There are many different visual components in films that can help enhance a film, tell the storyline or even be the main focus of the movie.
- Cell Animation - this is the type of animation used before computers. Each frame was drawn by hand and then filmed to create the cartoon 'movement'. Many Disney films and early TV series like 'The Simpsons' were made using cell animation. The cell would be a transparent film of cellulose acetate which can be painted on and then laid over other cells or a painted backgrounds to create scenes. It is a very labour intensive, time consuming and precise job. Today you can buy original hand painted production cells such as this one for $583 unframed.
- CGI - Computer Generated Imagery is where the graphics are created by computer programmes. Initially 2D but now 3D the basic idea is to simulate the real world as accurately as possible and this is done by slicing up the reality into as small pieces as possible then controlling their movement within that recreated world. Toy Story was the first fully CGI animated feature film.
- Stop Motion - is an animation process that makes a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own e.g. a piece of clay. If the animator has a clay character and films each tiny movement individually, when the film is all put together it looks like the character is moving. A good example of this are the Wallace and Gromit films.
- Logos - The film industry is full of iconic logos and symbolism. These logos are usually immediately recognised by the viewer and help the marketing of the film, such as the below logo for 'Ghostbusters'
- Titles + Stills - The film title and any publicity stills are again to help market the film. They should be able to capture the attention of potential viewers and make them want to see the film.
- Subtitles are another part of how a film helps its audience understand, whether it is a language translate or to show a particular motion the character is portraying.
- Live Footage - Actual film of a live recording is used in films, TV shows, concerts, sports events, new reports. This does not mean live as in happening at that exact moment, it means humans and living things are being filmed. A recent example being The Winter Olympics at Sochi in Russia.
