Introduction
The crafts of Visual & Special Effects have been fundamentally transformed by the science fiction genre. This page aims to introduce people to the artists and work behind the futuristic imagery and extensions of reality, both physical and digital, that make up the their favorite universes. This page also includes resources on both the history of visual and special effects and practical production information.
Special Effects and Visual Effects
More Than Meets the Eye: Special Effects and the Fantastic Transmedia Franchise by Call Number: Arts Library; TR858 .R425 2018ISBN: 9781479813155Date: 2018-03-13More Than Meets the Eye delves into the world of fantastic media franchises to trace the ways in which special effects over the last 50 years have become central not just to transmedia storytelling but to worldbuilding, performance, and genre in contemporary blockbuster entertainment.
Special Effects: Still in Search of Wonder by Call Number: Arts Library; PN1995.9.S26 P54 2002ISBN: 9780231125635Date: 2002-05-23Special Effects examines the history, advancements, and connoisseurship of special effects, asking what makes certain types of cinematic effects special, why this matters, and for whom. Michele Pierson shows how popular science magazines, genre filmzines, and computer lifestyle magazines have articulated an aesthetic criticism of this emerging art form and have helped shape how these hugely popular on-screen technological wonders have been viewed by moviegoers.
Spectacular Digital Effects: CGI & Contemporary Cinema by Call Number: Arts Library ; TR897.7 .W493 2014ISBN: 9780822377146Date: 2014-03-07Focusing on spectacular digital visual effects in live-action films made between 1989 and 2011, Whissel identifies and examines four effects emblems: the illusion of gravity-defying vertical movement, massive digital multitudes or "swarms," photorealistic digital creatures, and morphing "plasmatic" figures. Across films such as Avatar, The Matrix, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Jurassic Park, Titanic, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, these effects emblems heighten the narrative drama by contrasting power with powerlessness, life with death, freedom with constraint, and the individual with the collective.
Visual Effects for Indie Filmmakers by 
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Call Number: Arts Library ; TR858 .H65 2024; Also Available OnlineISBN: 9781032282107Date: 2023-12-12Offers practical solutions that are not typically published or available online to indie filmmakers for budgeting, prepping, hiring, and collaborating with vfx teams. Makes VFX practical and attainable to indie filmmakers so they can make informed decisions about visual effects integration with information on established methodologies and emerging technologies. Recounts valuable real-world examples from independent filmmakers and vfx professionals with extensive experience in indie budget films.
Special Effects: The History & Technique by Call Number: Arts Library Oversize* ; * TR858 .R53 2007ISBN: 9780823084081Date: 2007-04-03Special Effects: The History and Technique offers the definitive history of movie magic plus detailed technical explanations and diagrams. Packed with more than 500 photographs and profiles of such groundbreakers as George Lucas, James Cameron, and Robert Zemeckis, it is sure to appeal to fans of all ages. From A Trip to the Moon to X-Men 3,fromThe Lost World to War of the Worlds, from the 1933King Kong to the 2005King Kong, this stunning book reveals the magic of special effects.
The Art of Visual Effects by Call Number: Arts Library; TR858 .R65 1999ISBN: 0240803752Date: 1999-06-24On today's feature films and commercials, visual effects are achieved using a wide array of tools and techniques, often combining camera techniques with computer-rendered images. This book presents a unique approach to the subject through the direct experiences of noted artists from the feature film, television and commercial realm. The book is divided into two parts. Part one explores the historical background, including such tools as double exposure, in-camera mattes, miniature photography, Schufftan-technique, front and rear screen projection, Introvision, color difference mattes, motion control and other building blocks that have brought visual effects to its current status. Part two features a series of in-depth interviews with noted artists covering feature film, television, and commercial projects.
Visual Effects for Indie Filmmakers by - This link opens in a new window
Call Number: Arts Library ; TR858 .H65 2024; Also Available OnlineISBN: 9781032282060Date: 2023-12-12Offers practical solutions that are not typically published or available online to indie filmmakers for budgeting, prepping, hiring, and collaborating with vfx teams. Makes VFX practical and attainable to indie filmmakers so they can make informed decisions about visual effects integration with information on established methodologies and emerging technologies. Recounts valuable real-world examples from independent filmmakers and vfx professionals with extensive experience in indie budget films.
The VES Handbook of Visual Effects by Call Number: Arts Library; TR858 .V47 2021ISBN: 9781138542204Date: 2020-07-17The award-winning VES Handbook of Visual Effects remains the most complete guide to visual effects techniques and best practices available today. This new edition has been updated to include the latest, industry-standard techniques, technologies, and workflows for the ever-evolving fast paced world of visual effects.
The Digital Matte Painting Handbook by - This link opens in a new window
Call Number: Available OnlineISBN: 9781118078044Date: 2011-04-18The only how-to guide dedicated to mastering the technique of digital matte painting! Matte painting affords seamless integration between an artist's painting with live action film footage and allows for greater flexibility and creative input in the appearance of movie settings.
The Invisible Art: The Legends of Movie Matte Painting by Call Number: Arts Library Oversize* ; * ND2885 .V39 2002ISBN: 9780811831369Date: 2002-08-01Since the birth of cinema, movie-makers have created stunning special effects by combining still "matte" paintings with live-action film. In this unprecedented retrospective, Mark Cotta Vaz and Craig Barron reveal the history of a visual effect that has defined movies as we know them-from Gone with the Wind and Citizen Kane to Star Wars and Titanic. Including a foreword by George Lucas, this volume is packed with exclusive interviews and a narrative that time travels from the first pioneering "glass shots" to the dawn of digital technology.
Special Effects and German Silent Film by - This link opens in a new window
Call Number: Available OnlineISBN: 9789048551712Date: 2021-03-22In recent decades, special effects have become a major new area of research in cinema studies. For the most part, they have been examined as spectacles or practical tools. In contrast, Special Effects and German Silent Film, foregrounds their function as an expressive device and their pivotal role in cinema's emergence as a full-fledged art. Special effects not only shaped the look of iconic films like Nosferatu (1922) or Metropolis (1927), but they are central to a comprehensive understanding of German silent film culture writ large.
Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the making of a masterpiece by ISBN: 9781501163937Date: 2018-04-03Author Michael Benson explains how 2001 was made, telling the story primarily through the two people most responsible for the film, Kubrick and science fiction legend Arthur C. Clarke. Benson interviewed Clarke many times, and has also spoken at length with Kubrick's widow, Christiane; with visual effects supervisor Doug Trumbull; with Dan Richter, who played 2001's leading man-ape; and many others. A colorful nonfiction narrative packed with memorable characters and remarkable incidents, Space Odyssey provides a 360-degree view of this extraordinary work, tracking the film from Kubrick and Clarke's first meeting in New York in 1964 through its UK production from 1965-1968, during which some of the most complex sets ever made were merged with visual effects so innovative that they scarcely seem dated today.- Special Effects and German Silent Film by Call Number: Available OnlineISBN: 9789048551712Date: 2021-03-22In recent decades, special effects have become a major new area of research in cinema studies. For the most part, they have been examined as spectacles or practical tools. In contrast, Special Effects and German Silent Film, foregrounds their function as an expressive device and their pivotal role in cinema's emergence as a full-fledged art. Special effects not only shaped the look of iconic films like Nosferatu (1922) or Metropolis (1927), but they are central to a comprehensive understanding of German silent film culture writ large.
The Art of Rogue One: a Star Wars Story by Call Number: Arts Library; PN1997.2.R643 K87 2016ISBN: 9781419722257Date: 2016-12-16This book is a visual chronicle of the Lucasfilm art department's creation of new worlds, unforgettable characters, and newly imagined droids, vehicles, and weapons for the first movie in the Star Wars Storyseries--Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. In the same format and style as Abrams' The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the book gives readers unprecedented access to hundreds of concept paintings, sketches, storyboards, matte paintings, and character, costume, and vehicle designs.
The Art of Avatar by Call Number: SRLF; PN1997.2.A94 F58 2009ISBN: 9780810982864Date: 2009-11-01With over 100 exclusive full-color images including sketches, matte paintings, drawings, and film stills, The Art of Avatar reveals the process behind the creation of set designs for the imaginative vistas, unique landscapes, aerial battle scenes, bioluminescent nights, and fantastical creatures. Interviews with art directors, visual effects designers, animators, costume designers, and creature makers bring insight into this creative process.
Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters by Call Number: SRLF ; TR849.T79 R34 2007ISBN: 9780811860789Date: 2007-11-01Behind-the-scenes hero to anyone who's thrilled by giant monsters duking it out over Tokyo, Eiji Tsuburaya was the visual effects mastermind behind Godzilla, Ultraman, and numerous Japanese science fiction movies and TV showsbeloved around the world. The first book on this legendary film figure in English, this highly visual biography details his fascinating life and career, featuring hundreds of film stills, posters, concept art, and delightful on-set photos of Tsuburaya prompting monsters to crush landmark buildings.
Willis O'Brien: Special Effects Genius by Call Number: Arts Library; PN1998.3.O25 A73 1993ISBN: 9780786405732Date: 1998-11-01Provides a synopsis, film reviews and full credits for Willis O'Brien's movies.
Ray Harryhausen Titan of Cinema by Call Number: Arts Library; NC1766.U52 H37 2020ISBN: 9781911054344Date: 2020-12-22100 objects selected by the animator Ray Harryhausen's daughter - packed with personal stories that have never previously been heard or published. A fascinating examination of the work of the pioneer of the special effects that we see in modern cinema.
Mad Dreams and Monsters: The Art of Phil Tippett and Tippett Studio by ISBN: 9781951836559Date: 2022-11-08A spectacular and comprehensive authorized retrospective of Oscar-winning visual effects master Phil Tippett, founder and namesake of iconic Tippett Studio. From Star Wars to Jurassic Park and RoboCop to Starship Troopers, special effects master Phil Tippett has brought his magic to some of the most iconic films of all time. This stunning book celebrates Tippett's career, from early Super-8 explorations through his groundbreaking work with Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks, and beyond.
Masters of FX: Behind the Scenes with Geniuses of Visual and Special Effects by - This link opens in a new window
Call Number: SRLF ; TR858 .F35 2016; Also Available OnlineISBN: 9781138845961Date: 2015-07-20It would be rare these days to find a film that did not in some way depend on the magic of visual effects, from the raging computer-generated dinosaurs in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, to the fantastical worlds of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and the photoreal tiger and ocean in Ang Lee's Life of Pi. Through interviews with 16 of the leading effects pioneers from around the world (see list below), author Ian Failes explores the making of some of the most memorable film sequences ever produced, showcasing the shift from practical to digital magic with original behind-the-scenes imagery, shot breakdowns, and detailed explanations of some of the secrets behind the making of cinema's most extraordinary creations.
- American Cinematographer
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- Sight & Sound
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- Team Deakins Podcast
- The Team Deakins podcast is an ongoing conversation between acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins and James Deakins, his collaborator, about cinematography, the film business and whatever other questions are submitted.
- Some Selected Episodes with VFX & SPFX Supervisors:
- EPISODE 40 - SONA PAK & GUILLAUME ROCHERON - VFX Producer & Supervisor
- EPISODE 48 - ROB LEGATO - VFX Supervisor
- EPISODE 78 - PABLO HELMAN - VFX Supervisor
- EPISODE 107 - PAUL LAMBERT - VFX Supervisor
- EPISODE 122 - CHRIS CORBOULD - Special Effects Supervisor
- EPISODE 127 - GERD NEFZER - Special Effects Supervisor
- EPISODE 138 - DANIELLE FEINBERG -Pixar DP/VFX Supervisor
- IATSE VFX UnionLabor union for the production and facility-based VFX workers.
- IATSE Local 44 - Affiliated Property CraftspersonsAffiliated Property Craftspersons Local 44 is a professional association of craft persons having specialized skills and talents within the entertainment industry. Local 44 represents Special Effects among other on-set crafts.
- Final Frontiers: Computer-Generated Imagery and the Science Fiction Film / by Stacey Abbott
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Science-fiction studies, 2006-03, Vol.33 (1), p.89-108 - CGI: a future history of assimilation in mainstream science fiction film / by Greg SIngh
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Extrapolation, 2007, Vol.48(3), p.543-557 - CGI effects in Hollywood science-fiction cinema 1989-95: the wonder years. / by Michele Pierson
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Screen : the journal of the Society for Education in Film and Television. , 1999, Vol.40(2), p.158-176 - Expanding the Esper: Virtualised spaces of surveillance in sf film / by Nick Jones
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Science fiction film and television, 2016-02, Vol.9 (1), p.1-23 - The PMPEA/Kodak Seminar: A Close Encounter with Doug Trumbull
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White Plains, N.Y: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
SMPTE journal (1976), 1979-01, Vol.88 (1), p.64-64
Introduction to Special Topic: Practical Special & Visual Effects
Special effects are defined as practical effects produced physically or "in camera." Many "practical effects" fall under this category including the use of scale minitures or matte paintings for establishing shots, specialized rigging to create movement, puppets and animatronics to create living things, pyrotechnics, and much more. Sometimes special effects are amplified later by the use of post-production visual effects, but this section focuses on the wonders of analog effects.
The Making of Star Wars — Pioneering Special Effects, VFX, and Sound Design
Compared to the scope and vision of George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away, Star Wars was a low-budget production. One of the ways they were able to pull this off was to use practical effects. This ranged from making Luke’s landspeeder to be a functional vehicle but appeared to float above the ground, to the extensive use of matte paintings that could extend the sets and add extras. (StudioBinder Youtube - Published March 6, 2023).
Creating Cutting-Edge Sci-Fi with Analog Effects | The Process
Approaching the Unknown, Mark Elijah Rosenberg's film about an astronaut whose Mars journey does not go according to plan, combines old school non-CGI special effect techniques with new-fangled equipment to create a completely unique and hyper-realistic "space" atmosphere. The Creators Project goes behind the scenes to discover how Rosenberg, with the help of legendary special effects specialist master Doug Trumball were able to create physical models to appear realistic on modern cameras -- and like the film's protagonist, conquer the unknown through daring action. (Creators Youtube - Published June 2, 2016).
Introduction to Special Topic: Virtual Production Technology
One of the biggest developments in film production and special effects over the past 10 years has been the development of Virtual Production technology. Moving away from a world of practical special effects and traditional computer-generated imagery, companies like Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) have popularized the integration of 3D digital environments and interative LED walls rather than use green screen, process screens or traditional built sets. Below are some more in depth resources on the topic:
The Virtual Production of The Mandalorian Season One - Industrial Light & Magic
Over 50 percent of The Mandalorian Season 1 was filmed using this ground-breaking new methodology, eliminating the need for location shoots entirely. Instead, actors in The Mandalorian performed in an immersive and massive 20’ high by 270-degree semicircular LED video wall and ceiling with a 75’-diameter performance space, where the practical set pieces were combined with digital extensions on the screens. Digital 3D environments created by ILM played back interactively on the LED walls, edited in real-time during the shoot, which allowed for pixel-accurate tracking and perspective-correct 3D imagery rendered at high resolution via systems powered by NVIDIA GPUs. (ILM Youtube - Published Feb 20, 2020).
Into the Volume: A Behind-the-Scenes Look into the Virtual Production of 1899
Follow as the filmmakers behind the complex mystery series discuss using first-of-its-kind virtual production techniques. Including perspectives from the creators Bo and Jantje as well as Producer Philipp Klausing, Cinematographer Nikolaus Summerer, Production Designer Udo Kramer and more. Learn about how the unique turntable design influenced set design, cinematography, VFX, editorial and more. (Netflix Youtube - Published Dec 20, 2022).
- THE VIRTUAL PRODUCTION FIELD GUIDE - Unreal EngineA downloadable PDF intended as a foundational information document for anyone either interested in VP or already leveraging these techniques in production.