Living in an era where AI is slowly taking over filmmaking, I cannot stop thinking about the time when filmmakers were literally creating special effects manually. From cosmic battles to dystopian worlds, everything was created without any digital aid, i.e. no CGI, no VFX…heck… no computer!Filmmaking techniques such as stop motion, set-design and construction, and practical effects were the only option at hand to bring even the most fantastical and bizarre ideas to life on screen. Yet, it was during this era that sci-fi and other visual effects-heavy genres made significant growth, rendering movies that are still critical milestones in global cinema. In this article, we’re looking at some of the most iconic films that nailed visual effects without any CGI. Movies That Featured Iconic Visual Effects Without Any CGI1. A Trip to The Moon (1902) Georges Méliès’ A Trip To The Moon follows a group of scientists who manage to successfully launch themselves into space in a huge space cannon, determined to go to the moon. Before they can head back, they are met with a stream of obstacles that need to be overcome for a way back home. Making a space adventure film in 1902 was no child’s play. We’re talking about a time when even animation meant hand-drawing thousands of frames, just to create a few seconds of film footage. Méliès built elaborate sets, seamlessly integrating them with practical effects to bring his vision to life. Every set is meticulously designed to blend quirk with logic, and...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 7 October