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SFX sequence analysis

Film: Jason and the Argonauts - Miniatures
Focus	Notes
Fitness for purpose – is the SFX suitable? Does the effect fit the sequence? Would it have been better done another way?	I feel like all of the effects used fit in with the film, but maybe for the hydra scene they could have used a suit or puppet. This would have been less time consuming and would have prevented the issue of needing special conditions in the studio to keep the model.
Role of SFX co-ordinator – Who is the SFX co-ordinator? (use imdb) What was their role in making the SFX?	Ray Harryhausen was the creator of the models used in the production, and shot the stop motion sequences for them in the film. He also helped keep the models in the correct conditions in the studio so they don’t seem off when compared to the live action shots.
Function of SFX – what is the function of the SFX? What impact is it meant to have in the sequence? How do you think spectators are meant to respond?	The function of the SFX in this film are to use miniature models and different camera angles and filming techniques to make the models seem like a different size and/or to make them blend in with the live action sequence. The combination of both real life actors and models makes everything look more realistic, yet fantastical, as the models were based off of non - existent characters or beings.
Its aesthetic appeal to the audience – How does the SFX help to create meaning for the audience? Does it look effective? How does it fit within the wider sequence?	The models help the scenes to look more realistic, as they are made and shot in the same conditions as the live action sequences. The fact that they are all made with no VFX (other than for putting the two scenes together) also helps with this.
The realisation of SFX including the materials, processes & techniques used in its construction – How was the SFX designed? How was it made? What was its purpose?	The  effect was made to look like skeletons were made to pop out from under the ground and fight with the main characters (live action) in the film. One of them was reused from another feature called The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, just painted differently to fit this film.

Film: Star Wars (Lucas 1977) - Scale Models & Pyrotechnics
Focus	Notes
Fitness for purpose – is the SFX suitable? Does the effect fit the sequence? Would it have been better done another way?	I feel like all of the scenes and SFX fit well in the film, but I feel like the environments for the spacecraft scene may have been easier to use a green screen as they could add more to it.
Role of SFX co-ordinator – Who is the SFX co-ordinator? (use imdb) What was their role in making the SFX?	George Lucas (the creator of the film) and John Dykstra (the SFX designer), changed the movie standards of SFX. They built a lot of their used models from scratch together to use in the film, and even made one of the more advanced effects by hand.
Function of SFX – what is the function of the SFX? What impact is it meant to have in the sequence? How do you think spectators are meant to respond?	The SFX in one scene of the film features miniature model spacecrafts being used, and filmed in a miniature environment. The film also uses a puppet for the character Yoda, but he is changed to CGI in the later additions to the series.
Its aesthetic appeal to the audience – How does the SFX help to create meaning for the audience? Does it look effective? How does it fit within the wider sequence?	The spaceship sequence all look like it was done in VFX, because of the lighting they chose to use in the film. They used the same production methods/SFX for years, before finally moving to VFX. The crew made all of the models and environments by hand, even the Death Star explosion, so everything looked realistic and fitted together.
The realisation of SFX including the materials, processes & techniques used in its construction – How was the SFX designed? How was it made? What was its purpose?	The effect was made to look like there were actually spacecrafts flying through space and not miniature models. As all of the models and environments were made by hand, they have a particular touch to them that makes them even more realistic than if they were made in VFX, especially since the lighting used in most shots is the same, or at a particular angle.

Film: Jurassic Park (1993) - Animatronics & Large Scale Models
Focus	Notes
Fitness for purpose – is the SFX suitable? Does the effect fit the sequence? Would it have been better done another way?	I feel like all of the special effects fit the film well, but I do think that using an animatronic in the scenes with the stop motion/models could have saved time, and possibly money. This way, it could also cut down in the amount of props needed too.
Role of SFX co-ordinator – Who is the SFX co-ordinator? (use imdb) What was their role in making the SFX?	Bruce Minkus was the SFX coordinator for the project, and also worked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They also had an outside company produce a few set pieces for them.
Function of SFX – what is the function of the SFX? What impact is it meant to have in the sequence? How do you think spectators are meant to respond?	A lot of the dinosaurs used in the movie are animatronics, made by the crew, made to make the audience think that there were actual dinosaurs on set. They do sometimes use VFX/CGI too, but only for certain scenes. They even used large models on set, making one set piece Stan Winston Studio's largest sculpture ever made.
Its aesthetic appeal to the audience – How does the SFX help to create meaning for the audience? Does it look effective? How does it fit within the wider sequence?	The animatronic dinosaurs tend to look a little more realistic than the CGI ones, mainly because they have the exact same lighting on them as the rest of the actors and props on set. Them looking more realistic has a larger impact on the film, because if you can't tell if something's real or CGI then it makes it more believable.
The realisation of SFX including the materials, processes & techniques used in its construction – How was the SFX designed? How was it made? What was its purpose?	The special effect was designed to make it look there was a real life dinosaur in shot. They did this by creating models out of clay, wax, paint etc. and by making an animatronic. The animatronic is made out of steel 'bones' which have elastic netting for 'muscles' composed of styrene beads.

Roles And Responsibilities

1) Cinematographer - they are responsible for capturing the script on camera, and must pay attention to/manage the lighting and camera's abilities/limits. 

2) Sound recordist - they manage/monitor the sounds that are recorded with the footage/film (often uses multiple microphones), and work with the director, boom operator, and sometimes sound editor. 

3) Gaffer - the head electrician, responsible for the lighting in the production