Effective Use Of FX

Sorry if this seems off topic at first, hopefully you'll see how it fits. Since so many aspiring film makers are coming to this forum, perhaps we could start a thread that lists films with original, creative, effective use of FX.

I'm not talking about the massive big budget CGI effects movies, but perhaps story driven films that use effects in a subtle way that really enhances the medium.

Since I just saw such a film, I wanted to share it with you all.

It's called 360, with Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law, & Rachel Weisz. It's one of those ensemble pieces with many intersecting stories & lives. The film makers have shown that with a sparing use of a few subtle effects the story is significantly heightened. Their use of reflections, split screens, pull focus on the beat (not musical but dramatic), some interesting blur work & some gorgeous light leaks to illuminate a key phrase of dialog, is truly masterful.

I hope you get a chance to see it.

www.imdb.com/title/tt1680045/

(I think it deserves a higher rating)

Of course it all began with a good script.

Please add others to this thread that you recommend.

One movie I can think of right away is Irréversible it's does not have the heavy CGI but as you mentioned the editing and camera work underline the story that you don't even noticed it.

2 films from the top of my head.

Bram Stokers Dracula. All of the effects were done 'in-camera' in way or the other. There were some very basic practical effects such as getting people to do actions one way, and then playing it in reverse. A good example is when Van Helsing (played by Anthony Hopkins) forces the recently dead female vampire Lucy backwards into her crypt. This was actually filmed with her coming out of the crypt forwards while Anthony Hopkins walked in reverse. When they played it backwards Van Helsing advanced while the vampire retreated, and she managed to climb backwards into her crypt. When you watch it the action looks very animalistic and weird, but you don't know you are watching something in reverse, you only know something is a bit 'off' which is the tone they were aiming for. There were lots of similar basic effects like that in the movie.

Requiem for a dream. If you haven't seen this movie it means you are really really young, or there is something wrong with you.
Again this movie relied on many practical effects. This story revolves around addiction (in various forms) and has the first use of a snorri cam (that I am aware of) in a feature movie. The snorri cam is used to heighten the sense of panic when someone is in a bad situation (like being chased by the police).
They also used a vibrator cam during a scene when a character is helpless to assist his friend when he is in a jail and starting to go into withdrawal. Every time he screams the camera starts vibrating; its a weird effect that has to be seen in context to really appreciate it.
They also used a lot of fisheye lens photography during scenes when an older lady, addicted to prescription drugs, starts reacting badly. She looms large in the frame while everyone else is tiny in the background; the sound mix adds to the feeling of displacement that she feels.
They also use a lot of speed ramps and slow motion shots, or altered speeds (where the character moves quickly through a slow motion shot or vice-versa) to lift people out of their environment.
It all works to highlight the psychological themes of the movie.

Great suggestions, Simon. Was unaware of the effects details on Dracula, but I know that movie as one of the most memorable for brilliance in film making. Coppola is nearly always great, his Black Stallion is still one of my all time favorites. Gary Oldman was also outstanding in Dracula. But to think the effects were done in the camera... bizarre. The work they did with shadows showing alter egos, was remarkable for the time. I also remember the bubbles rising in the champagne turning to red blood cells.

I've seen the other as well, it's usually high on film appreciation lists, & with Jared Leto fans.

Check out 360

I'll have a look out for it.

Irreversible, as listed above by Scrubelicious, is also quite amazing, though almost unwatchable in some scenes. Have you seen the next movie by Noe called Enter the Void? Very weird movie, though the gimmick plays too long.

There was a documentary that dealt with the special effects used in the movie Dracula (called 'The naive effects of Dracula') where the filmmakers talked about and displayed the various techniques they used in the movie. The interesting thing is that all the effects were created back in the very early days of cinema, using models, projection, reflections, splicing film together, overlays etc; so the idea was to use mainly effects that were available during the early part of 20th century. Some of the filmmakers lamented that Dracula would be the final showcase for these effects as CGI began to replace them.

Coppola actually used a vintage hand cranked camera for some of the scenes (when Gary Oldman walks around London, and enters a Cinematograph theatre), reinforcing this basic filmmaking theme.

The whole movie was also shot in studio stages (as were early movies), there was not one scene shot on location; models, matte paintings and forced perspectives were used for outdoor scenes.

The documentary used to be available on youtube, but I see it has now been removed, although it looks like there are some versions available on Asian internet channels.

www.tudou.com/programs/view/VIJa7grzZP0/

Yes Bran Stoker Dracula, one of my favorite monster well my absolute favorite vampire movie! Well on my list that is.

Thank you so much for sharing the Making of Dracula piece, Simon. It was a real treat. Fascinating how they painstakingly created those wonderful effects. What a marvelous testament to the love & passion of film to do all that extra work at a time when computer generated effects could have made it so much easier (probably cheaper too).

The majority of the public probably had no idea, I know I didn't, but have since gained a new appreciation for the film. Now I want to see it again!

This also gives us some encouragement to open our minds to creative solutions that might enhance our own projects. A couple years ago I was working on one of my earlier videos (normally I had others shoot & edit for me). This one contained a real death bed scene filmed by candlelight. I shot some B-Roll of close-up on the candle flames, then overlaid that at reduced opacity to add the candle glow & flicker to the walls of the room. It worked well. It's probably nothing new to you guys, but since I came up with it on my own, it was new to me. The client was very happy.

Looking forward to watching Dracula again, while enjoying the Naive Effects piece, I was wishing it was in better resolution. Thankful you found it though...

Glad you enjoyed it.

The Special edition DVD of Dracula includes this and many other behind the scene documentaries. Some of the best made BTS extras were on this DVD (its well worth it, only a few bucks on amazon). There were some great documentaries on the set design and the costumes.

The movie had been heavily rehearsed (with all the rehearsals filmed); its quite interesting to see this footage (especially some scenes that Hopkins ad-libbed, and were then worked into the script).

Oldman was going through one of his 'difficult' phases, it looks like he was pretty difficult to work with looking at some of the footage, but you can see that he poured his heart and soul into the character.

I found I had a new found respect for the movie after watching some of these documentaries.

You even learn to forgive Keanu's accent. Well maybe not, but at least you see the poor chap tried his hardest...

Has anyone here watched the series Sherlock, on the BBC?
Excellent in camera effects. beautiful editing, and camera work as well.
They'll wipe clips from one scene to the next with objects like doors. Very hard to do without coming off too campy. Worth a look for sure!

Haven't seen the Sherlock show yet, but BBC is generally a cut above with both content & delivery. I like the transition you speak of, again, not over-done. The film 360 has some of that too, with busses & other objects. I'm guessing it's a wipe with a mask that has to be tracked? It's more impressive with objects with irregular edges. A few films & TV shows used this with opening credits emerging from behind buildings (the new Dallas does this). There's another credit effect I'm seeing more these days, where a moving object has a text tag fixed next to it for a time. Like the guy's name as he walks towards the camera, the words staying right next to his eyes as he walks. That's... matchmoving?

Motion Tracking, I think. You can do it in Motion for sure.

Tracking can be part of it, as are custom shape masks, etc. All super basic and fast to do in Motion.

Opening title sequence for Mad Men. Simple, effective, bold, striking, powerful, evocative...

Looks like something Ben could do in Motion. Though it was probably done with AE...

seen it? what you think?

point is...?

Ouch,Ben. I think his point is it's a good use of an effect, and quite effective.
Lets make sure everyone feels comfortable asking whatever they want.
I think the beginning of madmen is genius. puts me right there every time.

Madmen was cool! I welcome a sequel!

Yes, the point is, as in the title of this thread - effective use of FX... & it would be nice for someone knowledgable to post or point us to a TUT on how to do something like that. The silhouette of the falling man is artfully animated as are the large advertising images on the buildings. I think it's a stroke of genius for opening title sequences, would love to know more about how to do it. Hopefully in Motion & FCPX rather than AE - yuck.

As for a sequel, I think the show is in it's 5th season...

But speaking of sequels, this fall season 3 of Boardwalk Empire will air. It's opening sequence is also outstanding, with dramatic speed ramping on the waves, then the ocean being full of whiskey bottles. Impressive effect with gorgeous filmic coloring.

TrixTrax9000 wrote:
Must have not spend much time in After Effects... missing out.

hehe... i know
you can really do amazing things with it, I've tried a bit, but the interface kind of turns me off
but you're right, I really should learn it..