cloverfield, cgi, double negative, visual effects

Secrets Of The CGI In Cloverfield

Cloverfield was best known for its shaky-cam handheld amateur-documentary style. But it actually deserves more props for its ambitious and sweeping scenes of New York in flames and rubble, which appeared in the background of almost every shot. Now a "showreel" from digital effects designers Double Negative shows how a small soundstage or single-block area got "opened up." You can seewhere the actual destruction ends, and the digitally painted stuff begins. And the joins aren't as obvious as you'd expect. (Note: video has no sound.) [Double Negative, via 1-18-08]

10:15 AM on Tue Mar 4 2008
By Charlie Jane Anders
3,108 views
11 comments

Comments

Garrison Dean, King... at 11:37 AM on 03/04/08
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Connectedness Index: 140

I love stuff like that. that was cool. Thanks.
DCI Gene Hunt at 11:45 AM on 03/04/08
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That was cool. It makes me sad a little for all the talent and technical expertise that went into making such a mis-fire.
Plague at 11:49 AM on 03/04/08
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Misfire my ass.

Anyway, it is indeed fascinating to see how much just isn't "there" when they are making a film these days.
strangrnstranglnd at 11:49 AM on 03/04/08
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How is it a mis-fire. It was #1 at the box office forever. It might not have been your cup of tea (nor mine), but it's certainly not a mis-fire. Ishtar was a mis-fire. Norbit was a mis-fire. This was no mis-fire.
Dr. Spaceman, Esq. at 01:31 PM on 03/04/08
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It was #1 at the box office forever.
If "forever" means one week, then yes, forever.
[www.boxofficemojo.com]
Simpsons-Movie-ruled at 02:12 PM on 03/04/08
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@strangrnstranglnd: Yea it was at the top box office for one week, after that it dropped to number 4, then 9, and two weeks ago it was at 12.
Plague at 02:29 PM on 03/04/08
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Yes, we all know how much a money a movie makes is equal to quality.

That's why MEET THE SPARTANS is a masterpiece!
Oasx at 10:03 PM on 03/04/08
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The movie has a 25 million budget and has earned 155 million so far, i think its fair to say that it was a success
SomeAudioGuy at 11:37 PM on 03/04/08
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Don't feed the trolls. This movie was exactly what it needed to be, and a monstrous success for it's $25 Mil budget.
It's nice to take a step back and realize just how much of a spectacle film it was for $25 Mil. You wouldn't have been able to do that with something like Transformers, not to mention flops like MI3.
Just think, you could've made ten Cloverfields for one Spider-man 3, and made more money for it...

I hope we start seeing more films with reasonable budgets. More work, and more money for everyone.
dave the wet sprocket at 02:45 PM on 03/05/08
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valid points about box office indeed, but it was a spectacle that almost made me vomit in my popcorn. to me, that kind of takes away a little from the experience.

the gimmick of the hand-cam made both the cheap effects and the financial success possible. they were able to do effects for less compliments of the lower resolution, and they were able to bring in the crowds with a "something different" selling point. story-wise, the movie was just as weak as 'spider-man 3' or 'transformers'. the 'cloverfield' effects hold up well with no sound, but so does 'phantome menace'. cheap movies can be good. GOOD cheap movies would be better.
Oasx at 08:04 AM on 03/06/08
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Cheap Effects? I dont want to doubt that you saw the movie but it cant understand how anyone could claim that the effects were anything but great.

Also since when is 25 million dollars cheap? Do You have 25 million lying around?