Chapter 14. Fire and Explosions

Fire and Explosions
 

My nature is to be on set, blowing things up.

 
 --Ken Ralston (winner of five Academy Awards for visual effects)

I have become convinced that a significant number of people first became interested in visual effects work because they qualify as borderline pyromaniacs. Creating fire effects entirely on the computer might not be as much fun as being an on-set pyrotechnician, but hey, keeping these people busy with either job is better than letting them loose on society at large.

This chapter focuses on effects that have traditionally been re-created live on set or via practical elements such as miniatures. The craft of ...

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