1 | We may proudly proclaim that we are impartial to the use of special effects in a movie, and value more that the movie have a brain (and presumably also a heart, lungs, stomach, and other major organs, but let's not go there or the metaphor might spleen away). But we all know the truth: special effects can make or [[SpecialEffectsFailure break]] a movie faster than a SerialKiller can cut the PluckyComicRelief in two with a machete in a shower of HighPressureBlood. |
2 | |
3 | So, here are some of the ways movies fool us (or don't) with the {{Spectacle}} of fiction. |
4 | |
5 | Special effects can be classed into subgroups depending on how they were achieved: |
6 | [[index]] |
7 | * InCameraEffects - achieved by manipulating the camera or its parts |
8 | * PracticalEffects - achieved by the manipulation of the set itself, or by use of {{Prop}}s on the set |
9 | ** MiniatureEffects - a particular kind of practical effect, often credited separately, using miniature models. |
10 | * ComputerGeneratedImages or CGI - utilizing graphics generated and manipulated by computer |
11 | |
12 | ---- |
13 | !!Special Effect Tropes |
14 | * TheCoconutEffect |
15 | * DigitalHeadSwap |
16 | * DramaticSpotlight |
17 | * EvolutionaryRetCon |
18 | * FantasticFireworks |
19 | * FatSuit |
20 | * GratuitousSpecialEffects |
21 | * HighPressureBlood |
22 | * LudicrousGibs |
23 | * NaturalSpotlight |
24 | * ObscuredSpecialEffects |
25 | * ObviousStuntDouble |
26 | * OffTheShelfFX |
27 | * OminousVisualGlitch |
28 | * PeopleInRubberSuits |
29 | * RubberForeheadAliens |
30 | * SoundDefect |
31 | * SpecialEffectBranding |
32 | * SpecialEffectsEvolution |
33 | * SpecialEffectFailure |
34 | * StarringSpecialEffects |
35 | * StyrofoamRocks |
36 | * WhenPropsAttack |
37 | [[/index]] |
38 | |
39 | '''Related Tropes''' |
40 | * {{Stripperific}} |
41 | * VideoInsideFilmOutside |
42 | * FanService (Often said to be the "cheapest special effect.") |
43 | * TakeOurWordForIt and CoconutSuperpowers (Often even cheaper!) |
44 | %%* CameraTricks |
45 | ---- |
46 | !!Gathered here are some cool and corny special effects, for your reading pleasure. |
47 | |
48 | [[AC:Blood]] |
49 | * In old black and white films, ''chocolate syrup'' was used to simulate blood. Its dark color and viscosity made for pretty convincing texture. |
50 | ** For color films, Karo-brand sugar syrup plus red food coloring became the standard, and is still used today. |
51 | ** Cheaper productions can use a combination of chocolate and strawberry syrups as a quick shortcut. |
52 | *** [=WikiHow=] has [[http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fake-Blood a whole article]] on alternative ways to make fake blood. |
53 | |
54 | [[AC:Camera Effects]] |
55 | * With older, non-digital cameras, using a black screen or cover so that only part of the film is exposed (and thus the rest can have something else filmed onto it). |
56 | * A dark cover could be used to simulate night-time while shooting in daytime. Unfortunately it does nothing to eliminate shadows caused by sunlight, leading to the slightly hilarious effect of having obvious sun-shadow at night. |
57 | * A filmmaker could create a "ghost" by exposing the film to the same scene twice, once with and once without the actor. |
58 | * The [[{{Rotoscoping}} Rotoscope]] is a device which projects film images downward onto a table, where the image can be traced by hand. Although the Rotoscope machine has been superceded by Photoshop-type software, the techniques remain largely the same. |
59 | ** By tracing the outline of an object in the frame, a custom-shaped traveling matte can be created. This is how the (models of) Imperial Walkers in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' were able to walk behind (real) trees. |
60 | ** A less common usage is to actually trace the ''entire'' film image, creating a completely hand-drawn frame. Ralph Bakshi's adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheLordOfTheRings'' used this technique, and it was also used for spaceship shots in the 70s/80s ''WesternAnimation/{{Flash Gordon|1979}}'' cartoon. |
61 | ** ChromaKey (more commonly known as ''green/blue screen'') is an evolution of the same concept. Only by using a vibrant and bright color the computer can automatically know where to rotoscope for you. |
62 | |
63 | [[AC:Environmental Effects]] |
64 | * Backlighting is used for rain scenes, as rain doesn't show on camera otherwise. |
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