29/07/10

For class today, half of the batch gave presentations on movies that made significant use of visual effects. I used to be a passive audience while watching movies, never paying attention to the details of visual effects or what not that the film producers used to enhance the visuals of the film. After joining this course, even watching movies have become a critique session with my eyes, as being exposed to how the visual effects were done in any film and how the producers make those effects work well in that context really do make me appreciate the film more than I would, and I am able to learn from movies what kinds of visual effects I would want or not want to do in the future.

So my parting shot today will be a video of the making of Inception, it was a helluva movie experience for me, not only for my eyes, but it was a brainteaser as well, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Terminator 2!!!!!

Today in class, the film shown to us, was a refreshing one, really.

TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY.

One of my most significant childhood movies. (Yes, I did not watch it on its opening day, since I was being born that year.) I remembered swooning over Edward Furlong, although now, looking at him, I was like, what the hell did I see him? He sounded just like a whiny girl in the movie. But that being said, for a kid like him to be acting beside Arnold Schwarzenegger at that age, was really something. Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor blew me away completely. Her versatility and ruggedness and her emotions as a mum, really glued me to my seat. The effects were cool too, and totally creepy at one point where the other Terminator had sludged into the floor and were as onewith the floor before transforming into the cop he was going to kill.

And never forgetting the last part where Arnold went to self destruct, I'd always cry, not because it was sad, but the fires were really hellish looking.

And I never fathom how the visual effects crew would lodge a bionic arm on his already existing arm. But well, its for them to know, and for us to find out, eventually.

Hasta La Vista, BABEHHHH.

14/07/2010

Today we were exposed to the old ways of creating visual effects in older films like Star Wars- The Empire Strikes Back, the original version of The War Of The Worlds and Superman. They were hella complex and very difficult to understand, especially when the process was explained to us in a bunch of words. All I could do was trying hard not to doze off. I felt thankful for After Effects and (reluctantly) Shake software after the whole lecture. A click and everything is done for you.

But I guess producing visual effects then would have brought about a bigger sense of satisfaction. Too tedious. Feels like blood will be spilled at the end. Nevertheless, my hats off to those who dare to sacrifice for their craft and be good at what they do.