheduling (with actual forms for your own use) and common production techniques such as motion control, miniatures, and pre-visualization. Also included is a companion website (http://www.elsevierdirect.com/companion.jsp?ISBN=9780240812632) with forms and documents for you to incorporate into your own VFX production workflows.
* Invaluable and comprehensive hands-on guide for any VFX pro, brimming with tried and true, industry-standard VFX production practices from authors whose combined VFX production credits include Dune, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Broken Arrow, The Arrival, Alien Resurrection, Men of Honor, George of the Jungle, and the Guardian* Industry-standard methods for effective VFX budgeting and scheduling, evaluating vendors, working on-set and off (and overseas), data management, legal matters, and more equip you with the knowledge and workflow techniques of the pros* Includes interviews with established, successful Hollywood VFX Producers about their career paths and how they got to where they are now and a companion website (http://www.elsevierdirect.com/companion.jsp?ISBN=9780240812632)with forms and documents for you to incorporate into your own VFX production workflows



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Skywalking: The Life And Films Of George Lucas, Updated Edition Review

Skywalking: The Life And Films Of George Lucas, Updated Edition
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Skywalking: The Life And Films Of George Lucas, Updated Edition ReviewIn times past the function of biographies was generally to elevate their subjects to noble heights and focus on the individuals accomplishments. In modern times the function of biographies often seems to be to tear down their subjects, ruthlessly exposing every flaw and possible past transgression of the person under examination. This biography of film director/producer George Lucas is an evenhanded look at his life and work, even if some of the conclusions it's author arrives at are necessarily personal rather than certifiably factual in nature.
The book is peppered with many quotes from Lucas himself as well as Spielberg, Coppola, Milius and others which lends it a feeling of legitimacy which I believe is probably lacking from other, less sympathetic biographies. Lucas himself is quite forthcoming about his feelings on his own work and what he sees as his limitations as a director. His comments on Hollywood were amusing if understandably bitter, especially for someone who has worked there in the past.
If one omits his earliest film shorts such as the student version of THX 1138 and the documentary Filmmaker, Lucas has only directed three films in his career, THX 1138, American Grafitti and Star Wars. His function since that last mega-smash has primarily been as producer and head of the state-of-the-art Skywalker Ranch production facilities up in scenic Northern California. He has also helped finance a number of less "mainstream" works such as Kurosawa's Kagemusha. It's unfortunately probably true that Lucas has never been taken seriously by many critics ever since Star Wars because that film was so consciously intended as a "kids movie". Despite the fact that it was embraced by popular culture around the world due to its quality and mythic resonance it does tend to overwhelm his early, more adult-oriented films. Lucas himself is quite skeptical of some of the intellectual critical analysis that has been produced on what was intended to be an innocent hommage to 30's style action movie serials and not a "think piece". It's also surprising that so many people continue to consider the Star Wars films science-fiction when they really fall much more into the fantasy genre despite all the high-tech trappings.
Of course this book includes reams of trivia on the films, from the origin of all of the characters names in Star Wars to the details behind preview screenings and loads of very funny anecdotes that could only have been provided by an industry as crazy and high-stakes as Hollywood. Mostly however this is the story of a man from modest origins who managed to beat Hollywood at it's own game and achieve financial independence from "the system" through a combination of very savvy business choices, luck and a personal vision that happened to coincide with what a large number of the paying public wanted to see on screen.
This review refers to the original 1983 hardcover release of this book.Skywalking: The Life And Films Of George Lucas, Updated Edition OverviewFilled with revelations about the origins and making of American Graffiti, Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Return of the Jedi, this only full-length biography of filmmaker and cinematic visionary George Lucas has been updated with a substantial new chapter that discusses the revamped Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition, the Star Wars prequels, the filming of the first installment, and the controversial ways in which Lucas's approach and success continue to alter the landscape of the film industry.

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The VES Handbook of Visual Effects: Industry Standard VFX Practices and Procedures Review

The VES Handbook of Visual Effects: Industry Standard VFX Practices and Procedures
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The VES Handbook of Visual Effects: Industry Standard VFX Practices and Procedures ReviewPhenomenal collection of modern day procedures and "tricks" used in visual effects. There is no other single source available that covers our art and techniques more completely. The only way to acquire all this knowledge on your own would be decades experience. I highly recommend this book.The VES Handbook of Visual Effects: Industry Standard VFX Practices and Procedures Overview
Wisdom from the best and the brightest in the industry, this visual effects bible belongs on the shelf of anyone working in or aspiring to work in VFX. The book covers techniques and solutions all VFX artists, producers, and supervisors need to know, from preproduction, to digital character creation and compositing of both live-action and CG elements. In-depth lessons on stereoscopic moviemaking, color management and digital intermediates are included, as well as chapters on interactive games and full animation authored by artists from EA and Dreamworks respectively. Written by 88 top leading visual effects practitioners and covering everything about visual effects from pre-production, production, and post-production. Simply a must-have book for anyone working in or wanting to work in the VFX industry.

A Note on the Kindle Version: :There are several images throughout chapters 3, 5, 6, and 7 that are not visible in the Kindle edition of this book due to rights restrictions.:

Special Thanks: The completion of this book required the efforts of many hardworking, talented and dedicated people in order to help it become a reality. Accordingly,the VES and Focal Presswould like to offer very special thanks to all of our team Captains and Co-Captains:

Chapter 1: Michael Fink, Captain Jacquelyn Ford Morie, Co-Captain

Chapter 2: Scott Squires, Captain Mat Beck, Co-Captain

Chapter 3: Bill Taylor

Chapter 4: John Root, Captain Demian Gordon, Co-Captain

Chapter 5: Rob Engle, Captain Lenny Lipton, Co-Captain

Chapter 6: Marshall Krasser, Captain

Chapter 7: Kevin Rafferty, Captain

Chapter 8: Richard Taylor, Captain HabibZargarpour, Co-Captain

Chapter 9: Stephan V. Bugaj, Captain Lyndon Barrois, Co-Captain

Chapter 10: Dan Novy, Captain Stephan V. Bugaj, Co-Captain

Additionally, we would like to thank Ron Brinkmann and LennyLipton for the exhaustive efforts in compiling the Glossary

* Authoritative field guide from the renowned Visual Effects Society provides techniques and insight from the best of the best in VFX* 4 color presentation and visuals from Hollywood feature films provide readers with inspiration* Learn additional skills from the bonus chapters available on www. VESHandbookofVFX.com


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Special Effects: The History and Technique Review

Special Effects: The History and Technique
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Special Effects: The History and Technique ReviewWOW! If you have even the smallest interest in special effects, filmmaking, or even general film history, you must own a copy of this brilliant new book - it's amazing!
Though at first I figured `Special Effects: The History and Technique' seemed expensive, I thought I'd give it a try since so few books on this subject are ever published. Also, because I am a film studies lecturer, I need to keep up to date with books that are published on the subject. It turned out to be the BEST BUY I have made in a long time.
The book starts with an `overview if the first 100 years of special effects' and perfectly summarises the first century of the commercial cinema. The author writes about the film pioneers, the formation of the studio system, the coming of sound, the challenge of TV, the changes in society and audiences - all the influences that affected the type of films that were made in each decade. He then gives a summary of the most important effects films of each decade and even includes profiles of important effects directors from Alfred Hitchcock to James Cameron.
Chapter Two teaches you everything you need to know about the basics of cinema technology - like how film and emulsions work, how cameras, lenses and projectors work, the physics of light and color etc. The author then explains the basics of traditional optical work and, with the help of fantastic graphic illustrations (there are hundreds of these thru the book), shows how an optical printer works and details the various bluescreen travelling matte systems and their variations like the Dunning Pomeroy Process and Sodium Vapor travelling mattes. There is a stack of examples and images from many films as well as interviews with people who worked on movies such as Terminator and Superman. The chapter then moves on to the history and science of digital technology - explaining how images are created and manipulated digitally with reference to many modern special effects companies and films.
Chapter 3 looks at models and miniatures. The Chapter explains how traditional models are built and filmed and gives formulas for things like camera speed, model size and scale. Examples from the earliest days until the current time are used. The chapter also explains how different types of miniatures are made and filmed - there's a section on boats and water, one on aircraft and flying and (best of all) one on miniature pyrotechnics. The chapter then explains how models are built in the computer and shows different CG modelling and painting techniques and interviews many masters of the process.
The animation chapter is the best of all. Every form and technique is covered in minute detail - from early cartoons, stop motion, go-motion as well as modern computer assisted cartoons and full 3D animation. There are profiles of films like King Kong and Jurassic Park and interviews with masters like Ray Harryhausen and Phil Tippet.
Chapter 5 covers matte painting from the earliest glass paintings to the latest amazing 3D computer generated environments in films like The Phantom Menace and Titanic.
The next section looks at special effects makeup - showing how to create anything from a scar to a huge animatronic dinosaur. All processes are covered in minute detail with explanations from experts such as Stan Winston and Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The chapter ends with a look at digital makeup in films like The Mummy.Chapter 9 looks at physical effects and talks about how to create wind, snow, rain - even fake glass. It also has a fantastic section on guns and explosions which tells you just how it is all done in films such as James Bond and Indiana Jones.
The next chapter was a great surprise - sound effects! I can't think of another fx book that covers this subject - even though the sound of a dinosaur is, of course, as important as what it looks like. The whole process of film sound is explained from recording, mixing and dubbing to sound design with profiles of experts such as Ben Burtt.
The final chapter looks at the future of cinema and special effects and considers formats such as 3D (full coverage of history and technique, IMAX, digital filmmaking and virtual reality.
Finally chapter 10 looks in detail at the effects and techniques of the top 50 effects films of all time- some people might not agree that these are the top 50 films, but those chosen are definitely some of the most important ones. The author details exactly how each film was made and who did what.
There is a good bibiography and a really useful glossary with every complicated film and special effects term explained with amazing clarity.
I cannot fault this book - it is probably as good as a few years at film school or a hundred nights at the movies. Anybody even slightly interested in movies and movie making should have a copy on their shelf - I will definitely recommend it to all my students as one of the few books that is worth buying rather than simply borrowing from a library. I've read my copy from cover to cover twice and will refer to it for years to come.Special Effects: The History and Technique OverviewEver wondered how Harry Potter flew in that quidditch game? Ever puzzled over King Kong swatting down airplanes? Ever tried to figure out Spider-Man swung from building to building? It's all done with optical and digital effects, with miniature photography and animation, with pyrotechnics, animatronics, and even sound effects--and Special Effects: The History and Technique offers the definitive history of movie magic plus detailed technical explanations and diagrams. Packed with more than 500 photographs and profiles of such groundbreakers as George Lucas, James Cameron, and Robert Zemeckis, it is sure to appeal to fans of all ages. From A Trip to the Moon to X-Men 3, from The Lost World to War of the Worlds, from the 1933 King Kong to the 2005 King Kong, this stunning book reveals the magic of special effects.

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The Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques Review

The Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques
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The Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques ReviewUsually I'm not an impulse buyer, but this time around I jumped at the opportunity when this book became available. I'm a green-screen amateur by comparison to the author. But this book doesn't overwhelm me with a lot of "technobabble" I have no hope of understanding or using. It's a very user friendly presentation of tips and techniques as well as things to watch out for when producing your own green screen extravaganzas.
There's a nice quality and feel to the book; that sense of durability that lends itself to being able to hold up with a lot of page turns and abuse without falling apart at the seams. There's plenty of pictures and advise. I like it when an author goes out of their way to show as well as to tell. Pictures go a long way to explain what words don't otherwise convey. And when I can see an example of something in action, I'm quick to pick up the technique as my own.
The included DVD has a wealth of video clips and Adobe After Effects project files that goes along with each chapter. You get Quicktime movies, Adobe Photoshop files and more. Gosh there are over 2 gigs worth of HD video footage enough to do some healthy and author encouraged reverse-engineering of project files to better understand how each process fits together and works in producing a quality piece of work in the end. Files are PC or Mac compatible. And everything is written with Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Adobe After Effects CS4 in mind.
For me, the quality of the content of this book vastly surpasses the cost and that's value enough to justify my investment. Besides, anything I can learn or what helps me to learn how to be better at what I do is priceless.
Well done!
Cheers!The Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques OverviewMake movies and videos with green screen compositing technology with The Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques. This unique guide is a comprehensive how-to of professional production techniques, step-by-step instruction, and tips that can save you time and money. Learn when to use green screens instead of blue, find out how the pros operate in professional studios, and get amazing results—even on a shoestring budget.
Topics include matting and keying basics; setups using fabric, portable background panels, or paint; lighting and digital camera essentials; broadcast TV hardware switchers; professional HD and major motion picture compositing; multiple-colored screen composites (background, foregrounds, and objects); directing storyboards and talent; working with virtual sets; motion tracking; and much more.
See how to plan, set up, and execute your shots to reduce fixes in post
Choose the right keying process for your project
Master basic shooting setups and live broadcast keying
Understand proper lighting and how to match subjects to the background
Create a working storyboard and learn how to select and direct talent
Composite your footage and fix problem shots
Work creatively with virtual sets, motion tracking, and match moving
Master techniques that apply to all compositing software and plug-ins

The DVD includes sample footage and all project files to accompany the chapters in the book.
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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The Making of Star Wars (TM): The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film Review

The Making of Star Wars (TM): The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film
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The Making of Star Wars (TM): The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film ReviewThe Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)
I was four years old when the original "Star Wars" was released, and like so many kids of that generation, that film and its two sequels defined an enormous part of my childhood. Even though I didn't know it at the time, it introduced me to the "best bits" of classical mythology, while being a visual catalyst for my imagination (and years of subsequent role-play, particularly in Upstate New York, where re-enacting ice planet Hoth after "Empire" came out was all too easy...).
As I grew older (I hesitate to use the phrase "grew up," as I'm not sure it's happened yet), I came to appreciate more than just the adventure and dynamic visuals that "Star Wars" represented; it was my "gateway drug" into wanting to learn more about how movies were made. I remember all of the TV specials of that era that pulled back the curtain on the filmmaking process, particularly with regard to the original "Star Wars" trilogy, and I couldn't get enough information. That hunger became the same kind of obsession that's typically associated with "Star Wars" fans, and I absorbed every scrap of detail I could find, from Ralph McQuarrie's concept art, to model photos, to script pages, and even before the Internet made it only a matter of a few clicks to access such information, there was a wealth of it, when it came to "Star Wars."
Fast forward to 2007; "Star Wars" is 30 years old, a whole separate trilogy has come and gone, and my own children are budding "Star Wars" fans for their own reasons. I figured I knew pretty much all there was to know about this film. I darn well should have, for as much time as I had spent (and continue to spend) over the years actively seeking out new details about it. Then came this book; I didn't know anything.
This is dense, dense reading, covering every minute detail about every aspect of production of the original "Star Wars," from drafting the script, to getting it taken seriously by Hollywood, to assembling the team that would revolutionize filmmaking as we came to know it. This is a wonderful thing. I find myself poring over every word, every image, every caption and footnote, just as I did as a child who was learning about film for the first time. It is an amazing tribute, an insanely detailed reference volume, and most incredible of all, a unique representation of a film that has been covered in so many ways by so many authors, that finding anything new to talk about seemed impossible.
The aspect of this book I personally find most exciting is that all of the interviews that comprise it are taken from the period immediately surrounding the production and release of the original film. There is none of the revisionist hindsight pertaining to the film that has come about as a result of the films that came after; every word spoken by the people involved is "of the moment," and as such, is refreshingly candid about what was going on while the film was in the throes of its conception and execution.
The hardcover volume is worth the extra cost, because of its additional supplemental material, not found in the softcover edition. There are 45 pages of storyboard reproductions, as well as Lucas' first-ever references to the larger world beyond what was shown in the original film, in the form of interview excerpts taken in 1977, which involve Lucas describing character and environmental background information. As author J.W. Rinzler explains in the opening to the section, "Many of these ideas...[have since been] modified to a greater or lesser degree. They are presented here...[as] an idea of how he first began [the process of expanding the "Star Wars" universe]." Given the amount of tweaking that the backstory has undergone in the decades following "Star Wars," the inclusion of Lucas' first impressions of it in this volume are incredibly valuable to anyone who, like me, has wondered if the second trilogy of films was truly borne from his original ideas, or was more a product of his later experiences.
This book is exactly what its title promises: the definitive history behind the original film. And for someone who has spent most of his life feeling like there was nothing new under the suns (not a typo) when it came to the story of how "Star Wars" was made, that's saying something.The Making of Star Wars (TM): The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film OverviewMore than thirty years ago, filmmaker George Lucas realized a longtime dream, creating a swashbuckling sf saga inspired by vintage Flash Gordon serials, classic American westerns, the epic cinema of Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa, and mythological heroes. Its original title: The Star Wars. The rest is history–and how it was made is a story as entertaining and exciting as the movie that has enthralled millions for the past three decades.Using his unprecedented access to the Lucasfilm Archives and its trove of never-before-published "lost" interviews, photos, production notes, factoids, and anecdotes, Star Wars scholar J. W. Rinzler hurtles readers back in time for an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the nearly decade-long quest of George Lucas and his key collaborators to make the "little" movie that became a phenomenon. For the first time, it's all here:• the evolution of the now-classic story and characters–including "Annikin Starkiller" and "a huge green-skinned monster with no nose and large gills" named Han Solo• excerpts from George Lucas's numerous, ever-morphing script drafts• the birth of Industrial Light & Magic, the special-effects company that revolutionized Hollywood filmmaking• the grueling, nearly catastrophic location shoot in Tunisia and the following breakneck dash at Elstree Studios in London• the intensive auditions that won the cast members their roles–and made them legends• the who's who of young 1970s film rebels who pitched in to help–including Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and Brian DePalmaBut perhaps most exciting, and rarest of all, are the first interviews conducted before and during production and immediately after the release of Star Wars–in which George Lucas, the film's stars, composer John Williams, effects masters Dennis Muren, Richard Edlund, and John Dykstra, Phil Tippett, Rick Baker, legendary production designer John Barry, and a host of others share their fascinating tales from the trenches and candid opinions of the movie that would ultimately change their lives.No matter where you stand in the spectrum of this thirty-year phenomenon, The Making of Star Wars stands as a crucial document–rich in fascination and revelation–of a genuine cinematic and cultural touchstone.

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Men, Makeup & Monsters: Hollywood's Masters of Illusion and FX Review

Men, Makeup and Monsters: Hollywood's Masters of Illusion and FX
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Men, Makeup & Monsters: Hollywood's Masters of Illusion and FX ReviewVery interesting book. My daughter wants to do special effects. She found many interesting ideas and this has made her more interested in the career.Men, Makeup & Monsters: Hollywood's Masters of Illusion and FX Overview

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