home pageobjectives and overview: unit 4

this project is intended to help you understand how to create CGI effects (computer-graphics). these are used in multimedia such as movies, videogames, online games etc. they include digital effects, visual effects, and special effects.

1. please take notes on each page including the vocab! In the margins of each page

2. please complete the practice activity.

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• CGI: computer generated imagery

• special effects: An effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means, as for example by the digital manipulation of previously filmed footage

• SFX: special effects abbreviation

• VFX: visual effects abbreviation

• DFX: digital effects abbreviation

caricaturesAn Article about Weta Workshop:

Weta Workshop is a special effects and prop company based in Miramar, New Zealand, producing effects for television and film. Founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger as RT Effects, Weta Workshop has produced creatures and makeup effects for the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess and effects for films such as Meet The Feebles and Heavenly Creatures. A digital division, Weta Digital, was formed in 1993.

Weta Workshop's output came to worldwide prominence with director Peter Jackson's film trilogy The Lord of the Rings, producing sets, costumes, armour, weapons, creatures and miniatures. It supported the creation of Reclaiming the Blade (2009), a documentary film on stage combat, historical European and Asian swordsmanship.

Movies Weta has worked on: The ABCs of Death (2013), I (Tamil) (2014) - Post-production/Filming, The Wind in the Willows (TBD) - Post-production, The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2014) - Post-production/Filming, Mad Max: Fury Road (2013) - Post-production, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) - Post-production, ,Elysium (2013)[9], The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn (2011), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), The Devil's Rock (2010), Daybreakers (2010), ,Avatar (2009), The Lovely Bones (2009), Under The Mountain (2009), District 9 (2009), The WotWots (2009), Born of Hope (2009)[10], The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), ,Eel Girl (2008), 30 Days of Night (2007), The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007), Black Sheep (2007), Jane & the Dragon (2005–2006), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), King Kong (2005), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Legend of Zorro (2005), ,I, Robot (film) (2004), ,Hellboy (2004), Van Helsing (2004), ,Peter Pan (2003), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)The Last Samurai (2003), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), etc.

The company name comes from the weta, "New Zealand's coolest little monster, a bizarre and prickly prehistoric cricket".

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

• CGI: computer generated imagery

• special effects: An effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means, as for example by the digital manipulation of previously filmed footage

• SFX: special effects abbreviation

• VFX: visual effects abbreviation

• DFX: digital effects abbreviation

development of CGIHistory of CGI

• Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is the application of computer graphics to create or contribute to images in art, printed media, video games, films, television programs, commercials, and simulators. The visual scenes may be dynamic or static, and may be two-dimensional (2D), though the term "CGI" is most commonly used to refer to 3D computer graphics used for creating scenes or special effects in films and television.

• They can also be used by a home user and edited together on programs such as Windows Movie Maker or iMovie. The term computer animation refers to dynamic CGI rendered as a movie. The term virtual world refers to agent-based, interactive environments. Computer graphics software is used to make computer-generated imagery for films, etc.

• Availability of CGI software and increased computer speeds have allowed individual artists and small companies to produce professional-grade films, games, and fine art from their home computers.

• This has brought about an Internet subculture with its own set of global celebrities, clichés, and technical vocabulary. The evolution of CGI led to the emergence of virtual cinematography in the 1990s where runs of the simulated camera are not constricted by the laws of physics.

• CGI: computer generated imagery

• special effects: An effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means, as for example by the digital manipulation of previously filmed footage

• SFX: special effects abbreviation

• VFX: visual effects abbreviation

• DFX: digital effects abbreviation

why is it important?

understanding the principles of CGI

Practice CGI

1. Below you will find examples of traditional special effects (physical effects) and digital special effects (CGI).

2. Determine which ones are SFX (physical) and which ones are DFX (CGI).

3. Indicate these in your notes:

• CGI: computer generated imagery

• special effects: An effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means, as for example by the digital manipulation of previously filmed footage

• SFX: special effects abbreviation

• VFX: visual effects abbreviation

• DFX: digital effects abbreviation

A. B. C. D.

E. F. G. H.