Museum of the Moving Image:
Special Effects
The Museum of the Moving Image was an extremely interesting and educational place. There was plenty to learn from each and every exhibit on the tour. However, the part that interested me the most was the special effects exhibit. Firstly, I was extremely impressed with the artistic work that went onto each physical effect prop, be it the miniature skyscraper from Blade Runner, the puppet Yoda, the robotic wolves, and everything else. I have always preferred physical special effects to computer-generated effects. I must admit that computer effects have come a long way, and that they undoubtedly allow filmmakers to achieve cinematic feats that could never be possible with physical props. Still, I have always felt that physical effects should be used whenever possible because, though they may not look 100% real, they exist in the same world as the actors and sets, and this offers a certain unity to the final product.
The special effects props on display at the museum were created in an extremely professional manner, with the utmost attention paid to detail. Many of them looked almost real, even in person. However, the key word there is almost, and what I found most interesting about the use of physical special effects was how much thought and work filmmakers put into filming these props so that they would look as real as possible within the final product. Each effect element was filmed at specific distances, angles, and lightings so that its most realistic elements were highlighted, while its flaws were downplayed or avoided. After filming, editing was shown to play a huge part in the effects process. Each scene was edited in a way where the shot hung on the specific prop only long enough to convey the idea or image that the director desired, and then these shots were cut into sequences with other shots. This allowed the audience to get a sense of the scene, using everything that the film offered them, to connect the dots in their head.
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