Stuff You Should Know SYSK’s Summer Movie Playlist: Special Effects: A Short History
Jun 27, 2025
Dive into the fascinating journey of special effects, from early practical techniques to modern CGI wizardry. Discover the artistry behind iconic methods like matte painting that created captivating movie landscapes. The discussion shines a light on the contributions of pioneering figures, while humorously weaving in personal anecdotes. Explore the duality of actor Ed Harris and his cinematic illusions. Plus, get a taste of unexpected topics, like solar panels and community awareness of sleep apnea, adding depth to this entertaining exploration.
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Three Categories of Special Effects
- Movie special effects fall into three categories: practical, in-camera, and post-production.
- Many films combine these techniques to create seamless visual illusions.
First Special Effect by Alfred Clark
- Alfred Clark is credited with the first special effect in film with The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.
- He used a stop trick to seamlessly substitute an actress with a dummy for the beheading scene.
Méliès' Accidental Effect Discovery
- Georges Méliès discovered the substitution splice effect accidentally when his camera jammed.
- The effect made a bus transform into a hearse when the camera resumed filming.