Gotham

So I just starter watching Gotham and they had an interesting making of piece before it.  The third part talked a bit about the use of visual effects which was cool.

Harking back to one of my questions last week about understanding terminology, I enjoyed hearing Tom Mahoney, the Visual Effects Supervisor, describe how visual effects and special effects are commonly, mistakenly perceived as the same thing:

"Visual effects are anything you treat visually, special effects are anything that's done on set practically".

You can see why the mix up occurs: it is easy to consider, for example, lighting from Thor's Hammer or a fireball from a warlock's hand as a "special" effect rather than simply a "visual" one due to the nature of the effect.  This point of view may be a good way to keep track of any confusion, should it arise.

Additionally, in watching it I think have realised that part of what it is that compels me about the use of visual effects is in the way it allows you, as a viewer, to become even more immersed in the world you are being presented. In the video, Production Designer, Doug Kraner, describes the adding of Gargoyles to the roof of a New York building.  They also describe adding buildings and constructions to the back- and foregrounds in order to enhance backdrops and helicopter flyby shots.  These things are the icing on the cake that really sells the story, history, mythology of a film.

Sit Rep 1

Was feeling a bit mixed up about things this week and I'm not really any further forward as to where I'm going with this project.

We wrote a bunch of questions we had down on a sheet of paper that we either had about the project, process or things we wanted it to answer and it was kind of helpful.  Here were a few of mine:

1. Do I understand the terms I am using correctly

 - I think this is obviously important in communicating your ideas, researching and making sure you understand the vernacular used in 

Honours Project

This will be the honours blog charting the progress of my research for my honours project and dissertation.

In researching this project I would like to explore the realms of Visual Effects, particularly within film production, as it's something I've never given myself the chance to get to grips with and it's probably the main reason I wanted to get into this industry in the first place.

I did a small animation project last year wherein I integrated a 3D modelled character into a real world environment but I barely touched on the ins and outs of the process and would really like to become more familiar with it.  This was my first attempt at compositing and was generally successful as a test piece but lacked any technical finesse or sense of being a part of a bigger world.

The other thing I would like to investigate as part of this is digital special effects used in film as well, where film-makers decide to use digital special effects rather than physical ones such as explosives or weather effects etc, as well as effects that can only be produced digitally such as magic etc.

Obviously there is a lot of scope within this field and a lot of software options that can help deliver the results so a bit of research will be necessary to see how each is put to use out there in the world.
For the compositing aspect I'm thinking of exploring Nuke, as I encountered that last year as an option for motion tracking before opting for Matchmover.

As for what form the final outcome could take, I'll have to give it some thought.  I discussed some things with Brian and Lynn (module tutors) in our first class.
Brian suggested something like physically altering a street, such as its time period, or looking at adverts because the viewer is more likely to accept odd situations in adverts that they may not in other pieces of film.  That might be an interesting avenue to explore.
Lynn suggested considering what it was I would like to use visual effects for, such as conveying atmosphere.  This is a tricky thing to answer.  Films and TV shows typically are formed by genre and subsequently the script, thus all considerations for the required effects are contained within these parameters (That isn't to say that there aren't the occasionally blurred lines, but generally you are unlikely to find wizards in sci-fi, for instance).
Initially the point was to get better at simply producing these things.  However I realise this does not a dissertation make, so that might simply be a place to start.

Both lecturers were keen that I should just give a few things a try at first such as filming a couple of everyday places and seeing how I can adapt them as well as developing an understanding of the software available.  I will see what I can acquire to set about doing that.