Welcome to the first installment of our movie making series. Today, I’ll be delving into practical vs. VFX effects.
What are practical effects?
Practical effects are a form of special effects done entirely physically.
How are practical effects created?
Practical effects are created by hand without any computers or technological aids. The process depends entirely on the effect needed.
What are some movies with extensive practical effects?
· The Thing (original)
· Alien
· Clash of the Titans (original)
· Five Nights at Freddy’s
You may notice a few of these are horror movies, and that’s because the genre has a long-lasting relationship with practical effects. But it’s by far not the only genre that uses them; it also has a huge role in Science Fiction and Fantasy films.
What is VFX?
VFX is when images are created and/or manipulated to supplement filmmaking. This can be anything from CGI, motion capture, and more.
How are VFX effects created?
A majority of VFX are done on computers or digitally.
How does VFX and practical effects overlap?
In modern filmmaking, practical and VFX are often blended. Going back to the horror genre, many films will use practical effects (such as squibs, or prosthetic body parts) and use VFX in post-production to enhance. For example, a slasher might use a fake body while filming to depict a murder. In post, blood and gore effects might be added to touch up the scene, so to speak.
Can one exist without the other?
Yes, absolutely. There are some films that are done entirely practical, or vice versa. In modern age films, though, we typically see an overreliance on VFX. But that’s not the entire market—films like Five Nights At Freddy’s used entirely real puppets and animatronics to bring the titular characters to life. The VFX, while present, isn’t overriding the entire film. It’s the perfect balance.
What are some of your favorite practical effects and VFX in movies? Let us know in the comments below!
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