As the movie industry continues to evolve with the introduction of newer and better technologies, CGI has become one of the most revolutionary parts of behind-the-scenes filmmaking work, making the impossible possible to be filmed. While CGI greatly benefits the film industry, partial highlights of traditional movie-making worldwide could be diminished. Today, we will explore the background of CGI, its uses, and its advantages and disadvantages.
How CGI emerged and its uses
CGI stands for “Computer Generated Imagery” and is a computer program that creates sceneries digitally in filmmaking to illustrate realistic scenes in wars, add additional effects to landscapes, or even replicate an entire cityscape as seen in the Chinese Movie “怒火重案” (raging fire) when the filming team utilized green screen model building and CGI technology to create a digital duplicate of Tsim Sha Tsui the villains could destroy in the movie. This exemplifies the true powers of CGI and how it will continue to revolutionize the film industry. It is also important to note that CGI differs from practical effects in filmmaking. CGI is purely computer-generated effects overlayed onto filmed footage, while practical effects are anything physical or mechanical added to the film.
The first recorded use of CGI was in 1958 in the film Vertigo, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. In this film, CGI was employed to create a spiral effect at the start of the movie. While technology continued to advance throughout the 1960s, with CGI becoming capable of rendering human faces or even entire films worth of 3D models, CGI only became mainstream in the 1970s – notable achievements during this decade include the combination of computer graphics and CGI to make convincing scenes within movies as well as architectural CGI, where CGI, with the help of model building (practical effects), can begin replicating sceneries or create surreal and futuristic cityscapes from an empty canvas.
A prime example of CGI in modern film
One famous movie of modern times that greatly exemplifies the wondrous powers of CGI is Christopher Nolan’s Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, who tries to plant an idea into an enemy’s subconsciousness. CGI is deeply rooted in the mind-blowing, bending city scene, where Adriadne, under Cobb's guidance, learns to manipulate the objects within a dream. However, there’s a twist to the film – The famous hallway fight scene of the movie (second picture below) is actually filmed using sheer Nolan intellect, no CGI! Nolan proposed the use of a spinning set for the set, and it worked out perfectly. One explanation for why Nolan chose to do this is that he likes his films to be as authentic as possible, to the point where he stretches the boundaries of filming completely.
Conclusion
In essence, CGI is computer-generated imagery in most modern films, and it has completely revolutionized the industry. It can create stunning landscapes or futuristic city skylines and meritoriously enhance small and mundane effects sprinkled throughout movies. As today's pioneers continue to innovate in the tech industry, all industries, including the film industry, will be greatly impacted, never to be the same.
Reference List
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4K HDR Media (2018). Inception - Ariadne Learns How To Build Dreams (HDR - 4K - 5.1). YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZszlJQhj4aA [Accessed 15 Jun. 2024].
4K HDR Media (2018). Inception - Hallway Fights (HDR - 4K - 5.1). YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2tfZksgEy4 [Accessed 15 Jun. 2024].
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