Amazing VFX Breakdowns

If the advent of DVD has brought us anything (Apart from better quality) then it’s the selection of extras that come with the format. From behind the scenes footage to pre-production and casting, there’s usually a whole host of things to keep you interested long after the final credits have rolled.

And when it come to DVD extras there’s nothing I like more than a good Visual Effects Breakdown!

Fifteen years ago VFX breakdowns were pretty much unheard of, relegated to the few and far between TV specials (Usually just on the likes of  Star Wars as well) tucked away in the schedules. There just wasn’t the space on VHS. I also remember when all this was fields…  just for the record. But then along came the DVD and the internet took over the world. Hallelujah!

Now your ‘extras-hungry’ movie fan is crying out for all this additional content and thankfully the studios are providing it to us! The VFX breakdown gives you a fantastic insight into what goes in to making a specific scene or shot. It’s great to see all the equipment they use and it gives you some great ideas for incorporating new ideas into your own films. Sure, not all of us have a giant green screen studio or expensive motion control rigs, but some of the principles can be adopted whatever your budget.

So in conclusion… VFX breakdowns are great! If anything they give us a little bit more insight into the workings of an effects driven production and maybe a little bit of inspiration so that we might experiment ourselves… George Lucas watch out!

Below is a link to 31 amazing VFX breakdowns, from Avatar and Transformers to V and Youtube there’s some really impressive work in here. There’s even one on New Moon for people who are into that kind of thing.

31 Absolutely Spectacular VFX Breakdowns

www.stencilmedia.co.uk

100 Years of Visual Effects

Nice little video here that’s been doing the rounds for the last year or so. It’s a breif overview of visual effects throughout the years. Check it out!

100 Years of Visual Effects

VideoCopilot

If you’re interested in visual effects and motion graphics and haven’t heard of Video Copilot then I’ll assume you’ve been on a manned mission to Mars and haven’t been around for a while.

Video Copilot is a website established by Andrew Kramer that provides a whole host of vfx knowledge along with a great range of product available to buy. The website has built up quite a following over the few years it has been going, mainly due to a whole host of free tutorials and Andrew’s quirky sense of humour!

Primarily working in After Effects and the occasional 3D program, the site is ideal for beginners and pros alike; there’s even a basic training section to get you up to speed in no time. The excellent selection of products (For both vfx and motion graphics) combined with the free tutorials will ensure that your next production will look like it was shot by a pro. A professional that is.

And if you’re wondering about the quality of this guys work… Andrew did the titles for the TV series Fringe as well as for the latest Star Trek movie! Now that’s quite an impressive CV!

www.videocopilot.net