Product Description

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!

* Hundreds of full-color set photographs show you exactly how it's done
* Includes step-by-step information on green screen setup
* Real-world examples and exercises throughout

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72632 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 312 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780240809151
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Mark Sawicki is a camera man, artist, and actor. He has had many roles in the world of film, from teaching visual effects for over 15 years at the UCLA extension, authoring video programs on the art of clay animation, and being an independent stop motion animator on several MTV videos. He won an Emmy Certificate for his contribution to the television series, Star Trek while working as a cameraman for Illusion Arts. He won a Clio for his camera work while at Celestial Mechanics Incorporated. Mark is currently a digital colorist and effects camera supervisor at Custom Film Effects. A few of his recent films include Premonition, The Black Dahlia, 40 Year Old Virgin, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Customer Reviews

I am impressed and highly recommend Mr. Sawicki's Book
Wow! It covers enough information on the current art of special effects to give the neophyte an excellent overview of what's possible and for the professional to accomplish.
This book is going on my shelf next to Raymond Fielding's The Techniques of Special Effects Cinematography, Bernard Wilkie's Creating Special Effects for TV & Film, Special Effects in Motion Pictures by Frank P. Clark and Bernard Wilkie's The Technique of Special Effects in Television. The huge advantage for Mark's book is that it brings the classic techniques into the digital age. It is full of Illustrations and photos that serve his text well.
Mark's experience from decades of personal and notable professional work is evident from the real world solutions he offers. His personal anecdotes and techical instructions give the reader useful and practical knowledge of a wide variety of techniques.
What I liked is the appreciation and references to the great masters of effects like Willis O'Brien and Albert Whitlock and many others.
Mark Sawicki knows his stuff and presents it for the curious and the advanced film maker.
Well done. I highly recommend this book. A must for Effects Artists everywhere. I kid you not!

If you are interested in effects. GET THIS BOOK.
I'm only on the 3rd chapter of this book, but I had to write a review as it has made me incredibly excited!

Not only does it cover a lot of ground, it also is written in a warm tone that makes you excited to try out these techniques. Marc is more concerned with telling a good story and preplanning over the current trend of "fix it in post with CGI and $$$". After reading his introduction alone, I knew I had made the right decision in buying this book.

He also has learned from some of the great FX people of the 70s and infuses this wisdom into the book. In several cases, he outlines in absolute specifics (down to what lens they used). This is invaluable!

In conclusion:
After the first chapter, I immediately wanted to head out and start shooting FX work.

You can't get much better than that.

Old and new technologies together for the first time!
I've been waiting for a book like this for years. Most texts on the subject deal solely with older processes and don't address digital technology. This book makes a direct link between the old and the new so that digital filmmakers get practical information they can use to plan out effects. I highly recommend it for all my classes. Hard won knowledge from a true veteran of the industry.

Juniko Moody, Computer Graphics Instructor