Michael Cabrera

Introduction

An increase in technological breakthroughs within the Visual Effects industry is providing the opportunity for film makers and visual effect artists to create complex yet subtle Invisible Visual Effects for films.

“I take the position that I’m a magician and that I’m there to help the director tell the story and instill awe.”

Peter Donen

Visual Effects Supervisor

(1954 – 2004)

Understanding Invisible Visual Effects

• The difference between Visible and Invisible Effects
• Visible Effects defined
1. Pros

Less time to produce

Less money needed to produce

Can be used to sell a film

Can use "off the shelf" technology

2. Cons
   Eye candy distracts from film

Poor quality

• Invisible Effects defined
1. Pros

Does not distract from film

High quality

2. Cons

More time to produce

More money needed for production

Film needs more substance to sell the film

Most of the time needs to be created from proprietary technology

• Comparison of these Effects
1. Breakdown of Comparison

Even though it takes less time and money to produce visible effects the quality can turn out to be poor and most of the time can distract from the film itself. With invisible effects we can produce high quality effects that does not distract from the film. But the consequences are obvious, more money and more time are needed for the effects to be created.

• (transition) How can Invisible effects be produced
  With the understanding of the pros and cons of invisible visual effects we can explore the technology that is used in the industry to create these effects.

Creating Invisible Effects

• Tools available to a Visual Effect Supervisor for creating Invisible Effects
  
  
• Compositing
  
  

Shake, Nuke, Combustion, Flame, After Effects

The use of these packages allows the composting artist to create seamless integration of cg and live elements into a film.

• CG, including Dynamics

Maya, Houdini, Lightwave

With the advent of high end 3D packages, artists are able to create and texture “realistic” models for films.

With better and better Dynamics being integrated into 3D packages the artist is able to create visually stunning fluids,

explosions, and atmospherics, to name a few.

• Lighting and Rendering

Pixar’s Renderman, Lightwave’s Renderer, Houdini’s Mantra

With these renderers, TD and artists have the ability to create complex shaders and match to live action lighting systems to

Use with high end 3D models.

• (transition) With an expert understanding of these technologies

Visual Effect Supervisors and Visual Effects Artists can create complex yet subtle effects for films using these and other packages. But by also writing their own proprietary software and plug-ins, artists are able to push the envelope on what is considered an invisible effect. In the last few years a number of movies have gone about creating visual effects using breakthrough proprietary plug-ins and software.

Invisible Effects in Films

• A short list of example movies that use Invisible Visual Effects and how they were created
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
1. Beetle Crawling Sequence
1. Creating the shot
2. Bird Flying Sequence
1. Creating the shot
3. Storm Sequence
1. Creating the shot
• Last Samurai
1. Sword Fight Sequence
1. Creating the shot
2. Arrow Shooting Sequence
1. Creating the shot
• (transition) With the technologies that are currently in the hands of Visual Effect Supervisors and Visual Effects Artists,

Films will by in large use more Invisible Effect in the future.

Summary and Conclusion

• The future impact of invisible visual effects and technology on the movie industry

An increase in technological breakthroughs within the Visual Effects industry is providing the opportunity for film makers

and Visual Effect Artists to create complex yet subtle Invisible Visual Effects for films. With these technologies and others

that are currently in the hands of Visual Effect Supervisors and Visual Effects Artists, films, by in large, will be able to use

more Invisible Effects in the future.