LO1 1.3 : Special and Visual Effects Report

Film

In looking at special and visual effects used in films we can see many different techniques that create hyperreal and unrealistic scenes that enforce film genres and fulfil gratifications for the audience.

A visual effect that is commonly used in film is pyrotechnics, in many conventional action films they normally contain explosions to add to the thrill aspect of the film.

In The Dark Knight (2008) we see an infamous scene with the Joker walking next to a hospital whilst explosives are released on buildings either side. This visual effect was created using pyrotechnic effects, in the explosions we see rocks, fire and smoke this creating a realistic effect in the final cut due to the actor being able to interact and show reactions with the explosives furthermore lighting and shadowing is realistic with the events happening this being really difficult to simulate in special effects.

A special effect that is also really popular in action films are green screens, with films such as Spider-man 3 (2008) that require actors to be shot from extremely high heights and show their inhumanly powers green screens are often used instead to achieve the biggest shock factor.

By using a green screen it allows Spiderman to be seen in high-densely populated cities such as NYC in dangerous stunts to bring an element of reality due to the relatable location however creating this fake action that looks realistic making the film more believable for the audience achieving the gratification of escapism.

Idents

Idents shown on television demonstrating branding for popular channels such as BBC1 and Channel 4 often use special and visual effects to create the desired connotations linking to either the programme following or the tone of the channel. This particular ident for E4 (2013) is mainly visual effects, by them using a 3D model of the E4 logo composted onto raw footage it creates a personality and characteristics for the programme.

By the 3D model being portrayed almost satirically representing the target audience with a pet dog and in a home environment it brings comedy to the channel this once against branding the channel with personality.

Advert

Adverts use visual and special effect to really enhance the product and to detail the aesthetics the brand want to create.

In this particular Lacoste advert to demonstrate the age of the company they have created a historical advert demonstrating their brand through the eras, the advert has more of a narrative rather than close up shots of the product which normally leads to a more rememberable advert for the audience.

In the advert we see a use of a green screen frequently to create scenes like the one above where the actor is runnning on top of the moving train, this would have been impossible to film safely. In using green screens to create scenes like this it adds a luxury element into the advert by impressing the audience.

A special effect that has been used in advertisement can be seen in this advert by Rocket Mortgage. The advert is all based around the actor Jason Momoa, the actor is very well known for his big toned physique and in the advert we see a combination of visual and special effects to create the illusion that he is 'taking off' his muscles as if they're prosthetics.
In shooting this advert the actor would've had to actually use props that look like extra skin that he is removing to reveal a much skinnier physique underneath. The advert used a much skinnier actor to play Jason after he's 'removed' his skin this requiring the addition of rotoscoping and green-screens as well.

Music Video

A music video which has used special effects is Bury A Friend by Billie Eilish, this music video is meant to demonstrate popular worst fears and in this particular scene you see needles in Billie’s back, by including props into this music video such as needles it creates a hyper realistic impression of people’s fears and in this particular shot you don’t see one needles there’s 10+ this demonstrating the emphasis into every fear portrayed.

A visual effect that has been used in a music video is also in a Billie Eilish video called All Good Girls Go To Hell, we see the singer falling from the sky to create a fallen angel, the motion of her falling would’ve been created in a green screen with composting for the cloudy background. By adding this scene of Billie falling it sets the scene for the narrative video and once again creates a professional aesthetic for the video and promotes Billie as a serious artist to her fans.