Norman McLaren takes a look at the choreography of ballet, with cinema effects that are all that you would expect from this master of improvisation in music and illustration. By exposing the same frames as many as ten times, the artist creates a multiple image of the ballerina and her partner (Margaret Mercier and Vincent Warren). A bare, black stage and back-lit figures, plus the remote, airy music of panpipes, produce a quiet and detachment similar...

Rollie Tyler is one of the movies' best special effects artists, known as "F/X" in the industry. He faces his most challenging assignment--turning special effects into reality. He is asked by the Justice Department to stage the fake assassination of an underworld witness. Now his F/X ingenuity becomes the key to his own survival.

"Hollywood has come to Half Moon Bay as kid inventors Nick and Tesla find themselves on the set of a big-budget superhero movie. But someone's sabotaging the on-screen debut of their favorite comic book hero, so the brother and sister sleuths must sneak behind the scenes to save the show. Luckily, they have help from an arsenal of homemade special-effects gadgets. This cinematic saga includes instructions for creating camera gear, stunt dummies, make-up...

Among the legends of Hollywood George Pal takes his place as a true visionary, innovator and showman who profoundly shaped the art of motion pictures. A pioneer in stop motion animation he went on to invent the modern science fiction and fantasy film genres. This documentary explores Pal's life and work with rare interviews with Pal and reminiscences from his contemporaries. Also included are extensive film highlights.

A comprehensive how-to manual that walks you through the many integral techniques required in preproduction, production, and postproduction to use green sceen effectively. Step-by-step instruction and time-saving tips cover matting and keying basics; lighting and digital camera essentials; setups using fabric, portable background panels, and paint; broadcast TV hardware switchers; professional HD and major motion picture compositing; multi-colored...