The Effectiveness of Special Effects: Practical Effects vs. Digital Effects

• Main Author: Ciccone, Vanessa
• Other Authors: Steinhart, Daniel
• Language: en_US
• Published: University of Oregon 2016
• Subjects: CGI; Digital effects; Movies; Practical effects; Special effects; Werewolves
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1794/20500

For centuries films have given filmmakers the ability to affect their audiences visually and emotionally. Special effects and digital effects make a fictional scene appear more realistic. In the film An American Werewolf in London, make-up artist Rick Baker revolutionized the use of practical effects when transforming David Naughton’s character into a werewolf. In 1997 when An American Werewolf in Paris was released, director Anthony Waller utilized digital effects, instead of practical effects, when transforming various characters into werewolves. These transformation scenes were not met with as much praise as its predecessor. If we were to have a better understanding of how individuals perceive practical effects and digital effects it would allow us to determine which one better conveys an emotional reaction. This thesis will demonstrate which type of special effect, practical effects or digital effects, is more effective at relaying an emotional response in a viewer.