Customer Reviews

Digital Storytelling: The Narrative Power of Visual Effects in Film

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The faults of this book? Point size is under 9 points which strains the eyes given that this is 99% text. There are a few photographs, but the focus of this book is use of Digital Visual Effects in contemporary movies, and how the author and critics are responding to them.

As I'm a sucker for anything related to Visual Effects, I enjoyed this book. He defines concepts that are perhaps intuitive to a visual effects artist. Yet, making you aware of these things is quite cool. Someone has noticed, and taken the time to process what it all might mean.

I appreciate that the author connects the story and visual effects, though some quotes are heavy handed. An ILM staffer complains that "Borne Identity" lost him during a exaggerated shot. It's a movie, not a documentary. The most perceptive part goes into the misidentification of f/x by critics, specifically "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," which used extensive digital effects that were attributed to incamera or old-style f/x. I wish he would've discussed Roman Coppola's CQ, which went whole hog chemical f/x. Still, there's plenty to consider. F/X are not the enemy. Mediocre filmmaking is.

At last, someone explains the link between storytelling and digital visual effects. This timely book dispels the myths and offers real tools for filmmakers.

It is an extremely thorough account of visual storytelling.

Highly recommended.