ABSTRACT
I learned to make films before I ever worked in video, and I guess that’s why it took me a while to take advantage of Avid’s extensive effects. Effects are so expensive in film that you only use them when nothing else will work. It’s different on an Avid. The effects are free, and you don’t have to wait more than a few minutes-and usually much less-to see what they’ll look like. Keep in mind that not every project benefits from a lot of effects. Scenes involving strong performances by talented actors are usually hurt by visual effects, because they steal the scene from the actors. Montage sequences that are music driven or contain stunning cinematography are great candidates for effects, because the right effect heightens the mood and visual impact of the sequence. Music videos, which are designed to be viewed many times, benefit from complex visual effects; otherwise, the video becomes stale after one or two viewings. Transitions before and after television commercials are often piled high with visual effects as a means of grabbing audience attention. The same can be said of the commercials themselves, which are often packed with stunning visual effects.
