ABSTRACT

Don't waste valuable time and budget fixing your footage in post! Shoot the effects you want effectively and creatively the first time.

This full-color step-by step guide to visual effects cinematography empowers you to plan out and execute visual effects shots on a budget, without falling into the common pitfall of using high-end computer graphics to "fix it in post.” Learn how to effectively photograph foreground miniatures, matte paintings, green screen set ups, miniatures, crowd replication, explosions, and so much more to create elements that will composite together flawlessly.

Filming the Fantastic focuses on the art and craft of visual effects using real case scenarios from a visual effects cameraman. These lessons from the front line will give you ideas and insight so you can translate your skills into any situation, no matter what camera or software package you are using and no matter if you are using film or digital technology. Learn how to film your fantastic visual effects with this book!

chapter 1|22 pages

One-Eyed Magic

chapter 2|28 pages

The Fabulous Art of Matte Painting

chapter 3|22 pages

Stop Motion

chapter 5|30 pages

How Film Works

chapter 6|8 pages

Film to Digital

chapter 7|16 pages

Digital Cinema

chapter 8|20 pages

The Moving Camera

chapter 9|42 pages

Blue and Green Screen

chapter 10|22 pages

Composition and Lighting

chapter 11|16 pages

Miniatures vs. Computer Graphics

chapter 12|18 pages

So You Don’t Have a Million Dollars

chapter 13|16 pages

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

chapter 14|12 pages

Welcome to the Circus