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.