Providers of special effects services, including digital modeling, mechanical effects and motion capture systems.
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Special Effects
Special effects bring your movie to lifeBy Nikki Davis Movie special effects are an excellent addition to most films. They captivate the audience, and they help create a buzz about your film. Finding the right special effects company can be tricky, though, as you not only want experience in terms of years, but experience in terms of creativity of skill and stretching your budget.
Film special effects can be as simple as makeup to as complex as outer space, giant waves or raging fires. Depending on your level of experience, you may be able to handle your special effects within your own team, but if you are tackling a major endeavor like large quantities of water or fire, special effects services are probably your best bet in terms of cost effectiveness and safety.
To find the right special effects for your next project:
1. Determine what film special effects you are going after. Are you trying for a period piece? Are you going for big action? Ask yourself what your vision is for the picture.
2. Determine your budget.
3. Seek out professional help for any large or dangerous special effects projects.
Start with special effects makeup and props as a simple inexpensive first step
Special effects makeup can be the starting point of your special effects endeavor. It is cheap and easy to purchase and manage. You can easily create your own masterpieces in little time.
Try:
Visit Special Effect Supply Corp. for special effect supplies as well as support materials and staff. Take a look at the special effect makeup and wig shop from Makeup-FX. Check out the wide variety of stage makeup kits and cases from International Fun-Shop stage makeup page, or even consider the Tom Savini's Special Effects Make Up School.
Consider fog special effects supplies
Fog and other water special effects can easily bring a movie to life.
Try:
For movie special effects check out Special Effects Unlimited, Inc. They did a 40' Dump tank for Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. They can do windows rigged for fire, and they have supplied the ground fog for the Academy Awards. They have worked on the following movies: Live Free or Die Hard, Charlotte's Web, Rush Hour 3, I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry, Wild Hogs, Miami Vice, House of Wax, Lemony Snicket, Bewitched, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Oceans 12, National Treasure and more. Find bubbles, fog, dry ice, haze, snow, simulated flames and indoor pyrotechnic effects from LeMaitre FX.
Use fire in your next special effects for film project
Fire special effects are dangerous and costly. Stick to a professional when attempting to use fire for a movie.
Try:
Find Flame and Fire Effects, Indoor/Outdoor Fireworks and Pyrotechnics, CO2 and LN2 (cryogenic) Fog Effects, Confetti and Streamer effects from Orlando Special Effects. Look for Pre-Packaged Pyrotechnics for the Entertainment and Movie Industries from ProStage Pyrotechnics. Check out the customized theatre installations, close proximity indoor pyrotechnics, fireworks displays and laser effects by Pyrotek Special Effects Inc.
- Computer special effects can always be added in after the fact, but you will be limited to the skill and capability of your computer designers. Major motion pictures like I Am Legend with Will Smith are an excellent example of digital video special effects where they filmed a particular area then digitally removed extra people and added foliage and animals.
Special Effects for Special Events Laser Pyro Searchlite Confetti & FX
Sp fx film and production supplies Buy special fx products online
Information on Make-up Special Effects, Puppets, Mechanics & Animatronics for Movies, Television & Theatre in Mexico.
Company offers rentals, film and TV services, as well as cameras, lighting, film projection equipment and digital systems.
Atelier Digital specializes in Editing, Special Effects, Graphics, Compositing, Animation. Featuring Discreet Logic's Flame/Fire and Avid Editing.
http://www.atelierdigital.com/
With over forty years of landmark achievements in visual technology- from the surveying of the Apollo Lunar Landing sites, exploiting early satellite imagery from space to the 3D modeling and visualization of radioactive particle transport in the atmosphe
B&E provides design and visual effects for independent and studio motion pictures, and is noted for title sequences, digital effects and motion control.
http://www.balsmeyer-everett.com/
Black Logic is a full service visual effects company, offering graphic design, high-end compositing, two and three dimensional computer animation plus full live-action production.
Films for corporate and nonprofit clients; offers services ranging from graphic design, pre and post production work, and CD Rom creation.
Full-service digital effects company providing a range of services, including digital compositing, 2-D and 3-D effects, wire and object removal, film stock repair and restoration and digital film scanning and recording.
Drew Jiritano Special Effects (DJFX)
Performs all kinds of special and visual effects; highlighted services include rain effects, snow effects, smoke/fog, bullet hits, blood bags, indoor/outdoor and pyrotechnics.
Provider of high-end 3-dimensional computer generated animation design imaging and transfering and multimedia and video/film production services. The company uses silicon graphics workstations and alias wavefront systems. Services are provided to multip
Gizmo is a provider of Motion control equipment and services for feature films and TV commercials. We have 2 portable Motion control systems, 35mm Mitchell-Fries cameras, and we have just added a shooting stage. We use Kuper Controls motion control softwa
Image G provides motion control cinematography and related special effects services to the entertainment, advertising, and multimedia industries. It has consistently pushed the limits of computer-controlled camera technology and developed new techniques
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
ILM creates special effects, has pioneered and is at the forefront of the digital revolution. As a part of San Francisco-based Lucasfilm Ltd, ILM is a digital production facility whose clients include both studios and advertising agencies around the world
Services the American Midwest, and specializes in computer graphics and digital special effects.
Macquarium Intelligent Communications
A full services firm based in Atlanta, providing strategic consulting, content and brand development, database system integration.
Provides lighting, audio & special effects equipment for theatres, theme parks, visitor centres, museums, and studios.
Based in Phoenix, Arizona they combine the latest computer technology with traditional photography as the basis for their work.
http://www.nexusmultimedia.com/
A Santa Monica, California based company that is a full service multimedia studio.
Is a film and interactive entertainment production company headquartered in Virginia that develops a unique artistic vision through original story development, use of cutting edge technology, and collaboration of talented production.
3D content developer of model packs and CD-ROM collections used with consumer photo-imaging and business productivity software packages.
Los Angeles based film production studio specializing in visual effects for feature films, television commercials, theme park rides, music videos and interactive games.
California based SGI designs workstations and servers that help broadcast engineers, graphics artists, animators, effects designers, and software developers express their inner vision better, faster, and more affordably than ever before.
http://www.sgi.com/developers/technology/index.html
Provide hard-to-find information and materials to special effects artists and other craftspersons.
Manufacturer of electrical equipment that is commonly used to create dazzling special effects. Amongst research and other possible applications, their large custom-designed Tesla Coil systems can be used to create spectacular high-voltage displays for edu
Visual Effects Headquarters Archive
Find up-to-date news, links, and information on the visual effects industry.
http://www.vfxhq.com/index.html
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Special Effects
Special effects are often used in the entertainment industry to simulate the events that occur. They are used in film, television and in the theater. Business.com is a good source of information on special effects; it has information on special effects courses at college and companies that provide special effects.
Special effects can be split into the categories of mechanical effects and optical effects. Mechanical effects can also be known as physical effects, and they are usually achieved during the shooting of material for film and television. This can include adding atmospheric effects such as wind, fog and rain, or other mechanical effects that are commonly used in ... more
Special effects are often used in the entertainment industry to simulate the events that occur. They are used in film, television and in the theater. Business.com is a good source of information on special effects; it has information on special effects courses at college and companies that provide special effects.
Special effects can be split into the categories of mechanical effects and optical effects. Mechanical effects can also be known as physical effects, and they are usually achieved during the shooting of material for film and television. This can include adding atmospheric effects such as wind, fog and rain, or other mechanical effects that are commonly used in productions, such as blowing up buildings, vehicles and general pyrotechnics. Mechanical effects can also be incorporated into the set design and makeup department by using insubstantial walls to enhance fight scenes and using prosthetic makeup to make monsters appear more authentic. Optical effects are achieved in a number of ways. A film may use multiple exposures during shooting, or they may be created during postproduction processes using an optical printer.
The most recent category of special effects was developed during the 1990s. This category is computer-generated imagery (CGI). This type of special effect is more advanced than those previously seen and gives productions more realism when portraying events.