Research Proposal: Special Effects and Filmmaking

Paper Summary:

This paper proposes a study that will illustrate that special effects distribution has enabled filmmakers to achieve heretofore impossible visions of both the most imaginative abstraction and the most stunning realism, thereby expanding the artistic and aesthetic opportunities available to modern cinema. For this purpose, the author intends to research films which are distinctive primarily for their special effects appeal and not for their cultural or commercial significance. The author anticipates that a critical evaluation of such films from the perspective of their success with special effects will show that special effects use in films can have a transformative impact on the medium.

Outline:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Description of Purpose and Expected Results
Description of Methodology
Schedule/Timetable for Carrying out of Project
Conclusion and Request

From the Paper:

"The use of special effects today cannot be given a connotation from a critical standpoint. Value judgment on the subject does not provide much insight because there are both positive and negative examples of the use of special effects which do not conform with other aspects of cinematic critique. Certainly, it is quite simple to argue that in such a case as The Matrix, special effects have helped to visually portray an abstract and compelling principle, truly altering the form and the expectation of the audience. Likewise, it might be quite simple to argue that the high-budget special effects used to produce Kevin Costner's famously disastrous and reviled Water World are an example of how a dependency on special effects can actually be quite damaging."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fielding, R. (1985). Techniques of Special Effects of Cinematography. Focal Press.
• Mitchell, M. (2004). Visual Effects for Film and Television. Focal Press.
• Perkins, M. (2006). Digital Camera Tricks and Special Effects 101: Creative Techniques for Shooting and Image Editing. Portal.acm.org.
• Pierson, M. (2002). Special Effects. Columbia University Press.
• Sefton-Green, J. (2005). Timelines, Timeframes and Special Effects: Software and

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