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Researched by Matthew H. |
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Dedication
I would like to dedicate my project
to Ryan Nickels, because he was the one who helped me with my great
video of me in the movie “Sandlot” giving me a tour through the
Bremerton High School Special Effects studio.
Why I Chose This Topic
There
are several reasons I decided to take this opportunity to study all
about Special Effects. First, I wanted to learn about how they
made things blow up and make people fly and do all the things they can
do with Special Effects. Then I wanted to learn how they are used
in studios and what they use to make them.
Research Summary
INTRODUCTION
Grab
your cameras and get ready for some behind the scenes Special Effects
action. I chose to do this because I was interested in learning about
how they made things that cannot actually happen in real life but can
make tem happen in movies. Like when George Lucas became famous
with his amazing movies like Star Wars. In Star Wars there really
can’t be aliens with laser guns fighting off People with Light Sabers.
THE HISTORY OF SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special
Effects are made when stunts are too dangerous or impossible.
Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and the Phonograph but in 1891 he
also invented the Kinetiscope. The Kinetiscope is a camera that
pertains to motion. A big hit in 1893 was Edison’s one minute
film “The Execution of Mary.”
THE KINDS OF EFFECTS
Special Effects are techniques that create illusions in people’s
minds. There are two kinds of effects: optical and mechanical
effects. Optical effects are images that are created
photographically. Mechanical effects are shot live using wind,
rain, snow, fog, and clouds.
EQUIPMENT USED
Some
equipment used in Special Effects is the Kinetoscope, the Human Pulley,
and the Steadicam. The Kinetoscope is another camera except this
one can make a bunch of cut scenes continuously playing in a
movie. The Human Pulley is a Pulley that pulls people up from the
ground and makes it look like they are flying. The Steadicam is
another camera but this one a person can run with it and still get a
straight shot.
HOW THEY WORK
To make a movie
you have to have what is called a storyboard. The storyboard
shows whether the camera should be pulled in or out. It also
helps the technicians by showing them what to do with a particular
effect. One major thing is the Green Screen. The Green
Screen is a screen that gets a picture projected onto it from a
computer and you can have any background of your choosing that is on a
computer on the Green Screen.
WIND, RAIN, AND SNOW
Many
movies have Wind and rain. Do you ever wonder how they do this on
an indoor set? For rain they put holes in pipes and turn on the
water and you’ve got rain. For snow, they put ice in a snow
machine you turn it on and you’ve got snow. For wind, a man
named Arnold Gillepie first made a tornado by just blowing a lot of air
from a giant fan into a silk stocking.
WOUNDED
Action
movies have a lot of blood in them. One way this involves what
are called “Bowie Blood Knives.” Bowie Blood Knives are knives that
have fake blood stored in the handle of the knife and when you squeeze
the knife the blood comes out of the blade. Another way you could
make wounds is by making bruises using crème makeup or eye
shadow. One last way you can make fake wounds is by making fake
blood. To make fake blood you need to grab some corn syrup, red
food coloring, and a little bit of yellow food coloring until it looks
like real blood.
CONCLUSION
That’s all for now so
press that stop button on that video camera. Special Effects are
all about imagination so turn on your imagination button and never stop
imagining because Special Effects are everywhere and they are
wonderful.
How I Evaluate My Entire Project
How thorough and complete was my project?
I
thought that my report was pretty thorough because I had good
transitions. I also wrote it so the reader could read it
fluently.
What would I do differently if starting over again?
If
I had to start over again I would be a little more careful with piecing
my paragraphs together. I would also write a few more paragraphs.
What major strengths does my project have?
I think my project has good word choice and expression. I t also has good transitions.
What weaknesses or problems does my project have?
I could have used a little bit more resources. One more thing I could do is write more sentences in my paragraphs
What did I learn to do better during this project?
To have a bit more resources sentences. One last thing is I could have is more reasons for the paragraphs.
In what ways did I enjoy my study and work?
I
enjoyed doing my report because I finally figured out how the
technicians made things that couldn’t happen in real life but can
happen in movies. I also know how to make my own Special Effects
video
Who Helped Me With My Project
I would like to thank the following people
• Nicole Harris (Mom)
• Ray Harris (Dad)
• Danielle Heitman (SOAR Teacher)
• Cousin Ryan (Special Effects Guru)
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