I just want to mention that even though today's Hollywood pretty much can't make a single film without special effects (noticable or not), visual effects artists and companies are woefully underpaid and have terrible conditions and contracts. For one glaring example, look up what happened to Rythm & Hues, the VFX house that worked on Life of Pi - they went bankrupt just after that very film won an Oscar for visual effects (and cinematography, and directing and original score). It's criminally unfair, considering that VFX-heavy films tend to be the biggest earners and studios are constantly short-changing the very people that make those films possible.
You're videos are soooo helpful... in every subject. I feel like I learn more in the crash courses than I do in my lectures. The visuals + a non-monotone voice over .. big yes. I'm a music ed major, and it would be so awesome to see you guys do crash courses on music history! I know for a fact that it'd help out a great number of people.
Hello! Professional roto and paint artist here :D The term "Garbage Matte" refers to any matte that doesn't need to be precise. Things like a large halo around hair to be extracted, general areas of trees, smoke, etc. What you call a garbage matte is "Articulate roto". This is a matte that is precise and follows an object from frame to frame. They are similar, but completely different in use. Great series so far, keep it up!
I love visual effects. I've been using them for a couple of years. Compositing and masking are the ones I use most often, because it's quite simple to do once you've learned how. I've use green screens whenever possible, and, when it wasn't possible for a particular scene, I divulged the 6+ hours needed to mask short clips frame-by-frame. (And yes, it does take a really long time if you want to do it flawlessly.) The bit about the key framing was interesting. See, I'm familiar with key frames, but I didn't know it could be used to bring 2D drawings to life! Anytime I had to animate something here and there (like a gun, or a hand, or something), I used Sony Vegas' pan and crop tool, and it never turned out quite right. It was substantial for the project I wanted to do, but nothing great. This new piece of information changes a lot. Visual effects are something that I've really come to enjoy seeing... I'm only 16 now, but someday I hope to create visual effects and edit productions for a living. I've got an eye for detail, so that helps. Anything that involves computers is great... I know how to use programs like Blender and Sony Vegas. I can make animations for The Sims 4, record them from multiple angles, and make a music video/machinima out of it. And it's the f*cking best. I'm so glad to have picked up a liking for it.
This is the first CC video I’ve seen with Lily, and she is incredible! Such a great job explaining the technical stuff to us jugheads by making it fun and personal. I look forward to watching more of your videos!
so I was watching this movie called 'Certain Women' today and Lily suddenly appeared and I was like 'omg I know her' she was really good in that movie too
The power of modern day CGI is unprecedented and if there's one thing I'm excited about it's what the future has to offer with this technology. -thanks for the subs!
As a Special effects technician myself. This one should be interesting! :D :D edit : Umm, there seems to be a massive misunderstanding on what constitutes a special effect. A special effect is something that is done for real in front of the camera ie explosions, rain, wind, mechanical devices etc. This has been labelled as practical effects which is technically true but the term practical effects and special effects can and is used interchangeably. A practical effect is a special effect, not a sub category. Then we move on to cgi.... Special effects have nothing to do with computers and cgi (aside from cad to design a rig) Any effect that is generated in post is known as a 'Visual effect' in the trade. Visual Effects and Special Effects are 2 very different beasts and often have nothing to do with each other on set. This video for some reason uses the term Special Effect very broadly where infact its a very specific role on a film set. Special Make up Effects definition was bang on. Just a few observations from someone who works within the industry.
A really cool example of special effect makeup/camera work? The single shot transformation from Jekyll to Hyde in the 1931 adaption, it used a rotating filter on the camera to expose different layers of colour makeup.
Watching this on November 10..... :) watching Crash Course helped me personally get from my clinical depression. :) Now I am quite ok (also with the help of a psychologist, my friends,and my family)
It is a common mistake to call visual effects (VFX) special effects (SFX) with the latter being almost all practical effects. The two are not interchangeable.
Hi crash course team. Thanks for taking the time to read these comments. I just wanted to suggest that: I think it'd be awesome if you got a professional from the industry, or someone from the Thought Cafe team (since they work on all of your videos) to do a crash course on "animation". Maybe it could be like what happened with the Film series: just like how one presenter came in for Film History, and another for Film Production, someone could talk about the 2D & 3D process, and maybe even how they can be used together, & another person or pair talk about, Stop motion, or the history of animation (like Walt Disney & the 9 old men, etc.), or about the studios around the world (like in Japan, the US, etc.) that run the industry today. Sorry about the idea rants, I'm just really passionate about this stuff. I myself I'm working to become a professional 3D animator, and it would really help me, and other up-and-coming creators in the journey. I know you guys are probably busy with other projects, so the choice is up to you, but, take it or leave it, I'll still love all of the amazing videos. Thanks for reading, peace.
I love how she said 'spoiler alert' last episode for 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind but showed Rogue One's Princess Leia here without any warning not even a year after the release
lily gladstone! i love you so much. i wish you could explain EVERYTHING to me, just everything. you are so clear in your descriptions and you make everything so interesting. thanks
Pause! Just pause a little between major points to let them sink in. It’s almost like you’ve edited out all the points at which you took a breath. Apart from that these courses are great and packed with information.
Crash Course is AMAZING!! I always go to these when I study for my subjects!! It would be awesome if you guys could do a series on Art History, Movements and Art in general. It would be cool to see what you guys think about it. :D
Funny thing is they actually DID shoot Superman’s optical effects in front of a blue screen! That’s why in some shots, his suit looks more teal than blue.
I always found it funny in the original Star Wars that the Imperial uniforms have "rank insignia" that are red and.... some other color blocks. In shots where there is no exterior window visible, they rank insignia are blue. In shots where there is, the rank insignia are black. What's funny is you can tell they actually used black insignia, because they are just black, not "transparent".
Love this series, would however have liked to have had one episode on special effects and one on visual effects. Lumping them both together doesn't really make any sense or represent actual film production. Here it sounds like all departments work directly together, whilst in reality a digital effects production company rarely if ever interact with anyone involved with on set practical effects. I work in the cg industry myself, so I encounter this misconception everywhere, that vfx and sfx are the same thing, so it bummed me out a bit that both of these very exciting and extremely vital and diverse departments got treated in a single video and as a single entity. Still, keep up the good work, one of my favorite series on crash course so far!
G'day, Yay Team ! The most advanced "Special Effect" available in my set of Cinematographic options, is to touch the Lens of my Mobile Phone's Video-Camera to the Lens of a 4x Jewellers' Loupe with an Aluminium "Thimble", attached to the Left side of a Spectacles-Frame made of Wire, and having no Lens at all on the Right....; it dates from the 1880s, and it's a genuine item of antique Steam-Punk (having been used in the construction of a Steam Engine by a Blacksmith in 1885 !). The effect of the two Lenses is to fill the Video Frame with a perfectly focussed view of my own Left Eyeball, vignetted by the Thimble's inside - giving a Tunnel-Vision View...; I like to open a "Mad Scientist Video" with the Eyeball Close-up, and after some suitable narration, then slowly move the Camera-Phone perpendicularly away from the Loupe's Lens, effectively "dollying-out" to go from close-up on the Eyeball, backing down the Tunnel, then emerging from the Loupe's View to see the "Standard Lens" View of a talking-head in front of whatever suitable background has been previously contrived, in a seamless transition to an arm's-length "Selfie".... It works surprisingly well. My most popular Video opens with the trick, and it pushed through it's 527,000th view today...! (Title-search YT for "Permanent Magnets Banned, The Ultimate Illegal Research ; Alternative Energy FORBIDDEN ! #4", to see it - it's an Educational Comedy-Doccumentary...). Apparently, it's not what you've got, it's the way that you use it, which matters...(?). Haveva good one, ;-p Ciao !
apparently in Guardians of the Galaxy they had an issue with deciding whether to use green or blue screen because of Gamora and Yondu. Thankfully special effects software has gotten so good that they were able to key them out regardless of what colour screens they used.
It's true. And you can see a lot of Blue Screen used on Batman v Superman with Superman in frame. So there are A LOT of considerations besides just costume. - Nick J.
I had really hoped that the cyclone from The Wizard of Oz would have been mentioned among early special effects. I still think that it is awesome, especially for 1939.
It's probably a case of either you're planning on doing it or not, but I hope you're planning on exploring the evolutions of the different niche movie genres.
This is a great course HOWEVER this is the credit of the VISUAL EFFECTS ARTIST - special effects, are rigging , atmospheric smoke, stunt preparation, ooze & gooz, puppets, animatronics, blood pack, sqwibs, explosions, lifting devices like air rams, break away wall - its a little sad to think that this crash course -- didnt know that.....
What's up with the lighting? Take a look at Lily's right eye in the first few seconds--I thought for just a moment she had black-eye makeup as part of the episode! It looks to my non-expert's eye as if you need a more diffuse and perhaps slightly brighter fill light. There are lots of harsh shadows on her face.
If they really wanted to give proper screen credit to the special effects team they will have to slow down the credits. Rolling a hundred names at top speed is not helping anyone, because the viewers cannot read the names. When I was in film school, we learned that the credits are supposed to be on the screen long enough to be read twice.
Although I’m very glad that these videos are being made, this one was hard for me to listen to. There is a huge difference between special effects and visual effect in that Special effects are done IN camera (prosthetics, make-up, robotics, etc) and Visual effects are done on a computer (CGI, matte paintings, set extension, etc.) Both areas are equally important, but require different sets of knowledge, training and expertise. Lumping us all together like this feels like cheapening all of the training, time, and energy we all complete to our craft. I’ll keep watching, but please be better next time when it comes to research and explanations.
Elisha Ellsworth this! Yes! SPFX are on set, VFX are done after in computers and stuff. Post production witchcraft. I had to stop the video because I was getting annoyed.
I just want to mention that even though today's Hollywood pretty much can't make a single film without special effects (noticable or not), visual effects artists and companies are woefully underpaid and have terrible conditions and contracts. For one glaring example, look up what happened to Rythm & Hues, the VFX house that worked on Life of Pi - they went bankrupt just after that very film won an Oscar for visual effects (and cinematography, and directing and original score). It's criminally unfair, considering that VFX-heavy films tend to be the biggest earners and studios are constantly short-changing the very people that make those films possible.
yeah, I actually learnt it only recently from the Freakonomics podcast and was quite surprised
Thank you this episode, I’m really down in my depression and seeing videos like this really lifts me up a bit.
How?
Kartik P With movie magic...
You're videos are soooo helpful... in every subject. I feel like I learn more in the crash courses than I do in my lectures. The visuals + a non-monotone voice over .. big yes. I'm a music ed major, and it would be so awesome to see you guys do crash courses on music history! I know for a fact that it'd help out a great number of people.
OMG I'm taking basic music history right now and if they made a series on music histroy that would be amazing.
Hello! Professional roto and paint artist here :D
The term "Garbage Matte" refers to any matte that doesn't need to be precise. Things like a large halo around hair to be extracted, general areas of trees, smoke, etc. What you call a garbage matte is "Articulate roto". This is a matte that is precise and follows an object from frame to frame. They are similar, but completely different in use.
Great series so far, keep it up!
Thanks Daniel! In all of my research I never encountered that distinction, but it totally makes sense.
- Nick J.
Happy to help! If you want any more info on rotoscoping and digital paint, let me know. I'm a font of knowledge on this :D
It's not explained what roto is??
I love visual effects. I've been using them for a couple of years. Compositing and masking are the ones I use most often, because it's quite simple to do once you've learned how. I've use green screens whenever possible, and, when it wasn't possible for a particular scene, I divulged the 6+ hours needed to mask short clips frame-by-frame. (And yes, it does take a really long time if you want to do it flawlessly.)
The bit about the key framing was interesting. See, I'm familiar with key frames, but I didn't know it could be used to bring 2D drawings to life! Anytime I had to animate something here and there (like a gun, or a hand, or something), I used Sony Vegas' pan and crop tool, and it never turned out quite right. It was substantial for the project I wanted to do, but nothing great. This new piece of information changes a lot.
Visual effects are something that I've really come to enjoy seeing... I'm only 16 now, but someday I hope to create visual effects and edit productions for a living. I've got an eye for detail, so that helps. Anything that involves computers is great... I know how to use programs like Blender and Sony Vegas. I can make animations for The Sims 4, record them from multiple angles, and make a music video/machinima out of it. And it's the f*cking best. I'm so glad to have picked up a liking for it.
This is the first CC video I’ve seen with Lily, and she is incredible! Such a great job explaining the technical stuff to us jugheads by making it fun and personal. I look forward to watching more of your videos!
so I was watching this movie called 'Certain Women' today and Lily suddenly appeared and I was like 'omg I know her'
she was really good in that movie too
0:11 Falkor! I suppose in a never ending story, a Jedi riding a luck dragon is really just a matter of time...
microbuilder Falcor??? Fuchur!!!
Fuchur is the German spelling I believe, though I did spell it wrong in english too. In my defense, I havent seen that movie in probably 25 years lol
Thanks for the shout out from all of us VFX artists!
*THIS IS PROB MY FAV EDUCATION CHANNEL ON RUclips KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK CRASH COURSE*
Easily my new favorite crash course video.
The power of modern day CGI is unprecedented and if there's one thing I'm excited about it's what the future has to offer with this technology.
-thanks for the subs!
same here. p.s. you do some great work on your channel.
subbed!
And I finally know what gaffers and key grips are.
Damn, there goes one of my favourite small talk subjects...
I did ride Falkor the luckdragon back in the days in the studios with a bluescreen and I loved it.
As a Special effects technician myself. This one should be interesting! :D :D
edit : Umm, there seems to be a massive misunderstanding on what constitutes a special effect. A special effect is something that is done for real in front of the camera ie explosions, rain, wind, mechanical devices etc. This has been labelled as practical effects which is technically true but the term practical effects and special effects can and is used interchangeably. A practical effect is a special effect, not a sub category.
Then we move on to cgi.... Special effects have nothing to do with computers and cgi (aside from cad to design a rig) Any effect that is generated in post is known as a 'Visual effect' in the trade. Visual Effects and Special Effects are 2 very different beasts and often have nothing to do with each other on set.
This video for some reason uses the term Special Effect very broadly where infact its a very specific role on a film set.
Special Make up Effects definition was bang on.
Just a few observations from someone who works within the industry.
A really cool example of special effect makeup/camera work? The single shot transformation from Jekyll to Hyde in the 1931 adaption, it used a rotating filter on the camera to expose different layers of colour makeup.
Watching this on November 10..... :) watching Crash Course helped me personally get from my clinical depression. :) Now I am quite ok (also with the help of a psychologist, my friends,and my family)
I got an ad for crash course film production while opening up a crash course film production episode...
*CRASH COURSE IS LOVE CRASH COURSE IS LIFE*
It is a common mistake to call visual effects (VFX) special effects (SFX) with the latter being almost all practical effects. The two are not interchangeable.
WOW I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH, I really aspire to be some sort of a video/film editor when I get into my career. Keep up the great work!! :)
Special effects are on set, but Visual Effects are what you are actually talking about in this video. DO YA RESURCK
I love you guys,and i will love even more when i learn the basics of editing videos with you guys.
#crashcoursevideoediting
image, this skills of movie making and editing, dang,Hollywood wait for me.
Hi crash course team. Thanks for taking the time to read these comments. I just wanted to suggest that: I think it'd be awesome if you got a professional from the industry, or someone from the Thought Cafe team (since they work on all of your videos) to do a crash course on "animation". Maybe it could be like what happened with the Film series: just like how one presenter came in for Film History, and another for Film Production, someone could talk about the 2D & 3D process, and maybe even how they can be used together, & another person or pair talk about, Stop motion, or the history of animation (like Walt Disney & the 9 old men, etc.), or about the studios around the world (like in Japan, the US, etc.) that run the industry today. Sorry about the idea rants, I'm just really passionate about this stuff. I myself I'm working to become a professional 3D animator, and it would really help me, and other up-and-coming creators in the journey. I know you guys are probably busy with other projects, so the choice is up to you, but, take it or leave it, I'll still love all of the amazing videos. Thanks for reading, peace.
I love how she said 'spoiler alert' last episode for 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind but showed Rogue One's Princess Leia here without any warning not even a year after the release
The Imperial Walkers in The Empire Strikes back used what is called Go-motion
lily gladstone! i love you so much. i wish you could explain EVERYTHING to me, just everything. you are so clear in your descriptions and you make everything so interesting. thanks
David FIncher's use of CGI is impressive.
yeah, man, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button even defeated The Dark Knight at the 2008 Oscars
Pause! Just pause a little between major points to let them sink in. It’s almost like you’ve edited out all the points at which you took a breath.
Apart from that these courses are great and packed with information.
2:38 my feelings exactly! Same for THX-1138!
First! What an amazing channel! Thanks to you guys I have learned alot.
Thanks so much. This has been it's own bear of a series so I'm glad people are enjoying and learning stuff :)
- Nick J.
CrashCourse Your welcome. You all deserve a thank you for the education you give us to learn. :)
Crash Course is AMAZING!! I always go to these when I study for my subjects!! It would be awesome if you guys could do a series on Art History, Movements and Art in general. It would be cool to see what you guys think about it. :D
a good example of the combining Practial effects with CGI is Jurassic Park.
Funny thing is they actually DID shoot Superman’s optical effects in front of a blue screen! That’s why in some shots, his suit looks more teal than blue.
Cool video!
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee why do I have to watch this for school 😥
Lily is my favourite CC presenter.... with the _possible_ exception of John Green.
I literally just finished binging the previous episodes
That's how we work. "You done? HAVE MOAR!!!!!"
- Nick J.
In one of the old comics, they even used that exact reason to explain supergirl not showing up on film, as I recall.
I always found it funny in the original Star Wars that the Imperial uniforms have "rank insignia" that are red and.... some other color blocks. In shots where there is no exterior window visible, they rank insignia are blue. In shots where there is, the rank insignia are black. What's funny is you can tell they actually used black insignia, because they are just black, not "transparent".
Love this series, would however have liked to have had one episode on special effects and one on visual effects. Lumping them both together doesn't really make any sense or represent actual film production. Here it sounds like all departments work directly together, whilst in reality a digital effects production company rarely if ever interact with anyone involved with on set practical effects. I work in the cg industry myself, so I encounter this misconception everywhere, that vfx and sfx are the same thing, so it bummed me out a bit that both of these very exciting and extremely vital and diverse departments got treated in a single video and as a single entity. Still, keep up the good work, one of my favorite series on crash course so far!
This is why we're living in a golden age. The limits of out imagination can be produced on screens.
Amalgamated Dynamics deserved a mention in the rundown of influential studios imho
G'day,
Yay Team !
The most advanced "Special Effect" available in my set of Cinematographic options, is to touch the Lens of my Mobile Phone's Video-Camera to the Lens of a 4x Jewellers' Loupe with an Aluminium "Thimble", attached to the Left side of a Spectacles-Frame made of Wire, and having no Lens at all on the Right....; it dates from the 1880s, and it's a genuine item of antique Steam-Punk (having been used in the construction of a Steam Engine by a Blacksmith in 1885 !).
The effect of the two Lenses is to fill the Video Frame with a perfectly focussed view of my own Left Eyeball, vignetted by the Thimble's inside - giving a Tunnel-Vision View...; I like to open a "Mad Scientist Video" with the Eyeball Close-up, and after some suitable narration, then slowly move the Camera-Phone perpendicularly away from the Loupe's Lens, effectively "dollying-out" to go from close-up on the Eyeball, backing down the Tunnel, then emerging from the Loupe's View to see the "Standard Lens" View of a talking-head in front of whatever suitable background has been previously contrived, in a seamless transition to an arm's-length "Selfie"....
It works surprisingly well.
My most popular Video opens with the trick, and it pushed through it's 527,000th view today...!
(Title-search YT for "Permanent Magnets Banned, The Ultimate Illegal Research ; Alternative Energy FORBIDDEN ! #4", to see it - it's an Educational Comedy-Doccumentary...).
Apparently, it's not what you've got, it's the way that you use it, which matters...(?).
Haveva good one,
;-p
Ciao !
VISUAL effects, thank you
I love this!! I hope to be an fx makeup artist
apparently in Guardians of the Galaxy they had an issue with deciding whether to use green or blue screen because of Gamora and Yondu. Thankfully special effects software has gotten so good that they were able to key them out regardless of what colour screens they used.
It's true. And you can see a lot of Blue Screen used on Batman v Superman with Superman in frame. So there are A LOT of considerations besides just costume.
- Nick J.
Great vid. What about doing a crash course military history
The last time I was this early, CGI effects didn't exist...
noice
I was born to watch this video
I had really hoped that the cyclone from The Wizard of Oz would have been mentioned among early special effects. I still think that it is awesome, especially for 1939.
Finally next week: The Editor
do you have a video on animation? like TV animation?
2:40
han shot first
Hey,I'm from Bangladesh...
Tnx for for making good tutorial.....
Yess, just came to see if they mentioned Blade Runner
Thank you supper cool
Good line from a movie: The real King Kong wasn't as tall as Fay Wray's belly button; God Himself can't do some of the things we (filmmakers) can do.
This is not special effects this is visual effects
i dabble in sfx makeup. it's pretty fun.
Why you didnt do a chapter about actors?
Love it going to share this people in this in Day Age get confused about SFX i would want to work in this department aside from being The Director
3:10 are now _easier_ and _faster_ to create using computer. faster is alright. EASIER?
What program does Crash Course use to make these animatoion? I wish there was a cheap animation software...
Get Adobe creative cloud
If someone is going to cry in a scene and off screen, there is an onion hidden to make them cry, is that considered special effects?
A special effects course without mention of The Matrix?!?! Whaaatt?!?!
What about Loki on the green screen? How did that work out?
CGI is life
Do an episode about practical effects
I want to know how the screws in close Encounters unscrewed them by them selfs
Special Effects are why I love animation, it’s basicslly 100% special effects
It's probably a case of either you're planning on doing it or not, but I hope you're planning on exploring the evolutions of the different niche movie genres.
Special Effects are on set and Visual Effects are in post. Also CGI is part of VFX not a synonym!
Special effects is a large department......wow.
I hear you chivy
I mean chizzy
I was hoping to to see some metropolis shots
CRASH COURSE, I would also consider Life Noggin if you haven't already
This is a great course HOWEVER this is the credit of the VISUAL EFFECTS ARTIST - special effects, are rigging , atmospheric smoke, stunt preparation, ooze & gooz, puppets, animatronics, blood pack, sqwibs, explosions, lifting devices like air rams, break away wall - its a little sad to think that this crash course -- didnt know that.....
What's up with the lighting? Take a look at Lily's right eye in the first few seconds--I thought for just a moment she had black-eye makeup as part of the episode! It looks to my non-expert's eye as if you need a more diffuse and perhaps slightly brighter fill light. There are lots of harsh shadows on her face.
isn't claymation a subtype of stop motion? is the stop motion animation of clay... i mean... is in the name
thank you for that random(?) Wayne's World reference
Christopher Nolan is one of the best directors to use special effects (because they aren't CGI mostly)
I'm waiting the mention.. but I heard nothing about animation film.. (2D or 3D).. maybe on another video?
Hi, I'm in Delaware
"Hi, I'm in Delaware..."
👏
Le fond vert n'était pas bleu a la base ?
Ben si, c'est ce qu'elle a dit. On est passé au vert parce que (entre autres raisons) c'est plus efficace avec les caméras numériques.
What about Elephant Man?
I am so confused by the graphic with Wayne, Garth, and a furry white dragon.
If they really wanted to give proper screen credit to the special effects team they will have to slow down the credits. Rolling a hundred names at top speed is not helping anyone, because the viewers cannot read the names. When I was in film school, we learned that the credits are supposed to be on the screen long enough to be read twice.
Delaware! Great reference xD
No mention of LOTR!!?? Or GOT!!??
Although I’m very glad that these videos are being made, this one was hard for me to listen to. There is a huge difference between special effects and visual effect in that Special effects are done IN camera (prosthetics, make-up, robotics, etc) and Visual effects are done on a computer (CGI, matte paintings, set extension, etc.) Both areas are equally important, but require different sets of knowledge, training and expertise. Lumping us all together like this feels like cheapening all of the training, time, and energy we all complete to our craft. I’ll keep watching, but please be better next time when it comes to research and explanations.
Elisha Ellsworth this! Yes! SPFX are on set, VFX are done after in computers and stuff. Post production witchcraft. I had to stop the video because I was getting annoyed.
I had to stop the intro to read all of the facts
But when you use it too much, it turns bad
Who is the woman on this video? Someone tell me, please!
Lily Gladstone
BLENDER
can you tell me how low budget , independent movies make their special effects and avoid making something really ugly due to their low budget?
its called chromakeys
😃👍