Filming
the Fantastic is the new book on visual effects cinematography based on
the experiences of award winning visual effects artist Mark Sawicki.
Mark traces the beginnings
of the art of visual effects from the silent era to today highlighting the
basic fundamentals that are the foundations of the craft. Throughout the heavily
illustrated text Mark highlights historic milestones of effects photography
and then demonstrates the principles using simple camera technique. The book
is not software or digital centric but focuses on lighting and lenses that
are the common denominator of all visual effects regardless of the medium.
Mark Sawicki and effects supervisor
Glenn Campbell have been teaching visual effects at UCLA Extension for well
over 15 years keeping pace with the rapidly changing craft throughout its
transition into digital technology. The students were kept abreast of the
latest methods through a 
series
of lectures by visiting visual effects supervisors. Mark’s lectures on
traditional technique were the foundation for the digital methods currently
in use. Sawicki and Campbell had seen a tremendous confusion among the newer
artists who dealt with software only. The new generation had never seen a
film camera or used lenses or lights. The aesthetic principles of perspective,
color and balance were left out in the rush to learn new software, menu trees
and render set-ups. As a result much of the computer graphics effects of this
new wave looked cartoonish and false. The UCLA class had as its mission to
preserve the hard won lessons of the past and teach what makes an effect work
regardless of the medium.
HOW IT CAME TO BE
During one of the many speaking engagements undertaken by Mr. Sawicki he came
to be acquainted with writer and speaker Debra Kaufman (currently the West
Coast Editor of FILM and VIDEO magazine). As time went by renowned academic
publisher Focal Press asked Ms. Kaufman if she had any suggestions for someone
to author the difficult subject of visual effects. Debra introduced Mark to
Focal Press and the project was launched. Focal Press had a flagship book
on the subject: “Special Visual Effects Cinematography” by Raymond
Fielding first published in 1965. This book was considered the “Bible”
for visual effects practitioners throughout the years including Mark Sawicki.
So much had changed since that books publication that the time was ripe to
create a new book that addressed the accomplishments of the past and placed
them in the current technology environment. After much consideration Mark
felt that many books on the subject were software oriented and became obsolete
almost before they were printed and that is why his book takes a traditional
approach and outlines the planning and execution of effects so that the new
artists can learn to photograph elements properly for easy compositing using
whatever the current software is at the moment. By blending history, traditional
principles and a touch of humor, Mark has written a book that will have longevity
for years to come.
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