The CGI Revolution

It’s odd to think of how far the editing and big screen world has evolved over the past century. Not just in just a professional sense either, in everyday projects for anyone who chooses to use special effects. It’s such a simple, yet effective and revolutionary, innovation to the world of video media. It can put you in places that you can only dream of seeing and/or places of pure fiction. This, of course, is the introduction of the Green Screen and CGI production, the gateway to an amazing world of special effects.

Also known as chroma key, a green screen is exactly what comes to mind. A green background like a wall or sheet that allows for different effects and backdrops to be present. Now there is a past blog post from our RSU 57 Tech Desk website that goes a little more in depth of the ‘How’ of green screens in the form of an iMovie tutorial. If you want to understand the specifics and even see it in action, I suggest you go check that out! (http://rsu57techhelpdesk.wixsite.com/techdesk/single-post/2017/03/07/GreenBlue-Screen-on-iMovie)

The art and design of Computer Generated Images (CGI) is an entire career by itself. It’s not enough to be able to place images within the movie or video, you have to design and create the images beforehand. That’s something I don’t feel that many people take into account. The dragons and monsters that appear on the big screen are not simply pre-rendered options that are dragged into place. These fictional, immensely impressive, creatures are born onto a piece of paper from an artist’s pen. Much like the very first days of animation, they are drawn over and over again, slowly developing them into a living, breathing, animated lifeform.

Now of course, these designs do not simply pop off the paper, straight into a major motion picture scene. It is much more complicated than that. Sometimes models are created solely on a computer. They are painted, constructed, and scripted to be brought to life solely off of the computer. This is the case for many different films such as Over the Hedge and Shrek. Sometimes, the creature is used as a frame while the real acting and motions is done by an actual actor. They may use tools to precisely record and capture the performance of the actor. They’ll then use that information to translate that performance into the creature that is being created. This is the case for “The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvr7DSEHcic

I’d like to leave you with this, watch a movie like Batman. The original movie from the 1989 series. Then watch Batman Vs. Superman. Look at how far visuals have come. How much more character, flavor, and overall entertainment it provides. But don’t be fooled, it does not mean it is a better movie. The ability to use this technology has caused some producers to have the mindset that CGI will make the movie better. They like to hide behind special effects to make up for a lack of good script writing, casting, plot development, etc. Special effects will continue to evolve. But as they do, remember to watch and use them responsibly.