INDUSTRY. SFX
“These effects are usually cheaper and easier to do for real. And if it’s done for real, it looks real, which is what’s important”
keenly felt in SFX. Possibly that’s down to the amount of experience required to be insurable for some of the things effects people do, though similar things could be said of the more esoteric exploits of grip and rigging people. Ultimately, the boom will probably pass. The factors which seem likely to have provoked it – the peak of streaming distribution and the post-pandemic production bulge – seem equally unlikely to be permanent. Artem’s Kelt concurs: “I suspect high-end drama will decline, or at
largely from leftover packaging material and surplus computer parts. There’s a fascinating behind- the-scenes documentary alongside the short film on YouTube, which shows what can be achieved with some cardboard boxes and spray paint given a bit of skill. Building miniatures for movie effects is clearly less mainstream than once it was, although on 15 June, the New Blades recruitment fair showcased the work of nearly 80 model- making graduates at Holborn Studios in London. Organised by 4D Modelshop, the renowned supplies and services company, the show featured students from Arts University Bournemouth, University of Hertfordshire, Coleg y Cymoedd, The Northern School of Art, Northbrook College and Wimbledon College of Arts. Much of the modelling done in 2023 is for architectural and other related fields, though 4D’s promo material showed a lot of film-relevant work. Still, if there’s a single factor mentioned most often by special effects people in mid-2023, it’s availability. The production boom has affected the entire industry, but its impact on crewing has been
least plateau, and more work will move out into other nations and regions. It’s already started. But these kinds of effects are usually easier, and cheaper, to do for real. The director knows what’s in the camera, rather than hoping it can be achieved months down the line. And if it’s done for real, it looks real, which is what’s important.”
ROLE MODEL The creators of Slice of Life painstakingly built a dystopian futurescape to elevate their film
48. DEFINITIONMAGAZINE.COM
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