Movie effects explosion series#

Scenes that include movements that are difficult to reproduce using a miniature set or an actor in a monster suit can now be created by means of computers. This scene of Godzilla spewing heat rays was created using computer graphics. Digital synthesis dramatically increases both the number of elements that can be processed and the precision with which they can be rendered, and brings once-impossible technical feats within reach.Ī composite image from the battle between Godzilla and Baragon. A machine known as a film recorder is used to convert the digital data into film. Digital synthesis involves using a scanner to generate digital data from the film, then using a computer to create the desired image. Nowadays, however, digital synthesis is the standard. Footage of the background scenery and footage of Godzilla or human characters were painstakingly put together, frame by frame. In the past, combining the parts was performed by hand, using a machine called an optical printer. For scenes that include both Godzilla and an explosion, the two parts are shot separately at different speeds and then combined into a single scene. Therefore, the filmmakers use a slower camera speed to create the illusion that Godzilla is moving fast. No matter how fast the actor tries to move, it is impossible to create the appearance that the monster is moving quickly. For example, Godzilla is played by an actor wearing a monster suit that is quite heavy. The proper camera speed varies from one scene to the next. So would it be a good idea to shoot the entire film at 10 times normal speed? The answer is no.

The picture of the bridge will be superimposed later. Scenes with an element of danger, such as big explosions, are also shot outdoors.įilming a scene where someone falls off a bridge. But scenes in which the monsters are viewed from below are shot outdoors, where there are no height limitations and where the real sky can be used as a background. Almost all the shooting takes place inside the studio, where the filmmakers can create and manipulate a variety of artificial environments that are not affected by natural conditions such as light changes, wind, or rain. The filmmakers use this picture continuity in deciding which filming methods to use. A picture continuity is like a pictorial script, showing what appears where, and where the camera is positioned. The makers of a special-effects film prepare a picture continuity for each cut. We got Makoto Kamiya, the sixth special-effects director for the series, to tell us about these special effects.

Movie effects explosion series#

The most remarkable aspect of the Godzilla series is the special effects used to make the destruction of cities and other things look real.