History of Special Effects

Since the start of cinema and films, special effects have always played a big part. In the first silent films they were a little more than a theatre play, that was photographed with static cameras, but as time went on and filming techniques and cine equipment improved, it became obvious to directors that the medium lent itself could create illusion.

As things improved with film  the box office saw a rise in how it attracted the public were and this is all down to the development in to trick photography, special effects make up, costumes and ingeniously designed sets. At first the trick effects were just crude improvisations by the directors with the help of his small crew and actors. Although in a short period people were employed as specialists and departments set up in each studio to help organise with the work.

Film makers mainly concentrated on the make up and costume side of things as the technical stuff was quite complicated for there limited knowledge at the time. Also without sound the directors and cinemas had to intrigue the audience visually and the ideal genres were horrors and fantasy films with grotesque characters in sinister settings. For example in the film Frankenstein in 1931, the main sets were in the basement of this cold, old house and some were outside in the shed, but without these sets and the monster being the grotesque character the audience would not be so drawn in to the film.

The main person who was behind the makeup in the silent period was Lon Chaney, who studied the art and when working in the theartre and brought it successfully on to the screen. Lon Chaney created and applied his own makeup , often taking a long time in front of the mirror to get the look exactly right. Lon Chaney's characterisations of Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a great example of this, not only did he take such an interest in the make up but also in how the characters appeared physically. In order to do this Chaney would strapped up his limbs in an unnatural way and even painful positions and on top of that wore heaving body paddings. It was not unusual for him to distort the eyes, nose and mouth as well with the help of tape, unfortunately with all these process came a price, his life, they had damaging effects on his body, he died just as the cinema has reached the sound era.                                                                                                                 

Obviously as time past and people get more experienced in this industry , it wasn't long until directors found a way in which an actors face could change the way the character is portrayed. This was done by adding a little bit of make up to the actors a bit at a time and exposing their faces to film after each application. It was a very slow and tedious process especailly for the actors who had to sit still not only when the makeup was being applied but also when parts of the film were being shot.
As peoples knowledge grow further the makeup materials became more specialised allowing the technicians to age the skin, distort to change an actors features to any given requirements. One of the main products was latex rubber, a solution which can be painted on to the skin in layers to build or re shape the features before the colouring process began. In some instances it is taking a complete mould or mask of the face, so that the face can be extensively altered, without the actors having to sit for hours on end waiting for the makeup to be finish, however with this the actors will just be able to wear it over his own features. Although this process was quicker and less harmful it was still a long process, colour and hair would have to be added in after.

YouTube: (28th June 2011) Available at: http://www.lookandlearn.com/blog/10620/the-special-effects-of-makeup/ [Last Accessed on 7th October 2015]
Image: http://www.catholiclane.com/wp-content/uploads/Boris-Karloff-Frankenstein.jpg [ Last Accessed on 7th October 2015]
Image:http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/04/06/arts/06HOBERMAN1_SPAN/06HOBERMAN1_SPAN-master675.jpg [7th October 2015]