Content Research for unit 4 Year 13 Media Comms

1. Content Research

2. History
• The first film to use visual effects was the 1895 film by the Thomas Edison production company
called “The Execution of Mary Queen of Scott's” The visual effects is of Mary having her head
chopped off, they achieved this by jump cutting from a shot of the real actress kneeling down
on the executioners block, to a shot where it is a dummy on the block and then the executioner
chops off the head of the dummy.
• The first ever 2D computer generated image was in 1973’s “Westworld”, the effect was a POV
shot of and android, to quote the New Yorker They “divided each image into small squares and
calculating the average color in each area. In essence, the effect turned a high-resolution film
image into a blocky low-resolution one”
• The first completely computer animated feature length film was Pixar's 1995 film “Toy Story”.
This film was made by John Lasseter who had been determined to create a computer animated
feature since the early 80’s

3. History
• A still very impressive and remembered use of CGI is the Dinosaurs in 1993’s film “Jurassic
Park”, Steven Spielberg was so happy with the CGI Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park he didn’t include
them in the trailer he only put in reaction shots of the characters looking at the Dinosaurs. The
special effects were created by Industrial Light and Magic and it was the first ever use of
computer generated photorealistic creatures in film.
• A more modern film that contained game changing and impressive CGI was 2009’s James
Cameron film “Avatar”
• First full-length movie made using performance capture to create photorealistic 3D characters
and to feature a fully CG 3D photorealistic world
• In the 1995 film water world was the first film to include photorealistic Computer generated
water, Kevin Cosners hairline was also touched up with CGI

4. History
• In 1994’s the crow Brandon Lee was digitally recreated due to his unfortunate death on the set
this was the first time a dead actor was superimposed on another actors face.
• In the 2000 film Gladiator Oliver Reed died during production and his face was super imposed
on another actor.
• In the 2002 film Lord of the Rings and The Two Towers Gollum was the first photorealistic mo
cap character
• In the 1985 film young Sherlock Holmes, a sentient stain glass window is the first photorealistic
CGI character
• The 2004 film The Polar Express was the first CGI film to include all mo cap characters.

5. History
• A very famous example of a practical effects is the shark in the 1975 film JAWS, the
animatronic nicknamed Bruce was faulty hence why the shark is featured so little in the film.
• Another example of a famous practical effects is The Thing in The Thing 1982, to create the
effect of melting skin they used microwaved bubblegum.
• An example of a film filled with practical effects is Mad Max Fury Road where CGI was used
minimally apart from a few crashes and a sand storm, most of the rest of the car chases and
destruction was completely practical.
• Some examples of rather impressive early make up work are, the universal Monsters make up
created by jack pierce, these include Frankenstein, the Wolman. Another example is Lon
Chaney Sr who did most of his own make up, the most famous being his Phantom of the Opera
“Erick” make up.

6. Professional companies/organization
• The firs professional company I will be looking at is Method Studios.
• Method Studios are a global Computer Animation company with offices in los Angeles, London,
Chicago, Vancouver, Detroit, Atlanta and New York. Thy have most notably worked on a handful
of the Disney Marvel films, these include Guardians of the Galaxy, captain America civil War
and Doctor Strange and a few Warner Brothers projects these include The Legend of Tarzan and
Knights of the round table king Arthur.
• Method Studios create computer animations for major motion pictures, this includes motion
capture and general computer animation.
• Method Studios is a Global company Therefore thousands of individuals are employed by the
company.
• The are financed by the fees they charge the studios that are making the film they are working
on for their work.

7. Professional companies/organization
• The second professional company I will be looking at is Artem an Ealingbased self proclaimed “Creative Effects
and Innovative Solutions” company, they also have an office in Scotland.
• They create Props, Pyrotechnics, miniatures, special costumes and creature/body effects e.g. making models
for Madame Tausaudes and making silicon dead body dummies for battle scenes
• They work on films, TV shows, Averts and Stage plays, however from the research I have conducted they seem
to work more on adverts that anything else.
• Some notable example of productions they have worked on are Macbeth 2015, Ex Machina, call the Mid wife and
The BFG 2016.
• You can buy and hire effects equipment from their website, the items are split into 15 categories, Smoke and
Fog Machines, Smoke Consumables, Wind Machines and Fans, Rain and Water, Water Tanks, Pumps, Air and
Steam, Fire Equipment and Rigs, Snow, Equipment and Plant, Pyrotecnic Equipment and Capsule Guns,
Camera Rigs, Dummies Including Babies and Limbs, Props Action and Soft and Sundry Equipment.
• They are financed by the fees that they charge their clients

8. Articles
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160218144928.htm
• -Title- Real or Virtual: Can we tell the difference
• -Date- February 18, 2016
• -Summary- This article states that people are gradually fin doing it more challenging to
differentiate between CGI imagery and in camera objects or people. The article than
goes on to problems with reaszli8stic CGI, for example the issue of CGI child pornography
and weather it is morally wrong or not as no child is being harmed.
• -Impact- The impact of this article on my documentary is that I may now discuss if they
think that CGI can be problem when it comes to the loopholes its existence creates with
the “Child Pornography Prevention Act” and the “PROTECT Act”, as this issue does link to
the effect of CGI on audiences. However because of this I may have to include affects on
society as well.

9. • http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/how-michael-crichtons-westworld-
pioneered-modern-special-effects
• -Title- “How Michael Crichton’s “Westworld” Pioneered Modern Special Effects”
• -Author- David A. Price
• -Date- May 14, 2013
• -Summary- This article discusses the vet first visual effects on film in 1973 “Westworld”.
This article includes who made the effects, how and what the people involved in making
the film and the effect went on to do this includes a man who created a 3D- CGI hand for
the film who went on co found Pixar Animation Studios.
• -Impact- The impact this article has had on my documentary is that I will now explore
the history and key figures in visual effects.

10. • http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/NEWS/14791397.Expansion_for_visual_effects_com
pany_linked_to_Jason_Bourne_film/
• -Title- “Expansion for visual effects company linked to “Jason Bourne” film”
• -Author-Darren Slade
• -Date- October 13, 2016
• -Summary- This article discusses how a relatively small visual effects company that
worked on the latest Jason Bourne film is expanding due to Paul Francis who has clocked
in 20 years of experience in the media has become the companies chief technology
officer
• -Impact- The impact this article has had on my documentary is I will discuss the the rapid
and ever increasing amount of VFX companies popping up and if that is a good or bad
thing for the industry

11. • https://www.inverse.com/article/21633-hbo-westworld-actors-robots-vfx-special-
effects-miles-beyond-a-glitch
• -Title-“How “Westworld” uses visual effects to make better human actors
• -Author-Jordan Zakarin
• -Date- October 3, 2016
• -Summary- This article discusses how the 2016 HBO series Westword used VFX to make
the actors portraying the robot characters act more robotic, the did this by digitally
removing blinks and making movement look more artificial jumpy, in the article they
compare the VFX aided performances as like a pirate animatronics from the Pirates of
the Caribbean ride in Disney Land.
• -Impact- This article has impacted my idea in that part of the affect on industry segment
will be affect on acting and performances.

12. • http://www.parentherald.com/articles/76089/20161021/doctor-strange-early-reviews-
reactions-visual-effects-action-scenes-praised.htm
• Title-‘Doctor Strange’ Early Reviews & Reactions: Visual Effects & Action Scenes Praised; Marvel
Film A Throwback To ‘Iron Man?’
• Author- Olivia Reese
• Date- October 21
• Summary-This article is a collection of journalists reviews of the 2016 film Docter Strange,
They particularly praise Benedict Cumberbatch’es performance and the “mind bending visual
effects”
• Impact- This article has impacted my idea in that I will now try and gert in contact with a film
critic and include their opinion on visual effects in my documentary.

13. • https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/westworld-special-effects
• Title- “How Wesetworld de-aged Anthony Hopkins & other special effects secrets”
• Author- Ian Failes
• Summary- This article discusses how the visual effects team for the 2015 HBO series Westworld
create the visual effects for the show and how the integrate the VFX work with the
performances, and it also discusses the process that the VFX team has to go through to create
these effects and illusions.
• Impact- This article has had the impact on my idea in that I would like to discuss unorthodox
uses of visual effects in productions like making a performance seem more robotic and discuss
with the audiences if they are worth doing or if they are just a distraction and discuss with the
production company’s and VFX companies if it is worth while or if it is a waste of money and or
work.

14. • http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/special-effects-and-a-great-
story/article9307571.ece
• Title- “Special effects and a great story”
• Author- Deborah Cornelious
• Date- November 5
• Summary- This is a review of the film Doctor strange where the film is praised for containing
good Visual effects and a good story among other things.
• Impact- This article most interests me in the impact it has had on my documentary idea, it has
impacted my idea in that in my documentary I would like to have conversation where what is
discussed is, are visual effects anything without a film to put them in or a good story to tell.

15. Facts, figures, statistics and graphs
• The use of practical effects is on the rise in the film industry, this is mainly due to the
extensive use of them in Star wars the Force Awakens and Mad Max Fury Road-this is form my
observational research.
• The use of visual effect have been on the rise since the early 90’s, this is due to the use of
impressive visual effects in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park.-this is from my observational
research.