Blog Post #13 Practical Effects

 

BTS still from Prey (2022)

BTS still from Alien vs. Predator (2004)

Practical effects are some of the most important parts of making a film, especially gory horror films, and films requiring creature effects. The examples I have above are from one of the most true to form movies series with practical effects; The Alien and Predator films have used practical effects throughout all the 16 live action installments (not counting the single animated film Predator: Killer of Killers, which doesn't feature any practical effects for obvious reasons). Practical effects are physical effects in films, that are a majority of the time much more effective than their vfx counter parts (however ideally a film would have a sort of harmony between both, as they both have limitations). Actors can actually look at and react to in real time to practical effects rather then pretending to see something to be added later on in production. 

My film will feature practical effects for its major gore scene, and having previously experimented with practical effects in my last film, I plan to improve my skills. It is important to know when to use practical effects or vfx in scenes, especially with my limitations; I cannot do any crazy practical effects, so I will have to tame and simplify my effect into a doable process that will look good on camera.