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Special Effects—Titanic and Beyond
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Viewing Ideas
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Before Watching
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Have students think of and list the most enjoyable movies they
have seen. Then have them list their favorite scenes from those
movies. How do students think the scenes were made?
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Lead a discussion about why special effects might be important
in a movie
(such as, used in a scene that would otherwise be too
expensive, too dangerous, or take too much time to re-create,
or in a scene that couldn't be shot without special effects,
or to create a place that was purely imaginary).
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As students watch, have them take notes about how each special
effect is accomplished, paying attention to two different kinds
of techniques: mechanical
(in which a trick is staged for the camera, like a person
sitting in a car in front of a moving background image of
street scenes),
and visual
(in which two or more elements are photographed separately
and then combined, like an explosion of a model building that
is later merged with a film clip of a cityscape).
After Watching
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Discuss with students some of the techniques used to create
special effects. What techniques, if any, surprised them and
why? Have students revisit their movie list and reflect on what
special effects might have been used to create their favorite
scenes.
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Work with an art teacher to introduce students to the elements
of perspective drawing, such as shadow, light and vanishing
point.
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