Masters of FX

Masters of FX

by Ian Failes
Released February 2016
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781317540922

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Book description

It would be rare these days to find a film that did not in some way depend on the magic of visual effects, from the raging computer-generated dinosaurs in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, to the fantastical worlds of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and the photoreal tiger and ocean in Ang Lee's Life of Pi. Through interviews with 16 of the leading effects pioneers from around the world (see list below), author Ian Failes explores the making of some of the most memorable film sequences ever produced, showcasing the shift from practical to digital magic with original behind-the-scenes imagery, shot breakdowns, and detailed explanations of some of the secrets behind the making of cinema's most extraordinary creations.

Visual effects artists and films discussed include:

Dennis Muren (Star Wars: Episodes IV–VI; Terminator 2: Judgment Day; Jurassic Park; A.I. Artificial Intelligence; War of the Worlds)

Bill Westenhofer (Babe: Pig in the City; Cats & Dogs; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Golden Compass; Life of Pi)

Joe Letteri (The Lord of the Rings trilogy; King Kong; Avatar; Planet of the Apes; The Hobbit trilogy)

Rob Legato (Apollo 13; Titanic; The Aviator; Hugo)

Paul Franklin (Pitch Black; Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy; Inception; Interstellar)

Richard Edlund (Star Wars: Episodes IV–VI; Raiders of the Lost Ark; Ghostbusters; Multiplicity);

Edson Williams (X-Men: The Last Stand; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Social Network; Captain America films)

Karen Goulekas (Godzilla; The Day After Tomorrow; 10,000 BC; Green Lantern);

Chris Corbould (Golden Eye; Die Another Day; Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy; Inception);

Ian Hunter (The X-Files; The Dark Knight; The Dark Knight Rises; Inception; Interstellar)

John Rosengrant (Terminator films; Jurassic Park; Iron Man films; Real Steel)

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Table of Contents
  6. Forewords
  7. Introduction
  8. 1 John Bruno
    1. Ghostbusters,
    2. The Abyss,
    3. True Lies,
    4. X-Men: Last Stand.
  9. 2 Chris Corbould
    1. Goldeneye,
    2. Die Another Day,
    3. The Dark Knight trilogy,
    4. Inception.
  10. 3 Richard Edlund
    1. Star Wars: Episodes IV-VI,
    2. Raiders of the Lost Ark,
    3. Ghostbusters,
    4. Multiplicity.
  11. 4 Scott Farrar
    1. Back to the Future trilogy,
    2. Minority Report,
    3. Transformers films,
    4. World War Z.
  12. 5 Paul Franklin
    1. Pitch Black.
    2. Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy,
    3. Inception.
  13. 6 Karen Goulekas
    1. Godzilla,
    2. The Day After Tomorrow,
    3. 10,000 BC,
    4. Green Lantern.
  14. 7 Ian Hunter
    1. The X-Files,
    2. The Dark Knight,
    3. The Dark Knight Rises,
    4. Inception.
  15. 8 John Knoll
    1. Mission: Impossible,
    2. Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace,
    3. Pirates of the Caribbean films,
    4. Pacific Rim.
  16. 9 Robert Legato
    1. Apollo,
    2. Titanic,
    3. The Aviator,
    4. Hugo.
  17. 10 Joe Letteri
    1. The Lord of the Rings trilogy,
    2. King Kong,
    3. Avatar,
    4. Planet of the Apes reboots,
    5. The Hobbit trilogy.
  18. 11 Dennis Muren
    1. Star Wars: Episodes IV-VI,
    2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day,
    3. Jurassic Park,
    4. AI: Artificial Intelligence,
    5. War of the Worlds.
  19. 12 John Rosengrant
    1. Terminator films,
    2. Jurassic Park,
    3. Iron Man films,
    4. Real Steel.
  20. 13 Phil Tippett
    1. Star Wars: Episodes IV-VI,
    2. Robocop,
    3. Starship Troopers,
    4. The Twilight Saga.
  21. 14 Douglas Trumbull
    1. 2001: A Space Odyssey,
    2. Close Encounters of the Third Kind,
    3. Star Trek: The Motion Picture,
    4. Blade Runner.
  22. 15 Bill Westenhofer
    1. Babe: Pig in the City,
    2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,
    3. The Golden Compass,
    4. Life of Pi.
  23. 16 Edson Williams
    1. X-Men: The Last Stand,
    2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,
    3. The Social Network,
    4. Captain America films.
  24. Glossary
  25. Index
  26. Picture Credits
  27. Acknowledgments

Product information

  • Title: Masters of FX
  • Author(s): Ian Failes
  • Release date: February 2016
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781317540922