P1: Explain how special effects are used to generate audio-visual content
Why does the film industry use special effects?
Well special effects enhance a films entertainment value and they make it look cool. For example without visual effects we wouldn’t have cool looking characters like Heath Ledgers joker in the Dark Knight Rises, we wouldn’t have the walkers in The Walking Dead, an we wouldn’t have crazy explosions like in Avengers assemble. These effects make the films look more realistic, mind boggling and scary. An other reason the film industry uses visual effects because it is much easier than using special effects. Without visual effects films like “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas would have flopped because a large majority of the effects in it were visual rather than special.
Here is an example of digital compositing in an internet advert. In this example of digital compositing there is a person sat on a whale to represent how close the the wildlife you feel with the Lumix camera. Digital compositing is used by advertising to create and extreme view of what things could but like, in this example it is achieved by making the audience believe that by using the Lumix camera it would be like actually being in that place, even if it is impossible .
Some examples would be prosthetics pyrotechnics, pyrotechnics and animatronics
Above we can clearly see the the special effect of Prosthetics and makeup are being used to create this character. This is done by creating moulds of the actors face and creating the effect you want, for example in this picture they are ageing the actor. This is all possible with the aid of special effects.
Here we see an example of animatronics in action. This is a clip of a test use of some of the animatronics in Jurassic park. Animatronics are often used in movies and television shows to show lifelike robots or animals that are extinct or dictionary, to create a sense of realism with out animation.
Scale models are used mostly in film, they are often used to create place that do not exists or have been demolished. Like in the example above of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. scale models are extremely helpful in the film industry because they are cheeper than trying to go film on location and mean that fantasy film are possible. scale models are popular in the film industry but also for architectural companies, engineers and landscaper because it gives them a preview of the final product.
Stunt props are used in all forms of the media films, TV, video games even print. They are so important because they add to the Mise-en-scene and make the production more realistic . Some examples stunt props would be fake guns, fake lives, balsa wood and sugar glass. Stunt props are are frequently used in action scenes to make the product realistic in a safe way.
P2: TITLE - Explain how visual effects are used to enhance audio-visual content
This is an example of the use of green screen chromakey effect, in this example the green screen is making the background for this artists picture. This is a very common use of green screen because it makes it easier and cheeper for products to be made. This from of effect is used help producers save money and directors of photography save time by not having the physically look for that particular shot. An example of this would be the movie Interstellar, this is a science fiction movie which means that without the aid of green or blue screen it would be nearly impossible to make.
Here is a prime example of computer generated imagery (CGI). CGI is used mainly by animators like Pixar and Disney. The effect is used to create characters who do not exist in the real world like sully form Monsters inc. This form of effect is used to make the impossible, to bring dreams to life.
In the video above there are a few examples of morphing. Morphing is commonly used by the film industry for animorphigus transformations like Tonks, Lupus, Petter Pettigrew and Serious Black in Harry Potter and countless other fantasy films and TV series like teen wolf and underworld.
Rotoscoping is the process of race over motion picture footage, frame by frame, when realistic action is required. Rotoscoping is an animation technique that is mainly used by animators to make movement in and animation, this was used a lot more before animation was possible on computer programs. For example to make movies like Cinderella and Peter Pan.
3D computer graphics. Three-dimensional computer graphics, in contrast to 2D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of shapes that is then stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. This is most often used by advertising companies, this is because you can create things that aren't necessarily possible on real life.
Why use visual effects?
The film industry uses special effects because it can create a supper natural look with out having to spend hundreds of pounds on silicone rubber. In addition it opens the door for a whole new world of science fiction and adventure. This make Films better as the possibilities are endless to what they can do, with the aid of special effects characters like colossus in the Deadpool film are achievable, fantasy creatures like dragons and fairies are brought to life. In film there are a lot of examples of visual and special effects. In modern day film these visual effects more than special effects because the technology is available. Visual effects would be more computer generated effects. These would be done using a green screen. Some other ways to make special effects are Chroma keying, digital compositing, CGI and rotoscoping.