Table of Contents

Forced Perspective; Latent Image Matte Painting; Stop Motion and Dynamation; Film and the Photochemical Process; Motion Picture Formats and the Optical Process; Digital Scanning and Recording/Digital Compositing Methods; Cinema and Shooting Elements; Blue and Green Screen Practical Examples; Motion Control vs. Tracking; Creating and Shooting Miniatures; Miniatures vs. Computer Graphics; Shooting Elements: Fire, Explosions, Snow, Bubbles, etc.; Planning for Fixes; Personalities and the Work Environment; Glossary

About the Author

Mark Sawicki is a camera man, artist, and actor. He has had many roles in the world of film, from teaching visual effects for over 15 years at the UCLA extension, authoring video programs on the art of clay animation, and being an independent stop motion animator on several MTV videos. He won an Emmy Certificate for his contribution to the television series, Star Trek while working as a cameraman for Illusion Arts. He won a Clio for his camera work while at Celestial Mechanics Incorporated. Mark is currently a digital colorist and effects camera supervisor at Custom Film Effects. A few of his recent films include Premonition, The Black Dahlia, 40 Year Old Virgin, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Reviews

"This step-by-step guide shows how to create visual effects during shooting rather than using computer graphics after shooting. This second edition reflects recent innovations in technology and equipment. Introductory chapters explain technical fundamentals of film and digital image capture, and later chapters cover specific types of effects such as stop motion, blue and green screen, miniatures and computer graphics, and the Cineon digital film system. Two chapters are devoted to cost cutting measures. Color photos, color screen shots, and photos of equipment illustrate techniques and effects on almost every page of the book."--SciTech Book News "The fun stuff in the book is not just about war stories, shared from the comfort of an overstuffed armchair, but procedures that you can execute this weekend. As a VFX and Post Production supervisor, I know that the instruction in the book is not the full story, but it is for those who SHOOT the plates. Pairing up with a dynamic post production compositing team is a completely different phase in a long process of filmmaking. Shooting miniatures, simple practical photography tricks, and other "it doesn't have to be complicated" tips fill the book. Plus, my absolute favorite part of the book - an introduction to some characters in the circus of production. Mark Sawicki has been teaching visual effects for over 20 years at UCLA Extension. This book is definitely some of the great teachings that Sawicki has to offer, relayed in a tone which you might find at an intellectual dinner conversation; not stuffy - just all of the stuff that is important to know (with a couple of jokes and war stories peppered in). If you've decided to start making movies on a small consumer camera, or if you've taken delivery of your second RED camera - check it out"--Digital Producer Magazine