Over the last century, filmmaking has changed a lot in a modern way thanks to special effects. It would seem that only 75 years have passed from the first attempts to create special effects in movies thanks to techniques such as miniatures, forced perspective or multiple exposures, and special effects have reached a whole new era. Find out the history of special effects since the 50’s with examples of well-known and beloved movies.
The introduction of the first special effects, which may seem as unrealistic and boring as now, made a big impression on viewers at that time. So what are practical effects and what were they like?
Practical effects are those effects that are created directly on the set at the stage of filming the movie. For example, makeup, decorations, pyrotechnics, and stunt work are all effects made by the film crew. They are not created during post-processing.
You are used to seeing special effects in every movie and don't even distinguish which ones are practical and which ones are digital. The evolution of special effects was incredibly visible to viewers for a decade. Let's look at examples of old famous movies and see what kinds of practical special effects there are.
The clearest example of this type is King Kong, his movement in the movie and his interaction with the actors in the King Kong (1933) movie. Stop-motion animation is created long and hard because for realism you need to create the movement of the model on each frame.
A great example of using miniatures is the movie Metropolis (1927). It features many decorations, like skyscrapers, highways, and flying machines. The actors' interactions with these models are also exciting, as all the action in this movie looks completely realistic.
The decorations for The Wizards of Oz (1939) were painted on glass. This technique made the scenes look deeper and more realistic. It also allowed for easier interactions with the actors.
The appearance of the monster in the movie Frankenstein (1931) is a great example of mechanical and prosthetic effects. Frankenstein's famous flat head was created from cotton works and putty. Bolts, scars, braces were all created by the make-up artist manual to make Frankenstein look realistic.
This period marks the peak of practical effects. New types of special effects emerged, along with exciting developments in this area. This section covers the biggest breakthroughs in practical effects. It includes the first uses of animatronics in movies, blue screen technology, and other popular special effects of the time.
The Jaws (1975) movie is a great example of the use of animatronics. The shark was a fully mechanical creation. Several versions were made for different tasks. Bruce could move his fins, and jaws and move his body. In the Star Wars (1977) movie Jabba the Hutt was a large puppet controlled by several puppeteers. The robots P2-D2 and C-3PO are also good examples of robots working with actors.
An example of optical composing can be seen in Superman flight scenes in Superman (1978). The main character was simply overlaid on the background with sky and landscapes for realistic.
Blue screen, or chroma key was used in tandem with optical composting to give more relation to the flight of superheroes.
In the movie Die Hard (1988), a lot of their techniques were used to create explosive effects. For example, the scene of the Nakatomi Square explosion was created using a model of a building and some explosives. This type of special effect is quite unsafe so it requires a lot of professionalism from the crew to ensure that no one on the set is injured.
Motion control cameras made it possible to combine multiple elements into a single shot. For example, in the movie The Empire Strikes Back (1980), this technology helped create the famous space battles.
During the period of 90s - 2000s computer graphics and some other digital technologies started to develop. This affected the movie industry very much because this development gave us many brilliant movies of that time.
Digital VFX uses computer graphics to create or enhance elements in movies. Nowadays, most films rely on digital VFX. Not only characters are created but whole worlds, planets, whole nations, and more. The main stage of the development of digital efforts can be understood by the example of everyone's favorite movies. Let's study the best VFX movies of all time.
Terminator 2 (1991) movie character as it was created entirely out of metal. The team used computer animation to create several models of a character. Each model showed a different shape for various scenes.
The Jurassic Park (1993) movie is a very successful combination of animatronics and computer graphics. To create this movie several large animatronics were created to capture close cops close-ups. Computer graphics captured how system services interact with the environment. This graphic also enhanced dinosaur skin textures, muscle movement, and realistic behavior.
Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999) was the first fully computer-generated character. You can see by his example that already in those years it was possible to successfully combine the work of actors with a fully graphic character.
The bullet time effect allowed the main character of The Matrix (1991) to move at normal speed during scenes with slow down time. This effect is created by using several steel cameras that are arranged in a circle, high-speed cameras, and CGI. The Matrix actors mostly acted in front of a green screen. This lets editors add digital backgrounds later. It helped create the movie's anti-utopian vibe.
Practical vs. Digital Effects: practical effects provide realism, but digital effects provide flexibility. Both are required to enhance storytelling and visual effects.
Both practical and digital effects are very important in filmmaking. Practical effects bring a real feel, but digital effects allow for endless creativity. Together, they create a perfect mix for telling meaningful stories.
Many movies from the last 15 years blend CGI with practical effects. Here are some examples that show how these effects work together. The method of combining practical and digital effects exists to give movies a more realistic look. Boss types of effects are an essential part of the modern filmmaking industry.
In this movie examples of scenes with mixed techniques can be a sandstorm or a scene when actors escape from Combat Tower. Both scenes use practical and digital effects.
In this television series, examples of practical effects can be realistic costumes, creation of decorations, and use of animatronics.an example of digital effects can be enhanced through computer graphics, usage of innovative stagecraft technology, etc.
Dune feels real thanks to a mix of actual sets and locations. It uses realistic costumes and props. The film also includes miniatures and models. Plus, it features computer graphics and visual effects for a smooth look.
This movie shines with underwater shooting, real props, computer graphics, and water simulation. These elements make it brighter and more realistic than the first part. Audiences remember it for its visuals, even more than its story.
Set development of special effects is going rapidly these days. Every year you are faced with more and more new technologies that create a more realistic look for movies.
AI simplifies computer graphics work. It speeds up processes and lowers production costs. AI can replace faces, great sense, textures, characters appearance, etc.
Real-time rendering engines like Unreal Engines are being used for life previous realizations of sets.AI simplifies computer graphics work. It speeds up processes and lowers production costs.
Deepfake technology uses AI to alter an actor's face. It can age or de-age them, bring someone back to life, or change them completely.
Whistle sets and CGI based workflow can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of filmmaking. As there are fewer physical sets and location shoots necessary, filmmakers can reduce their impact on the environment.
