Explode on to the Big Screen

By Sarah Jane Udall
Columnist

Movies like ‘Star Wars,’ and ‘War of the Worlds’ wouldn’t be near as impressive without the special effects. By combining the technology of special effects with entertainment, special effects designers are taking these and other films to the next level.

About Special Effects

One of the most exciting fields in the design industry today is special effects. It is an exploding market, and with digital technology expanding more and more, special effects are revolutionizing the film, television and video game industries. Special effects designers plan and design the stunts and illusions in movies, television programs, computer games, and other digital media, and by bringing the elements of technology and entertainment together special effects designers take these mediums to the next level.

There are many different aspects of special effects including pyrotechnics, miniature modeling, and computer generated imagery. Special effects require skills in painting, sculpting, computer aided design, and engineering. As a special effects designer you will use mediums such as plaster, plastic molds, paint, makeup and trick photography, as well as digital mediums such as computers and digital imaging to create special effects.

Training in Special Effects

Because digital special effects is still a relatively new and growing discipline, training in the field has been done largely on-the-job. Often special effects designers have earned degrees in art and film production, but now there are more specific degrees that can provide you with the background and skills that you will need to succeed in this growing industry. These programs will take you through the project planning process from design essential to color theory, title graphics, and 3D effects. You will learn to use all the major software used in special effects such as PhotoShop, Illustrator, Flash, Boris, Maya3D, Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro. You will also focus on artistic techniques such as typography, storyboarding, layout and composition, image compositing, DVD menu design, and sound production for motion graphics. Through a special effects program you will also be given plenty of hands-on practice time, and opportunities to work on actual products, and to create a portfolio of your work.

Career Opportunities

Your special effects portfolio should include samples of your best work. Employers will often hire applicants based solely on the quality of their portfolio as it demonstrates more clearly what your skill level is. There is a perpetual need for talented special effects artists. Special effects technicians and designers are in high demand in the entertainment industry.

About the Author

Sarah Jane Udall is a freelance writer currently living in New York City. Her previous experience includes working for Global Village Communications in Washington, D.C., and in the Creative and Development departments of VH1 and MTV networks as a production assistant, and a copy-writer, as well as doing script revision, press releases, and writing for an online newspaper. Sarah Jane holds a B.S. in Political Science and English Literature from the University of Utah.