Book Description
Offers user-friendly knowledge and stimulating exercises to help compose story, develop characters and create emotion through skillful creation of the sound track.
Customer Reviews:
One of my all time favorite books........2007-06-19
"Sound Design" by David Sonnenschein is a very rewarding and fascinating read. Full of knowledge and practical examples as well as exercises to develop the reader's own awareness for sound. It's became one of my all time favorite books.
I highly recommend it to anyone interested in sound... be it for film or radio.... or music...
Great Service.......2007-03-10
It was shipped the same day and delivered a few days later. For those college students that get ripped off at their school bookstore this is a must.
A most excellent read and perfect for classes in sound design.......2007-02-12
David Sonnenschein's book is my "go-to" book for not only the quality of information that he presents but the interesting way that it is told. This book is an excellent read besides being extremely informative. I find that these are the best to assign to my students as many texts are just that: texts - dry and dull. David Sonnenschein presents the information herein in a delightful way and has many excellent tips on the overall shape of sound.
A great book, full of examples and creativity.......2007-01-30
I have to thanks deeply Mr D. Sonnenschein for this incredible book. I enjoyed it so much. This book helped me so much understanding the 'how' of sound effects and ambiences in movies. For sure a good choice and a good book.
I just can give an advice: buy it!!! I am a sound designer in Spainn and I consider this book a must.
Thanks David!
Great book to teach with!.......2006-01-26
I use this book in my Sound Design class at the University of Saint Francis. It is a great foundation upon which you can build confidence in your inexperienced students just by having them read the book! Also it helps make sense out of the confusion of directors dealing with sound and audio crew. This book has made my teaching job a lot easier and the students of my class a lot more saavy in sound design.
This book also would be excellent for anyone interested in the sound of movies and TV. AND it is essential reading for any Director (any GOOD Director, that is) Thanks David Sonnenschein for writing it!
Book Description
Digital Compositing for Film and Video is a hands-on, how-to guide that addresses the problems and difficult choices faced by the professional compositor in real-life situations. This book presents you with tips, tricks and techniques for dealing with the badly shot elements, color artifacts, and mismatched lighting that bedevil compositors. Included in this book is: in-depth, practical methods for bluescreen matte extraction, despill operations, compositing operations, and color correction - the "meat and potatoes" of all digital effects. Written in a completely software independent style, it is totally applicable to any brand of compositing software.
The second edition contains many important additions:
* printed in full color with over 400 color photos and illustrations
* companion DVD with 3.7 gigabytes of test images, including hard to get HiDef video and feature film scans
* new section on working with HiDef video
* new section on digital intermediate, the feature film finishing process of today
* more Adobe Photoshop blending modes and procedures
* new material that reveals the add-mix composite, light wrap, slot gags, and how to defeat banding problems
Customer Reviews:
An Essential Guide and not just for compositors.......2007-07-08
If you've ever been on set and heard the catchphrase "fix it in post" this book is for you.
Not only is the information detailed and thorough, but also extremely readable. Some ironic asides demonstrate Wright has the experience to back up his text. He covers all levels of compositing, from basic luminance keying to green-screen/blue-screen, to color corection and matching foreground and background elements, motion tracking, alpha-channels (to premultiply or not premultiply) and the differences between film and video.
The book is not software specific, and the enclosed exercises and demonstrations can be done on most software with compositing features -- including Photoshop!
Why four stars and not five? The extra money demanded for addional exercises seems to be an unfair gouge. But the book is definitely worth the cover price! Even if you have no immediate aspirations at all to composite something, you'll at least see just how tough it can be.
Producers, Directors and Camera departments (aspiring or experienced) can all learn something here -- and with any luck they'll learn it before they light their next green/blue screen.
Too bad the cover is so damn ugly.
Must have.......2007-06-08
I bought it based on the first Edition and I wasn't wrong.
Its even better.
Nice book.......2007-05-13
This is a very complete and engaging book.
It's generic enough so that you can learn a lot regardless of your software/manual tools;
But it focuses enough on certain programs, that it is still useful for those specific users as well.
It was a gift for a relative, but I spent a few hours reading before giving it away...
A must have for your VFX library.......2007-01-05
If you're new to the effect industry or a seasoned pro this is still the bible for understanding what is happening under the hood of a compositing software. This is not software specific, but be it 'Shake' or 'an other' this will help you truly understand the what, when and why.
This book together with - Ron Brinkman's 'The Art and Science of Digital Compositing' - also available at Amazon, will hold you in good stead throughout your career.
It truly gives you the 'wow' factor.
Excellent book.......2006-12-15
Even advanced compositors will glean juicy bits from Steve Wrights' effort. I've read all the standard texts and this one stands with the best. Clear, friendly prose makes this book a comfortable read; read it two or three times and you'll find that you get a little something out of it on each pass. Whether your work end up in print, video or film, this is a must-have book.
Book Description
For over 30 years, the amazing Stan Winston and his team of artists and technicians have been creating characters, creatures and monsters for the silver screen, from The Terminator and the extraterrestrial monstrosities of Aliens and Predator to the terrifying dinosaurs of Jurassic Park and the fanciful character of Edward Scissorhands.
Now, at last, he's opening up the Stan Winston Studios to collaborate on the first-ever book to reveal all the behind-the-scenes secrets of his groundbreaking and hugely influential artistry and effects work. Featuring an extensive array of sketches, production art, and exclusive photographs straight from the studio archives, this is a landmark book in cinema history!
Customer Reviews:
The real Effect.......2007-07-21
This book had a real effect over me, I have a few buddies that work and run Stan Winston Studios, I think that the publication was well done and hope to see a part two in the future.
Great book, awful shipped condition........2007-06-15
I give this 5 stars because the book itself is great! However Amazon shipped me a copy with almost every single page severely dog eared and crimped.
Hopefully yours comes in good condition, mine did not.
The ultimate inspiration.......2007-04-15
The book is amazing and inspiring. And to answer NickNack: I happen to be a CG artist and I can assure you that it DOES take a REAL artist to create awesome detailed CG characters, and it's way harder than sculpting by hand, but much more efficient from production's point of view. Computers do NOT create and animate characters by themselves, but they are a great tool for REAL artists.
A CG artist such as myself, beginner or professional, can find this book to be a great source of inspiration and reference for work.
Spectacular! Wonderful! And Awe Inspiring!.......2007-04-10
Of all the books I own this one satisfies my passion for monster movies as well as my passion for art. Filled with gorgeous high quality photos and in depth insight into each creature and character this book is better than watching it in a movie! The hard work and creative inspiration that goes into each creature of Stan Winston's is truly awe inspiring. It makes me want to work in his studio!
Simply Fantastic!.......2007-02-22
If you are a serious movie buff and you really enjoy "digging-in" to movies beyond just watching them, then you must get this book. It is rather large and heavy but contains great articles and loads of pictures on special effects and yes it covers movie favs like the Terminator and Alien series. This book comes highly recommended to movie fans by a movie fan.
Book Description
Ever wondered how Harry Potter flew in that quidditch game? Ever puzzled over King Kong swatting down airplanes? Ever tried to figure out Spider-Man swung from building to building? It’s all done with optical and digital effects, with miniature photography and animation, with pyrotechnics, animatronics, and even sound effects--and Special Effects: The History and Technique offers the definitive history of movie magic plus detailed technical explanations and diagrams. Packed with more than 500 photographs and profiles of such groundbreakers as George Lucas, James Cameron, and Robert Zemeckis, it is sure to appeal to fans of all ages. From A Trip to the Moon to X-Men 3, from The Lost World to War of the Worlds, from the 1933 King Kong to the 2005 King Kong, this stunning book reveals the magic of special effects.
Customer Reviews:
A coffee table book for the geeks in all of us..........2006-12-06
Yes there is great history and education in here, but the mass of photographs tells a truly beautiful tale. The artists illustrated here are for the most part the true pioneers of creating magic on film. Going into a project with truly no proven technique must have been terrifying and adrenaline pumping. Our techniques have greatly improved but since the advent of fully cg fx, the pioneering aspect is minimal. It is very well written but I can't call it a page turner since I spent so much time staring at the pictures. Great for fans and professionals alike.
Why is this book out of print?.......2005-01-27
I'm a film studies tutor and reccommend this title to all of my students. Why has the publisher/author allowed it to go out of print? This is the best book ever written on special/visual effects and one of the best introductions to film making and film technology generally. PLEASE REPRINT THIS BOOK and ideally, make a softback edition at a price my kids can better afford. THANKS!
The Best Book Ever.......2002-12-01
Special Effects is THE BEST book you could wish for on the subject. I have a shelf full of old, an mostly inaccurate books about special effects, but with this new book I could throw the rest away. Also, don't bother with magazines like Cinefex anymore, which are very dry and heavy going. this book is a pleasure to read and has interviews with everyone who is important in the business. There are hundreds of cool photos as well which makes it very good value. Anyone who works in special effects, or is just interested in the movies should read this book. Congratulations to the author Mr Rickitt who has condensed 100 years of movie magic into a single lavish book. Dont take my word for it - BUY IT!
Very good!.......2002-11-04
Although i didn't expect to find it so interesting, finally it was really good! Not only does it explain thoroughly every, if not all, technique of the motion picture industry, but it also has a lot of reference to really successful movies! Especially the section that refers to the special effects landmarks makes it unique and complete. It is not something you find in every book and thus it makes it really special.. It has a lot of images and really good explanations and descriptions.. Simply one of the best books on the subject!!
Special Effects.......2002-05-23
Once I picked up the Special Effects book, I seriously could not put it down. This book is truly amazing as it serves not only as an information source, but it is also very entertaining. The first half of the book goes through the decades starting with the 1900's. In each time period Richard discuses the new advancements in film making during that decade, along with writing about some of the best movies form that time. Some of the classics include Singing in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, and many Hitchcock movies. The second half of the book focuses on individual aspects of movie magic. From make-up and costumes, to lighting and pyrotechnics. The book cover many recent movies like Titanic, Star Wars Episode I and The Matrix. I strongly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the entertainment field. The book is easy moderate to read and full of amazing color pictures that you won't find anywhere else. Some of the pictures are accurate diagrams of film processes, such as animation, digital effects and camera techniques. I feel that form reading this book I gained a lot of basis knowledge needed to better understand the industry. Did you know that most of the snow used in movies is simply shredded paper? Or how about the fact that 90% of dialogue is movies is recorded and dubbed after the movie is shot! Find out hundreds of more amazing facts in Richard Rickitt's Special Effects: The History and Technique.
Book Description
Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound embraces the subject of sound for films. Based on the experience of the author and other top sound craftspeople and firmly grounded in practical techniques, this book provides numerous real-life examples and relevant technical data, as well as an appreciation of all the processes involved in creating motion picture sound.
This edition is completely revised, with all-new chapters on 5.1, the Nagra IV-S, and the Nagra V. The ProTools content is expanded, and there are new sections on how to record Foley in Pro Tools and the concept of ADR/looping. The accompanying audio CD presents demonstration material as well as a large library of sound effects, while numerous charts, illustrations, and photographs help to demonstrate techniques and common industry practices.
Learn about best practices and pitfalls from a Hollywood veteran
Audio CD with demos and sound effects
Experience-based advice on a wide range of topics
Customer Reviews:
Behind the attitude, there is a lot to learn here.......2007-09-29
As mentioned, Mr. Yewdall really knows his stuff, and the personal approach is unique and highly effective. It's rare to see a subject like this tackled in such a personal manner, and on that level it works.
However, as a "read" it has its problems. It is extremely lenghty, the writing is at times long-winded, and much of the information is unnecessary. The Pro Tools chapter should probably be removed entirely as it shows a lack of real awareness of how the system is being used by professional operators. (and it really doesn't seem to be his strength anyway.)
More troubling for me was the attitude. He has quite an ego, and his anti-intellectualism is not a positive influence, not for those practicing sound arts nor those who work with them (producers, directors, editors). In many ways, his book is geared toward all practitioners in film, and I fear that his attitude reinforces the perception many people have of the bitter sound guy.
However, while I found that aspect tiring, there's no denying that this is easily the most revealing book on audio for film I've found. If you want an in-depth look at the nuts and bolts process of film sound, you'll definitely learn a great deal in Mr. Yewdall's book.
The Practical Politics of Motion Picture Sound.......2007-08-03
This is the first book I've read on the specific topic of sound for films. I saw this listed on the Berkely School of Music website as a listed text book, so I figured if it's good enough for them....
There's a lot of great technical tips on many aspects of sound recording, from on-camera dialog, sound effects in the field, foley stage, to editing both linear and non-linear. The only thing less touched on was some techniques on the final mix of a soundtrack, even though the process of it was covered.
This book would be better for someone who's getting ready to enter the professional field, or just starting as tons of politics are discussed which at points made some chapters seems like an E! Entertainment report. Funny, but a little overkill for someone not in "the business".
Lastly, I would have liked to hear more about the mistakes the author made and how he learned from them, with solutions and the problem solving techniques used. Most references are on how everyone else made the mistake of not listening to the author, which comes across a little snooty, but I get the point. Good basic tips and setup for using ProTools as well. If you don't mind all the politics, and camera talk, then this will be a great read and learning expierence.
This book needs a new edition!.......2007-06-05
There's a lot of really good stuff in here - clear, concise, and helpful, even if the author is a little hubristic at times. Sadly, all of the information dealing with computer-based audio is at least ten years old: the author mentions applications like Sound Designer and the 'Audio Media III' hardware card, which went out with beige Macs.
Untold Secrets of Cinema Sound.......2005-02-27
Mr. Yewdall, the author, puts his long time experience into this book. Avoiding pitfalls with producers to working with budgetary constraints while producing academy award winning sound is probably the main emphasis of this book. The CD that comes with it is quite valuable, containing sample audio clips to demonstrates the author's points at various times. This book will save you atleast 2 years of experience in motion picture sound. It's worth every penny.
A good overview of sound for films.......2001-04-28
I found the book very entertaining to read, Yewdall tells many personal stories which he uses to illustrate points. In fact, I read it more like a novel. He passes his knowledge, and experience to the reader through stories of things he's done, and has seen in his many years recording, producing and creating sound for motion pictures. Some is fact, some is opinion, but his opinions are clear and are backed-up with his own unique style of logic.
There are also more technical areas of the book that cover topics like mic placement, how to record cars/explosions/dialogue, how to catalogue your own sound effects libary, etc. This book would also be useful to directors and producers who want better sound in their films. There's definately lots to learn about sound, and the author has done a good job giving the reader an idea about what motion picture sound is all about.
Customer Reviews:
The BEST book about pre-digital-era Special Effects.......2006-03-05
For many years, Raymond Fielding's "Techniques of Special Effects Cinematography" was the quintessential "how'd they do that?" manual for the field of Visual Effects. Apart from back issues if American Cinematographer magazine, if you lived outside the Los angeles area, this was your best source of info on everything from stop-motion and front screen projection to matte paintings and miniatures.
Since many of the techniques in the book are now accomplished digitally, it makes this book a great film HISTORY book as well. But even still, for the filmmaker who wants to utilize tried & true, old school effects techniques (out of curiosity, artistic choice or necessity) this is THE book that covers it all. My only reason for giving it 4 out of 5 stars, is the lack of info on Digital Effects and CGI.
Amazon.com
This 330-page coffee-table book combines the writing of Mark Cotta Vaz and Patricia Rose Duignan with more than 600 photographs and illustrations to chronicle the accomplishments of Hollywood's hottest special effects company. Industrial Light & Magic, where Duignan spent two decades of her career, was founded by George Lucas to create the effects for his groundbreaking movie, Star Wars. Since then ILM has continued to pioneer new technologies which have led to SF classics such as "E.T.," "Terminator 2" and "Jurassic Park". This books offers a behind-the-scenes look into the magical moments ILM has helped create.
Book Description
Includes a foreword by Steven Spielberg!
The supernatural wonders of Ghostbusters. The lively three-dimensional toons from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? The unstoppable liquid-metal T-1000 cyborg of Terminator 2. The incredibly life-like digital dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. The thunderous African stampede in Jumanji. These award-winning special effects have one thing in common: Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).
For more than twenty years, George Lucas and the technical wizards at ILM have literally changed the face of movie-making with their stunning, often unbelievable, visual effects.
Industrial Light + Magic: Into the Digital Realm chronicles ILM's second monumental decade--from 1986 through the mid-nineties--and includes a special discussion on the latest groundbreaking visual effects in the soon-to-be released Special Edition of Star Wars: A New Hope.
During this seminal period, ILM virtually redefined visual effects and blazed a trail into the digital realm. With more than six hundred lavish full-color photographs, this fascinating book takes you behind the camera and into the rarely seen workshops, offering an amazing look at the men and women who create movie magic. We follow the intricate crafts of matte painting, model making, and optical compositing as they are transformed into digitally driven systems, and we track the contributions of model and creature makers, animation specialists and optical technicians, and the unsung stage hands and pyrotechnic experts.
Packed with astounding information about ILM's technical innovations and remarkably clear explanations--including a revealing look at ILM's work with TV commercials and theme park attractions, a comprehensive glossary of essential terms, and detailed screen credits for all the company's film projects--this volume will enchant and enlighten all of us who have ever marveled at what we've seen on the screen and wondered: how did they do that?
Customer Reviews:
The 2nd decade of ILM in a great book!.......2006-11-05
First there was ILM, covering the 1st decade of this fantastic Special Effects Company.
This is the second book of the series, covering the main movies from the second decade of existence of this company.
An execelent finishing, great value book (although it is a litle expensive, the book quality is exceptional).
Essencial to all Special Effects lovers.
Fantastic!.......2005-06-17
One of the greatest 'making of' writers Patricia Rose Duignan's Industrial Light & Magic: Into the Digital Realm is one of my all-time favorite books, charting the journey of ILM from fledgling company in George Lucas' garage to the No.1 Special Effects company in the world. Insightful and comprehensive, this is flawless reading and has some great accompanying images from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and surprisingly some of their lesser-known movies like Willow and Hook. An essential movie book, I just love every page, so carefully written, so rich in detail, it leaves the reader feeling that they have experienced something very special. Fantastic and brilliant. BUY IT NOW!
Pricey, but well worth it........2004-01-25
The book is huge and heavy. Every single page has at least several great color photographs and it is a big book. You will love to read about ILM's ventures into the digital realm. It is very technology orientated, but not too much and does talk about the film making process and ILM in general. This is well worth looking at especially for fans of ILM or those who want to see what goes on behind the scenes or for those looking for a career in this direction. This is a good place for inspiration.
Although it does not cover the more recent movies you will still get the picture here. It starts by talking about go-motion and then moves onto the first ever digital sequence and how much people slaved over it before going into detail with the evolution of that process and of the special edition of Star Wars and Speilberg's "J. Park".
The book looks fantastic. Keep it for your grandkids. I am sure they will love you for it. This is the kind of book that you will turn to time and time again just to see "how they did that".
The Future of the Magic.......2000-06-15
For 25 years Industrial Light and Magic has woven magic into countless films, either subtle images through `invisible' effects such as matte paintings or through eye-popping visuals that stand out vividly against the film backdrop. ILM has made it's mark on history, for not only have they been and still are the premiere effects house in Hollywood, they have innovated and invented more technology than any other studio, additionally they have won awards for the processing and compositing technology they have created. ILM had to be the best at special effects, because their flagship title - STAR WARS - demanded the best, because that's what Lucas wanted.
`Into the Digital Realm' isn't so much an abandonment of ILM of the traditional methods of special effects, rather a point of departure for the new technology and all of things that led up to it. Indeed, ILM's work on `The Hunt For Red October' submarine work involved flying the submerged vessels from wires in a smoky room - effects do not get any more traditional than that. Released in 96, the book doesn't mention that Phantom Menace or even that the film is in production. It does have some revised images from the Star Wars special edition. As with the previous tome, this one is packed with hundreds of color photos, plus the same beautiful gate fold images.
If the center piece for the previous book was Star Wars, Digital Realms' focus is obviously Jurassic Park, because it was the first film to use CG on so large a scale, even more than Terminator 2, which ILM also did. Jurassic Park was also the test bed and showcase piece that convinced Lucas that computers had finally matured enough to bring what he had in mind to the screen for the new Star Wars films. More is the pity, because I came to loathe most of the aliens in the Phantom Menace. Digital Realm clearly explains in easy to understand terms how effects - both new and old - are accomplished, be it something as simple as making it appear as if buildings are actually much taller than they or having a velociraptor walk _behind_ a plant situated in the foreground. I have both of these wonderful books, and I strongly recommend them to anyone who is curious about ILM's history and the process of how effects are made.
Extraordinary.......2000-04-09
An extraordinary book about an extraordinary company. You will know all you want to know about special effects wizardry. The book is well published, even watching its pictures is joyful.
Book Description
Spanning a century of screen wizardry-from the early innovations of the pioneering French fantasist Georges Méliès to the first synthetic TRON images to the cutting-edge technology used in the most recent Star Wars and The Matrix-this fabulous volume pays homage to dazzling visual pyrotechnics and the artists of illusion who created them. This detailed look at the history of these great illusions is presented through interviews with 37 international masters of the art and science of special effects and more than 1,000 spectacular illustrations, nearly all in color.
The monster spewing flames in Godzilla, the flying bicycle in E.T. , the rampaging dinosaurs in Jurassic Park-these are just a few of the cinematic magic moments that have held audiences spellbound over the years. The inventors of such screen legerdemain reveal the huge variety of techniques they employ, from animation, animatronics, makeup, and model-making to the most astounding computer trickery possible today. The book encompasses not only film and television but also theme parks and attractions. As a bonus, the author includes his selection of DVDs with not-to-be-missed special effects. AUTHOR BIO: Pascal Pinteau is a journalist, screenwriter, and special effects designer who has created special effects for commercials, TV shows, and theme parks. Since 1985, he has visited with special effects masters throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia.
Customer Reviews:
Game of telephone anyone?.......2006-02-20
Most of the book is pretty good, I have a number of specialeffects books in my collection and have subscribed to CINEFEX magazine for many years. However there seem to be facts that are not checked and therefore some inaccuracies. The best example I can think of is the description of how Robby the Robot was constructed. The books describes fairly precisely the prosses know as Vacu-Form though never labels it. Which is odd because from all other accounts Robby was Fiberglass and there was only one made. If he was Vacu-Formed, a simple prosses once set up and molds made the studio doubless would have made at least three, if for no other reason that he would have be fragile. I may be nit picking. An I could be wrong
Mind Bending Eye Candy.......2005-09-23
As a charter subscriber to Cinefex magazine, the 25-year industry bible for visual effects, I'm no stranger to this topic. But flipping through Pinteau's book yielded some exciting revelations and mostly, It did not disappoint. The book promises interviews with masters "spanning 100 years" although it skews pretty heavily to the past decade (not a surprise). But I bought it for the pictures and they made it worth the time and money. The pics are well-chosen and even familiar old films are illustrated with scenes seen less often. I also like the durable hard/soft cover---because I'll be picking this one up frequently.
A great book about SFX for everyone.......2005-05-18
If you like special effects, you'll have a blast reading this book which was obviously written to please movie fans of all ages. A previous review onAmazon said "good, but not the best" and went on praising another book,which is in fact a very technical reference book for special effects pros or film students. I think it is a bit unfair to criticize a book because it is different from what you expected. "Special effects: an oral history" is not a dictionary. It is entertaining and fun to read precisely because it is not a boring catalog of techniques, props and apparatus. It manages to tell the history of special effects as a human adventure, involving many wonderful artists and also explain clearly how they've created miracles in movies, animated feature films or in TV series and theme parks rides (special chapters devoted to animation, makeup, television and theme parks effects, are each over 100 pages long, which is great, since all other FX books I've read so far are devoted to movies only) . Famous special effects geniuses like Ray Harryhausen, Stan Winston, John Dykstra, John Lasseter (and many others) tell great anecdotes about their work and about their creativity. You can buy this book, you won't be disappointed and your kids will love it from the first page to the end! And the 1500 photos and illustrations are simply stunning!
Good, but not the best.......2005-02-09
I liked this book a lot. The best thing about it is the pictures, they are well researched and some are quite rare. Unfortunately the text does not live up to the quality of the images and the book's sumptuous feel. The author attempts to explain how techniques work, often relying on interviews with experts who often say WHAT they did but not really HOW. Unfortunately this often leads to slightly baffling and incomplete explanations. I dont think it helps that it has been translated from French. If you want to read about how effects are achieved with REALLY CLEAR EXPLANATIONS and helpful diagrams you still can't beat Richard Rickitt's book 'Special Effects: The History and Technique' which is a real class act- I recommend it to all my FX students. But this book comes a close second (though I did find one or two factual errors). It has some unusual examples and it's interesting to see some of the stuff about TV and theme park effects.
Wonderful work..........2004-12-11
Anyone even slighty interested in this subject will like this book - end of story. From Stan Winstons 'Terminator' to Nimba Creations full size animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex, this is a cracking book filled with great photos that is the best of it's type.
It covers everything from the beginning of filmmaking right up to present day and leaves nothing out, hence the vast 600 page count; this thing is thicker than a phone book!!
No complaints, it's a wonderful piece of work.
Book Description
Computer-generated effects are often blamed for bad Hollywood movies. Yet when a critic complains that "technology swamps storytelling" (in a review of Van Helsing, calling it "an example of everything that is wrong with Hollywood computer-generated effects movies"), it says more about the weakness of the story than the strength of the technology. In Digital Storytelling, Shilo McClean shows how digital visual effects can be a tool of storytelling in film, adding narrative power as do sound, color, and "experimental" camera angles--other innovative film technologies that were once criticized for being distractions from the story. It is time, she says, to rethink the function of digital visual effects.
Effects artists say--contrary to the critics--that effects always derive from story. Digital effects are a part of production, not post-production; they are becoming part of the story development process. Digital Storytelling is grounded in filmmaking, the scriptwriting process in particular. McClean considers crucial questions about digital visual effects-- whether they undermine classical storytelling structure, if they always call attention to themselves, whether their use is limited to certain genres--and looks at contemporary films (including a chapter-long analysis of Steven Spielberg's use of computer-generated effects) and contemporary film theory to find the answers. McClean argues that to consider digital visual effects as simply contributing the "wow" factor underestimates them. They are, she writes, the legitimate inheritors of film storycraft.
Customer Reviews:
GREAT CRITIQUE OF CRAFT FOR VIZ F/X ARTISTS AND PRODUCERS .......2007-04-03
The faults of this book? Point size is under 9 points which strains the eyes given that this is 99% text. There are a few photographs, but the focus of this book is use of Digital Visual Effects in contemporary movies, and how the author and critics are responding to them.
As I'm a sucker for anything related to Visual Effects, I enjoyed this book. He defines concepts that are perhaps intuitive to a visual effects artist. Yet, making you aware of these things is quite cool. Someone has noticed, and taken the time to process what it all might mean.
I appreciate that the author connects the story and visual effects, though some quotes are heavy handed. An ILM staffer complains that "Borne Identity" lost him during a exaggerated shot. It's a movie, not a documentary. The most perceptive part goes into the misidentification of f/x by critics, specifically "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," which used extensive digital effects that were attributed to incamera or old-style f/x. I wish he would've discussed Roman Coppola's CQ, which went whole hog chemical f/x. Still, there's plenty to consider. F/X are not the enemy. Mediocre filmmaking is.
Book Description
This full color book provides simple and effective special effects techniques that can be mastered by the amateur filmmaker. Work smart, play safe, and create interesting special effects that will help your film or video project look like a million bucks.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for anyone dedicated to creating their own film!.......2007-07-05
This book is especially good for student film-makers, who will be inspired rather than intimidated by the art of special effects production; the book makes impressive illusion possible with little money necessary and with resources already available in many people's homes. If the reader is serious about film-making, they've met the only requirement needed to create worthwhile special effects.
Low budget? No problem! .......2007-06-03
I bought this book for my son, who is an attorney and wants to learn filmmaking as a hobby. I'm impressed by the photos and artwork, which take readers step-by-step through each phase of the projects. I ended up reading the book myself, and I can see it's all my son will need to get started. I recommend this book for all novice filmmakers.
ideal for beginning SFX specialists.......2007-05-19
Arguably the biggest revolution in filmmaking in the last decade has taken place in the field of special effects. CGI has irrevocably changed the way movie magic is created, and thanks to advances in computer technology many home users now have access to the same software used in Hollywood. So, in principle, professional-quality special effects are now within anyone's reach. The only question is: how does the budding SFX-enthusiast get started?
This is where Mike Slone's book comes in. Squarely aimed at the beginner, it details a number of the most common special effects used in filmmaking. Of course, not everything is done with computers, so the first part of the book concentrates on physical effects. These include creating fake blood and bullet hits, rain and snow, fake glass, disappearing tricks, the use of prop guns, smoke, dry ice, bullet and arrow hits and models and miniatures. Each of these techniques is explained in a clear and practical fashion, although if you intend to get into modelling, you'll obviously need to look for further detailed information.
The book then goes into digital effects, including green screen, gun flashes, and light sabres. There are extensive tutorials on each of these using Adobe Premiere Pro. The final chapters include interviews with a few SFX professionals and provide tips for starting your own FX company if you're so inclined.
Veteran SFX people probably won't find much that is new here, but anyone starting out in the field couldn't wish for a better introduction.
Excellent Resource Guide.......2007-05-11
My first attempt at special effects was doing stop-motion animation with an 8mm camera that was not equipped for stop-motion animation. The results were, well, terrible. My second attempt was cutting out a cardboard "Star Wars" tie-fighter, attaching a stick to it, poking it through a star filled sky backdrop (black cardboard with holes punched in it) and then to film the tie-fighter straight on with someone yanking and turning the stick in hopes to show "movement." In this case it looked like the tie-fighter was attached to a stick and shaken back and forth.
If you want to create REAL special effects, this book is for you. Mr. Slone does an excellent job of going through the various special effects you might want to attempt. Some as easy as: "Rent a fog machine." And others as complicated as: "Once you have downloaded your image, pull it up on the computer and going frame by frame you..."
Where this book excels, though, is in it's presentation and content. It goes far beyond the "physical effects" and "digital effects" and talks about careers in the field, working with sound effects even starting your own home studio.
The book is also FULL of websites, resources and contact information. The book also includes full page graphics showing, step-by-step, how to do some of the basic effects (gun shot, teleporting, light saber) that would impress your friends and neighbors.
The only complaints I have with the book are these: I would have liked a section on how to make break-away furniture. He notes where to order break-away glass, but a section on furniture - either how to make it, or where to buy it, would have been helpful. And it would have been a huge added bonus to provide a DVD with either actual step-by-step film clips, demo versions of software, or other types of media that could possibly better explain the ideas and concepts laid out in the book.
Still, those are minor complaints. This is an excellent book/resource guide.
Great Beginners Guide.......2007-05-03
Most books in this genre assume a basic knowledge of special effects and computer technology that is beyond the beginning user. What this work uniquely contributes is a thorough and careful explanation of those basics. This is the place to start. If you are interested in making your productions better than scripted home movies, If you are frustrated by the difference between what you see in your mind's eye and what comes out on the screen, if you don't know where to begin, this book is perfect for you. The care taken in making no assumptions and explaining each step so very thoroughly sets this work apart. Highly recommended.
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General
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Audio Post Production for Television and Film, Third Edition: An introduction to technology and techniques
Pro Tools - For Video, Film and Multimedia
Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound, Second Edition
Audio-Vision
Audio Postproduction for Digital Video
