Customer Reviews
Outstanding Book - Highly Recommended 
2008-06-06
As a working Hollywood director and published author (The Power Filmmaking Kit), I usually take many filmmaking books with a grain of salt. They are either overly simplistic, revealing the inexperience of the author or serving as blatant self-promotion. "Filming the Fantastic" is neither. Mark Sawicki's take on visual effects cinematography whipped me back to my childhood when I dreamed of creating the same in-camera special effects I grew up with in movies like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. The one book I wish existed years ago, "Filming the Fantastic" is chock full of techniques, tips and advice to both novice and experienced filmmakers alike, focusing on the art of using lenses, practical set pieces, miniatures, forced perspective, and a variety of non-CGI approaches to making incredible effects. If you are interested in making movies or the filmmaking process, I highly recommend "Filming the Fantastic." It is a fascinating read, and a fresh look at an extraordinary art form.
A book on effects for everyone. 2008-03-12
Mark Sawicki's book, is a wonderful resource for those interested or involved with the history and creation of visual effects for film and TV. This book would be a great addition to a visual art students library - teachers will also find the practical exercises excellent, while film industry professionals will find the advice and commonsense approach to making visual effects invaluable. I should stress that this beautifully illustrated book is different to the glossy (and all too common) "how we made the effects for such-and-such blockbuster", Filming the Fantastic is much more real and practical, always encouraging the reader to learn by trying things for themselves.
Filming the Fantastic is about creating visual effects - not just those made by computers. The use of miniatures, matte painting and clever planning demonstrate how time and money can be saved while producing outstanding results. Marks professional effects experience provides the framework for the book, backed up with interesting anecdotes and exercises for the reader make their own special effect shots. A really unique feature of this book is showing how to deal with the inevitable situations where there has been little or no planning prior to filming.
This substantial book is crammed with photographs and diagrams, illustrating the text and clearly explaining concepts for the reader. There is considerable depth to the theory sections on colour, perspective and lighting, making the book a fine reference work for any filmmaker. The exciting thing I found about this book was sections such as "So you don't have a million dollars" - which go into making effects with a low budget or if you are challenged for time. Effects are created using home video equipment with simple props - ideas on how to create you own blue screens, superimposed backgrounds, stop motion animation, people falling out of buildings, crowd replication and even a pan across an airplane crash scene, can all be created with a few dollars and a few hours. This may make the book sound too simplistic for a professional, however "in camera effects" (as they are called) are becoming more rather than less common in feature film production. These "tricks" are recognised as time savers in the professional industry.
In summary this well written book is very easy to read with clear thought out examples for students, teachers and professionals. Great illustrations and photos explain the key concepts thoroughly while the broad topic range make the book relevant for many people and situations.
A great gift for yourself or anyone interested in the magic of movie making. My advice is to dust off the camera and try the effects for yourself!
A must have for any filmmaker! 2008-03-07
If you are a filmmaker Mark Sawicki's book is a must for your arsenal. The book will give you much needed fundamentals of how visual effects shots are done. Dont try to "fix it in post". Do it right the first time in your camera.
A must have for every FX fan! 
2008-03-02
Finally a book which analyzes FX effects non only in CG but in old fantastic and "Handy" method!!!
Original Insights from Traditional Methods 2008-01-26
Mark's book is so much more than another cg text on doing effects. He has endeavored to share many traditional methods which are at the source of how a very experienced professional translates them into cg. But the beauty of Mark's book is that he doesn't just mention some vague concept. He gets in there with very specific details and examples of traditional work, as well as cg work. There is so much specific info that you will learn a great deal of practical application in your own work...traditional or cg. But more importantly, you will see and appreciate concepts and methods that can be (and are) applied in the cg world, which have grown out of traditional hands-on, real-world effects work. This is a book that students and the industry both need.
Great for students, Great for effects wizards! 2007-12-15
Don't waste valuable time and budget fixing your footage in post! Shoot the effects you want effectively and creatively the first time.
This full-color step-by step guide to visual effects cinematography empowers you to plan out and execute visual effects shots on a budget, without falling into the common pitfall of using high-end computer graphics to "fix it in post." Learn how to effectively photograph foreground miniatures, matte paintings, green screen set ups, miniatures, crowd replication, explosions, and so much more to create elements that will composite together flawlessly.
Filming the Fantastic focuses on the art and craft of visual effects using real case scenarios from a visual effects cameraman. These lessons from the front line will give you ideas and insight so you can translate your skills into any situation, no matter what camera or software package you are using and no matter if you are using film or digital technology. Learn how to film your fantastic visual effects with this book!
* Hundreds of full-color set photographs show you exactly how it's done
* Includes step-by-step information on green screen setup
* Real-world examples and exercises throughout
Old and new technologies together for the first time! 2007-12-07
I've been waiting for a book like this for years. Most texts on the subject deal solely with older processes and don't address digital technology. This book makes a direct link between the old and the new so that digital filmmakers get practical information they can use to plan out effects. I highly recommend it for all my classes. Hard won knowledge from a true veteran of the industry.
Juniko Moody, Computer Graphics Instructor
If you are interested in effects. GET THIS BOOK. 2007-08-09
I'm only on the 3rd chapter of this book, but I had to write a review as it has made me incredibly excited!
Not only does it cover a lot of ground, it also is written in a warm tone that makes you excited to try out these techniques. Marc is more concerned with telling a good story and preplanning over the current trend of "fix it in post with CGI and $$$". After reading his introduction alone, I knew I had made the right decision in buying this book.
He also has learned from some of the great FX people of the 70s and infuses this wisdom into the book. In several cases, he outlines in absolute specifics (down to what lens they used). This is invaluable!
In conclusion:
After the first chapter, I immediately wanted to head out and start shooting FX work.
You can't get much better than that.
I am impressed and highly recommend Mr. Sawicki's Book 2007-07-02
Wow! It covers enough information on the current art of special effects to give the neophyte an excellent overview of what's possible and for the professional to accomplish.
This book is going on my shelf next to Raymond Fielding's The Techniques of Special Effects Cinematography, Bernard Wilkie's Creating Special Effects for TV & Film, Special Effects in Motion Pictures by Frank P. Clark and Bernard Wilkie's The Technique of Special Effects in Television. The huge advantage for Mark's book is that it brings the classic techniques into the digital age. It is full of Illustrations and photos that serve his text well.
Mark's experience from decades of personal and notable professional work is evident from the real world solutions he offers. His personal anecdotes and techical instructions give the reader useful and practical knowledge of a wide variety of techniques.
What I liked is the appreciation and references to the great masters of effects like Willis O'Brien and Albert Whitlock and many others.
Mark Sawicki knows his stuff and presents it for the curious and the advanced film maker.
Well done. I highly recommend this book. A must for Effects Artists everywhere. I kid you not!
