How Has Technology In Film Changed Over Time?
Filmmaking is a long and complicated process; it requires huge effort and vast amounts of creativity. A lot of this effort goes in to creating realistic characters and environments that are able to portray various emotions. Throughout the history of film, technological advancements have given the filmmakers licence to create huge worlds and take us to places beyond our imagination. This article will look at three films that have advanced special effects and technology in film in huge ways, as well as displaying the effect that those advancements had on the industry as a whole.
1977...A New Hope
In the summer of 1977 the world of film technology was changed forever with the release of Star Wars, a film that would change what filmmakers could hope to achieve, would influence many to become filmmakers and would introduce the film industry to new special effects and mark the start of Industrial Light and Magic, a company which would go on to become the biggest in film special effects. Why were the special effects and technology utilized in Star Wars so influential? Until then special effects in films were nothing like the ones we are used to today, with more of a focus on models rather than computer animation. With the release of the first star wars film, it marked a new era in film technology and showed the audience things they had never seen before on a film screen. Star Wars has a lasting legacy, one of these reasons is that the release of Star Wars also marked the establishment of Industrial Light and Magic a special effects company that went on to become the biggest in the business providing ground breaking special effects for films such as Avatar, Jurassic Park and Terminator 2 Judgement Day. In fact without the success and creation of Star Wars we may never have seen such films as Avatar and Terminator 2 as it was Star Wars that inspired James Cameron and many others to become a filmmaker. The reason for the creation of ILM was down to the fact that George Lucas wanted to create effects that had never before been seen on film, a goal he certainly achieved. The visual effects society voted Star Wars as the most influential special effects film ever made, showing yet again what an impact it made on the film industry with not only groundbreaking special effects and technology but also the inspiration it gave to many filmmakers with a legacy and respect that still lasts today and is ever present in the filmmaking industry.
1995….To Infinity And Beyond
In 1995 the world of animated films was changed with the release of Toy Story, it was the first fully computer animated film and changed the way in which animated films were seen and made. It was a breakthrough in film technology and a triumph for Pixar, a company that has gone on to become the kings of animated films. The idea for Toy Story came about when a short film called Tin Toy made by John Lasseter (also an entirely CG creation) won an Oscar for best short animated film. The making of Toy Story was a very time consuming process, however the result was a critically and commercially well-received film that would go on to change the industry forever. The huge success of Toy Story also continued to prove how big of a genre animated films could be as well as advancing film technology in a groundbreaking way. Now every year we get a host of animated films that are all made through CGI, a trend that Toy Story started. DreamWorks are just one of the film studios who now release loads of CGI animated films every year, it provides new opportunities for the filmmakers and gives them the ability to add more realism than was ever possible before. Without Toy Story reaching for the sky then animated films may never have gone to infinity and beyond.
2002…One Suit To Rule Them All
2002 marked the release of the second part of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy adaptation of J.RR Tolkeins classic book series The Lord Of The Rings. The Two Towers was a huge critical and commercial hit however one thing it will always be remembered for in terms of advancing film technology is the character of Gollum. Gollum was the first photo realistic motion capture character on film and demonstrated a huge leap forward in terms of what actors and filmmakers could achieve. The art of motion capture is something that is rapidly increasing in blockbuster films and The Two Towers showed how and why it could be successful and provide audiences with something they had never seen before. Steven Spielberg is utilizing the technology for his film adaptation of Tintin, Robert Zemeckis has long been a supporter of it, using it for his films The Polar Express, Beowulf and A Christmas Carroll and most recently James Cameron used the technology for his huge hit Avatar. All three are strong supporters of the technology, which involves an actor wearing what is called a mo cap suit and then delivering a usual performance however a computer will take the performance, including all their facial expressions and movements then apply it to a computer generated character. Many actors are fearful of the technology as they fear it is threatening their jobs and they don’t see it as any different to doing voice work for an animated film. However Andy Serkis (The actor who played Gollum) has long been supporting the process, stating “Each new generation finds a form of storytelling or expression that meets the need of its age”[1], when asked about the argument that motion capture could alter a persons performance he adds “there isn’t a single screen performance, whether it be live action, animation or performance capture, that isn’t enhanced by other peoples artistic endeavour. Filmmaking is an entirely collaborative effort”[2] James Cameron likened motion capture to make up stating “when actors think of themselves as being replaced, they are no more being replaced than they would be if they were doing a make-up part”[3] many are wondering when the Oscars and other award shows will recognize motion capture performances as “proper acting” however whether it is recognized as “proper acting” or not, there is no doubting that it is significant leap in technology, that can allow filmmakers and actors to create whatever character they want and do things they could not usually do. With brilliant performances like the one Andy Serkis gave and great characters created like Gollum and the Navi that have allowed the actors performances to shine through as well as the big support from some of the industries biggest filmmakers, there is no doubt that this groundbreaking new piece of technology, has again changed the way technology can be utilized in film and like Star Wars and Toy Story before influenced other works and opened the door to a new way of making films and telling stories.
Overall these three films have taken technology and applied them to films in a groundbreaking way, with each one of them showing audiences and filmmakers what could be possible. With Star Wars it was the first film to have a camera move across a field of stars[4] and took special effects into the computer area as well as giving the industry ILM. With Toy Story it displayed a new way of making animated films and started a trend that continues today, giving animated films more realism than ever and with Lord Of The Rings and its groundbreaking use of mo cap, has yet again given filmmakers new technology to advance the experience and effect of making films.
By Michael Dalton
Filmmaking is a long and complicated process; it requires huge effort and vast amounts of creativity. A lot of this effort goes in to creating realistic characters and environments that are able to portray various emotions. Throughout the history of film, technological advancements have given the filmmakers licence to create huge worlds and take us to places beyond our imagination. This article will look at three films that have advanced special effects and technology in film in huge ways, as well as displaying the effect that those advancements had on the industry as a whole.
1977...A New Hope
In the summer of 1977 the world of film technology was changed forever with the release of Star Wars, a film that would change what filmmakers could hope to achieve, would influence many to become filmmakers and would introduce the film industry to new special effects and mark the start of Industrial Light and Magic, a company which would go on to become the biggest in film special effects. Why were the special effects and technology utilized in Star Wars so influential? Until then special effects in films were nothing like the ones we are used to today, with more of a focus on models rather than computer animation. With the release of the first star wars film, it marked a new era in film technology and showed the audience things they had never seen before on a film screen. Star Wars has a lasting legacy, one of these reasons is that the release of Star Wars also marked the establishment of Industrial Light and Magic a special effects company that went on to become the biggest in the business providing ground breaking special effects for films such as Avatar, Jurassic Park and Terminator 2 Judgement Day. In fact without the success and creation of Star Wars we may never have seen such films as Avatar and Terminator 2 as it was Star Wars that inspired James Cameron and many others to become a filmmaker. The reason for the creation of ILM was down to the fact that George Lucas wanted to create effects that had never before been seen on film, a goal he certainly achieved. The visual effects society voted Star Wars as the most influential special effects film ever made, showing yet again what an impact it made on the film industry with not only groundbreaking special effects and technology but also the inspiration it gave to many filmmakers with a legacy and respect that still lasts today and is ever present in the filmmaking industry.
1995….To Infinity And Beyond
In 1995 the world of animated films was changed with the release of Toy Story, it was the first fully computer animated film and changed the way in which animated films were seen and made. It was a breakthrough in film technology and a triumph for Pixar, a company that has gone on to become the kings of animated films. The idea for Toy Story came about when a short film called Tin Toy made by John Lasseter (also an entirely CG creation) won an Oscar for best short animated film. The making of Toy Story was a very time consuming process, however the result was a critically and commercially well-received film that would go on to change the industry forever. The huge success of Toy Story also continued to prove how big of a genre animated films could be as well as advancing film technology in a groundbreaking way. Now every year we get a host of animated films that are all made through CGI, a trend that Toy Story started. DreamWorks are just one of the film studios who now release loads of CGI animated films every year, it provides new opportunities for the filmmakers and gives them the ability to add more realism than was ever possible before. Without Toy Story reaching for the sky then animated films may never have gone to infinity and beyond.
2002…One Suit To Rule Them All
2002 marked the release of the second part of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy adaptation of J.RR Tolkeins classic book series The Lord Of The Rings. The Two Towers was a huge critical and commercial hit however one thing it will always be remembered for in terms of advancing film technology is the character of Gollum. Gollum was the first photo realistic motion capture character on film and demonstrated a huge leap forward in terms of what actors and filmmakers could achieve. The art of motion capture is something that is rapidly increasing in blockbuster films and The Two Towers showed how and why it could be successful and provide audiences with something they had never seen before. Steven Spielberg is utilizing the technology for his film adaptation of Tintin, Robert Zemeckis has long been a supporter of it, using it for his films The Polar Express, Beowulf and A Christmas Carroll and most recently James Cameron used the technology for his huge hit Avatar. All three are strong supporters of the technology, which involves an actor wearing what is called a mo cap suit and then delivering a usual performance however a computer will take the performance, including all their facial expressions and movements then apply it to a computer generated character. Many actors are fearful of the technology as they fear it is threatening their jobs and they don’t see it as any different to doing voice work for an animated film. However Andy Serkis (The actor who played Gollum) has long been supporting the process, stating “Each new generation finds a form of storytelling or expression that meets the need of its age”[1], when asked about the argument that motion capture could alter a persons performance he adds “there isn’t a single screen performance, whether it be live action, animation or performance capture, that isn’t enhanced by other peoples artistic endeavour. Filmmaking is an entirely collaborative effort”[2] James Cameron likened motion capture to make up stating “when actors think of themselves as being replaced, they are no more being replaced than they would be if they were doing a make-up part”[3] many are wondering when the Oscars and other award shows will recognize motion capture performances as “proper acting” however whether it is recognized as “proper acting” or not, there is no doubting that it is significant leap in technology, that can allow filmmakers and actors to create whatever character they want and do things they could not usually do. With brilliant performances like the one Andy Serkis gave and great characters created like Gollum and the Navi that have allowed the actors performances to shine through as well as the big support from some of the industries biggest filmmakers, there is no doubt that this groundbreaking new piece of technology, has again changed the way technology can be utilized in film and like Star Wars and Toy Story before influenced other works and opened the door to a new way of making films and telling stories.
Overall these three films have taken technology and applied them to films in a groundbreaking way, with each one of them showing audiences and filmmakers what could be possible. With Star Wars it was the first film to have a camera move across a field of stars[4] and took special effects into the computer area as well as giving the industry ILM. With Toy Story it displayed a new way of making animated films and started a trend that continues today, giving animated films more realism than ever and with Lord Of The Rings and its groundbreaking use of mo cap, has yet again given filmmakers new technology to advance the experience and effect of making films.
By Michael Dalton
Research for this article was conducted through the following sources:
Internet Sources:
Corliss, Richard.
“The Influence Of Star Wars”.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1002325,00.html.
Monday April 29th 2002.
Monday September 6th 2010.
< http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1002325,00.html>
Keegan, Rebecca.
“Will The Academy Recognize Motion Capture Performances?”
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2010/01/will-the-academy-recognize-motion-capture-performances.html
January 6th 2010.
September 6th 2010.
< http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2010/01/will-the-academy-recognize-motion-capture-performances.html>
Archer, Devy.
“Star Wars Influence On Popular Culture”
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/301539_star-wars-influence-on-popular-culture
June 12th 2010.
September 6th 2010.
< http://www.bukisa.com/articles/301539_star-wars-influence-on-popular-culture>
N/A
“Special Effects Win For Star Wars”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6647847.stm
Friday 11th May 2007.
September 6th 2010
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6647847.stm>
Book Source:
Darke, Chris, Lloyd, Ann. Frost-Sharrat, Cara. Hill, Rob. Bergan, Ronald.
501 Must-See Movies
Great Britain:
Polly Manguel
2004
Magazine Sources:
Empire 254 (2010) 66-76
Empire 253 (2010) 124-131
Internet Sources:
Corliss, Richard.
“The Influence Of Star Wars”.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1002325,00.html.
Monday April 29th 2002.
Monday September 6th 2010.
< http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1002325,00.html>
Keegan, Rebecca.
“Will The Academy Recognize Motion Capture Performances?”
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2010/01/will-the-academy-recognize-motion-capture-performances.html
January 6th 2010.
September 6th 2010.
< http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2010/01/will-the-academy-recognize-motion-capture-performances.html>
Archer, Devy.
“Star Wars Influence On Popular Culture”
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/301539_star-wars-influence-on-popular-culture
June 12th 2010.
September 6th 2010.
< http://www.bukisa.com/articles/301539_star-wars-influence-on-popular-culture>
N/A
“Special Effects Win For Star Wars”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6647847.stm
Friday 11th May 2007.
September 6th 2010
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6647847.stm>
Book Source:
Darke, Chris, Lloyd, Ann. Frost-Sharrat, Cara. Hill, Rob. Bergan, Ronald.
501 Must-See Movies
Great Britain:
Polly Manguel
2004
Magazine Sources:
Empire 254 (2010) 66-76
Empire 253 (2010) 124-131