P1: - Explain how special effects are used to enhance audio-visual content
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Green Screen ChromaKey
The green screen is a block of colour that is used to attach images to it to place people or object seemingly elsewhere. the blue crosses are so that the image can be aligned with what is on the screen. Here is a shot from Marvels dead pool where he is on a sheet of metal being lifted by an explosion. There are people based to move the sheet slightly to create more realism. they are then put under a fixed image to hide them. this is called a mask. This creates a more real picture for the audience, making the impossible to survive stunt seem even more impressive. |
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CGI (computer generated information)
This is where animations and objects are created on a computer before being added to a film with real life actors. for this you need something for the computer to track and often small points are placed on an actors face and these are used to animate the character. Making near impossible to create creatures look very impressive this makes films such as the hobbit even more impressive as they include mythical creatures. For example Benedict Cumberbatch playing Smaug in the Hobbit. |
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Morphing
From 5:25 we see this effect in use on a lot of backup dancers to show how it doesn't matter who you are because we are all the same. This effect is merely a system of using converting one image to another without using a cut away shot. |
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RotoScoping
is an effect where visuals are drawn on to each frame this used to be done manually on the master reel with a paintbrush, however it is now done very simply with editing software. In this music video by modern rapper Lil Pump RotoScoping is used to create not only a swirling green effect on lots of items but also to change the rapper into a dancing crudely drawn version of himself. As part of the song pertains to drug use this creates the feeling of drugs for the audience, who may not ever have taken them. |
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3D graphics
Are a form of CGI where incredibly realistic objects are created and can be interacted with. one famous piece is Dobby from Harry Potter and the brain in this short humorous video about the theory of a supercontinent in the past. Which in turn is from a music video by rapper Lil Dicky. This is humorous for the audience and gives the audience an original insight into the rappers mind. |
P2: - Explain how visual effects are used to generate audio-visual content
Mechanised props
These, part robotic - part clever costume, creations are very useful for creating characters or objects that are unfeasible in the real world and can be reacted to and takes no need for CGI which is very useful income scenarios where such stuff would usually be impossible. however they tend to have very limited movement on account of them being controlled manually or by little motors. One such example is Yoda in the Star Wars series who was a small puppet designed to move in a lifelike way. This means that aliens can really come to life and makes the film all the more realistic. |
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Stunt Props
These cover anything that is used in a stunt to add effect whilst not using the real item for safety reasons. Such Props include, Sugar glass (smashes safely and impressively) Balsa Furniture (same reason, used extensively in WWE) Stunt Knives, Guns, and other weapons. This scene from HBOs "the Wire" shows use of numerous gun props to add effect to the show. From about (2:10) there is extensive use of this prop. Again this adds realism and a sense of excitement to the scene, especially as it is set in Baltimore where gun use is incredibly high. |
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Scale Models
These are exact replicas of various things including buildings and vehicles that are incredibly small in comparison, they are mainly used for scenes showing the destruction of areas or famous landmarks as well as for scenes that are not possible in the real world, for example where a spaceship is included and the creator needs to get a shot of it going through space, they are good as real explosions can be used which makes it more realistic, as well as filming an actual object is a lot easier than trying to create perfect cgi. Pyrotechnics. I tied this in with scale models as they are often used in conjunction and my relevant example conjoins the two. Pyrotechnics are the use of fire of explosives in a piece of filmed work. they have to be done safely however leave the viewer amazed and exhilarated at such spectacles of damage and fury. This video is an excerpt from V for Vendetta where the protagonist V blows up the houses of parliament and the Old Bailey. This was a scale model packed with explosives to mimic the actual building. You will see the level of detail put into such a model. This along with scale models is very effective as it shocks the viewer into believing that the Houses of Parliament were actually blown up. |
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