The History of VFX in Hollywood
VFX in Hollywood has been used since the early 1920s, though it wasn’t called VFX back then. There are many different techniques and processes of producing visual effects in Hollywood, but today we’re going to talk about some of the most notable ones and how they came to be. While there are other ways to create visual effects, these are some of the most notable because they helped shape how we create our Hollywood blockbusters today! Let’s begin!
Early Films
The first films were short and simple by today’s standards. They consisted of a few seconds of footage, or several minutes at most. Still, as filmmakers experimented with techniques like stop-motion animation, editing and special effects techniques were created. Though these films are barely recognizable to modern audiences (because there’s so little footage from that era), they were an important step in creating the language we use when discussing visual effects today.
How Did We Get Here
Visual effects made their first appearance on movie screens over 100 years ago, thanks to innovations like Georges Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon and Edwin S. Porter’s The Great Train Robbery. However, it was not until after World War II that they became more commonplace, with films like It Came from Outer Space and Forbidden Planet using effects to create monsters and alien worlds. As cinema technology continued to advance, these special effects were further used by filmmakers like Steven Spielberg who revolutionized practical effects with movies like Jaws (1975) and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).
Do Modern Films Still Need VFX?
Computer-generated imagery (CGI) or visual effects (VFX) have become essential for creating convincing effects that audiences cannot differentiate from real footage. With computer graphics having advanced at a rapid pace, do modern films still need CGI? There are several uses for visual effects and post-production technology such as CGI and green screen filming, whether it’s combining two or more images, removing an element from a shot or adding an entirely new background. While these additions can enhance films, some viewers may view them as unnecessary especially if they are poorly executed.
What Are Post-Production Effects?
VFX is short for visual effects, and it’s a term that refers to any kind of filmed art that’s added after filming has wrapped. That could mean adding or removing things from a film, but it could also mean making things look different from how they were originally filmed, like changing colors, removing all traces of lens flare, or making actors appear younger or older. It’s an industry that includes everything from special effects (think volcanoes), to green screen work (think Speed), to digital animation (think Toy Story), to miniatures (think Star Wars). In fact, you might be surprised by just how many big-budget films rely on some kind of post-production effect.
Where Does CGI Come From?
What does CGI stand for? How did it get started? When did CGI first appear on film and where did it come from? Read on to learn about how computers became an integral part of Hollywood’s moviemaking process.
Did You Know These Facts About Film Editing?
If you’re interested in film editing, chances are you’ve heard of Director Sergei Eisenstein. Some even say that he invented modern film editing! His most famous film, Battleship Potemkin (1925), contains a lot of revolutionary ideas about film structure and organization. If you haven’t seen it yet, you might want to consider a rental or purchase. In any case, here are some interesting tidbits about filmmaking from his time to today
Final Thoughts on the History of VFX in Hollywood
Without a doubt, we’ve come a long way since Flash Gordon (1936). While there were many early successes, especially at RKO, it wasn’t until Star Wars (1977) that VFX became truly cinematic. And even then it was not until Jurassic Park that CGI made its way into every filmmaker’s toolkit. Though we have come along way since then and there is no telling what our future holds as technology improves, one thing will always remain constant: Visual effects are an integral part of storytelling.
