VFX PROS AND CONS IN MOVIES

by

Muhammad D. Araf

Digital Media Production

Masters of Arts in Media and Design Management
Wiesbaden, June 2013





1


VFX PROS AND CONS IN MOVIES
Visual Effects (VFX)
According to VES handbook (LightRay FX): Visual effects (Visual FX or VFX)
can be defined as the term that describes any imagery created, altered, or enhanced
for a film or other moving media that cannot be accomplished during the live-action
shooting. In other words, much of the art of visual effects takes place in post
production after primary image capture is complete. Another definition of Visual
Effects (VFX) can be that it is the process of using computers to either create or
manipulate images to create effects shots, it involves processes like rotoscoping,
painting, camera tracking, 3D animation and composing, etc.

FIG 1: Example of Movie VFX (Avatar)
Adding Visual Effects
Visual effects can be added to live-action captured through several techniques
such as matte, painting: rear and front-screen projection, miniature or forced
perspective sets, computer graphic objects, characters, and environments and also
compositing of images recorded in any number of ways.
Basically, movie makers use visual effects in place of anything that is difficult
or impossible to film. For example, Aliens attacking the earth is impossible therefore
people use visual effects to achieve it by having the aliens creatures destroy a city or
2


the world with the use of Visual effects. Nevertheless, VFX can be used in more
subtle areas like in a situation where there is a scene in a movie story that needs to be
in another country, an imaginary location or a city from the future or past. It is just
inefficiency or costs money to go to another country or build a set so film makers use
visual effects to make it happen. An example of such subtle approach of using VFX is
the RISE Visual Effects Studios Berlin, a company famously known solely for its
ability in visual effects, and the needs of big studio productions to develop in-house
tools and software for specialist tasks. In the movie Cloud Atlas, RISE used visual
effects to create the city of San Francisco, USA from 1973 in Glasgow, Scotland. Refer
to the images below:



3


FIGS 2 & 3: Glasgow as San Francisco
Visual effects is quite a broad topic is several examples that can be discussed
but this paper is only about giving a rough concept of what visual effects are about
and why film makers use them.

Pros and Cons of VFX in movies
No doubt that since films early experiments with visual effects, the industry
has today developed into a very sophisticated, digitally driven and technically ultra-
advanced visual medium. Computers have since taken special effects to an entirely
new level and as they continue to update and improve their spec so too will the film
industry develop around these advances. Digital technology and computers have
enabled films to be produced which otherwise would not have not have been,
however, despite the profound visual success of special effects in certain cases some
people argue that films are now placing an over reliance on special effects with the
argument that visual effects in some movies are counterproductive as they come
across as ineffective and sometimes unnecessary.
Critics are even questioning the performance of the actors if all they are doing
in a film is running in front of a green screen shouting at an imagined alien
clutching an imagine prop. Others raise concerns regarding the quality of the movies
and the process of putting a movie together where much of it is CGI (computer-
generated imagery) constituted.
Some also
question the
performance
of the actors
if all they are
doing in a
film is
running in
front of a
green screen
4


shouting at an imagined alien clutching an imagined prop or just wielding swords to
an empty space in the name of battle. Others raise concerns regarding the films
quality and the processes of putting a film together where much of it is CGI
constituted.

FIG 5: A gladiators death in the TV show: Spartacus- Visual effects

The question now remains that would movies being produced now be better received
by audiences without visual effects? Or is it thats some studios and directors simply
cannot adjust effectively to modern day film making? According to Piers Bizony (A
visual effects artist):
One of the greatest misconceptions about modern movies is that visual effects are
generated by computers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Human
inventiveness is the most important ingredient and it always will be. Computers
offer amazing new possibilities but underlying challenges of movie illusions are the
same today as they were nearly a century ago when the industry was young.



5


Pros
Digital/visual effects have significantly impacted on mainstream movies.
The evolutionary process by which the visual effects product is accomplished
can be an awe of inspiring process itself.
Contemporary modern visual effects engender a film culture based on a
production process that in actual fact is less physical.
The quality of visual effects necessarily impacts on the believability of the film
for the viewer and most movies strive to hide any signs of the film making
methods used with the aim of providing the spectator with real experience.
Digital technology allows spectators to enjoy visual fluidity and epic structure
of historic events such as the gladiators engaging in their fierce battle,
coliseums etc.
Cons
Visual effects causes film erosion as some argue that it is occurring when
movies require the use of stunts to increase the action to higher levels of
intensity.
Digital visual effects also seem to engender a type of laziness amongst some
film makers.
In many peoples view, VFX are simply becoming overused.
CGI tricks the eye just as matte paintings and miniatures did. Movie makers
take it for granted.
The best effects are those that are entirely story-driven and character-driven
not something that is not physical because it makes movies feel like cartoons.
Visual effects are audience manipulation.






6


Conclusion
It is definitely incontrovertible CGI visual effects have augmented many film
experiences and that todays modern technological advances have created a film
industry capable of exceeding audiences expectations. However, despite the
immense success of these visual effects there is a growing feeling among many people
and film makers alike that digital effects are eroding the quality of some films.
Having considered some of the advantages and disadvantages of the use of
Visual Effects (VFX) within the film industry, there are clearly two opposing
perspectives. Some advocate the continuing and indeed increasing use of VFX as a
key method for the production of major film projects and to realize the creativity of
the human mind whilst others prefer a more moderate approach to the use of digital
effects.















7


Bibliography
LightRay Fx, (2013). Visual Effects for Film: Everything filmmakers should know
about FX. Available at: http://vfxforfilm.wordpress.com/
UK Essays: Visual Effects. Available at: http://www.ukessays.com/essay-
examples/film-studies-essay-examples/visual-effects-improving-damaging.php