Product Description

Don't waste valuable time and budget fixing your footage in post! Shoot the effects you want effectively and creatively the first time.

This full-color step-by step guide to visual effects cinematography empowers you to plan out and execute visual effects shots on a budget, without falling into the common pitfall of using high-end computer graphics to "fix it in post." Learn how to effectively photograph foreground miniatures, matte paintings, green screen set ups, miniatures, crowd replication, explosions, and so much more to create elements that will composite together flawlessly.

Filming the Fantastic focuses on the art and craft of visual effects using real case scenarios from a visual effects cameraman. These lessons from the front line will give you ideas and insight so you can translate your skills into any situation, no matter what camera or software package you are using and no matter if you are using film or digital technology. Learn how to film your fantastic visual effects with this book!

* Hundreds of full-color set photographs show you exactly how it's done
* Includes step-by-step information on green screen setup
* Real-world examples and exercises throughout

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #115321 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 312 pages

About the Author
Mark Sawicki is a camera man, artist, and actor. He has had many roles in the world of film, from teaching visual effects for over 15 years at the UCLA extension, authoring video programs on the art of clay animation, and being an independent stop motion animator on several MTV videos. He won an Emmy Certificate for his contribution to the television series, Star Trek while working as a cameraman for Illusion Arts. He won a Clio for his camera work while at Celestial Mechanics Incorporated. Mark is currently a digital colorist and effects camera supervisor at Custom Film Effects. A few of his recent films include Premonition, The Black Dahlia, 40 Year Old Virgin, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Customer Reviews

Old school new age!!!!
I won't recommend this book to anyone who just start out (a lot of the technical reference are quite deep) but if you are the kinda people who have done a bit of camera work (on DV whatever) and wants to know more. This is a must have (Read - Painting with Light first then this one)

Or if you are like me (I am currently building my lens system) a bit of film making freak :) you can have a pub quzz with this book every Friday!

One thing I love about this book is the emphasis on indie film makers. It didn't say it but a lot of the demonstration are using consumer DV camera! And the multi-million pounds thing you see from Hollywood are all do-able in your own home (in a lessen scale) but hey, who stop you from making the next ______________ (fill the big blockbuster movie yourself).

Buy it read it and keep it on the book shelf for future reference.