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Visual effects can be a powerful tool in making a film. They have the ability to rectify your mistakes and create things that could never be physically created. From compositing out corporate logos to creating lifelike prehistoric animals, they have a lot to offer in the moviemaking process.

It's easy for visual effects to overwhelm a production and it's something that needs to be managed. When creating a film of your own if you come across any of these circumstances you may be in trouble.

Only Redeeming Value Of A Film

Is your film virtually unwatchable and the only reason people continue watching is from the memory and anticipation of really cool effects shots? Is your acting cardboard and your script like a poorly written soap opera and the only reason people agree to see it is because of some really compelling special effects sequences? If special effects is the only thing in your film that anybody values, you may have made a wrong turn somewhere or you may not be the director you thought you were.

Look Amateurish, Not On Purpose

Visual effects can do a lot to add scope to a small film, but you need the eye to be able to judge the quality of your FX. Does your film include green screen scenes where the edge of things keyed out are rough? Does your film include a horrifying, computer-generated monster but looks more like a guinea pig? Even something as simple as an added element in your shot that was computer generated being in focus when it shouldn't is something that will take people out of the movie experience.

Things Ignored To Make Effects Look Good

Visual effects take a lot of care and feeding. The process is slow and takes trained artists to properly render shots. This may take money, but will certainly take an inordinate amount of time. This is time that might be better spent with other elements of the production. Are you rushing through the shooting of scenes so you can get them to your rotoscoping artists quicker? Are you worried about properly lighting the green screen and not giving as much attention to proper sound recording? If the effects are the main priority, something might be amiss.

Eats Up Too Much Of The Budget

Movies cost money to make. It may not be your money but somebody will have to spend cash in order for this picture to get finished. Special effects aren't as simple as writing a script. You can write a script with any computer or with pen and paper. Visual effects on the other hand take high-powered computers, specialized software, and skilled individuals that know how to use them. These people are in demand and can't always work for free. These computers and software must be purchased in most cases, they aren't like the family computer. Take care that your production isn't leaning too heavily toward visual effects to where there isn't enough money to tell the story. Nobody wants a boring movie that looks really cool.

Well Done But Stand Out Too Much

Visual effects shots could be added to nearly any film. Even the most intimate bedroom drama could include a sequence that pulls the camera from a birds eye view of the couple sleeping all the way to a view of the Earth. It's valid information and might be a visually stunning thing to behold, but it wouldn't fit in a movie that is about people. Every movie wants to be visual, but it's important to be clear on what visuals that would entail. Simply being able to add visual effects isn't a good reason to add them to your film.

There are many directors that scoff at the use of visual effects outright instead of employing them as they would any tool. It's true that visual effects can take over a production if unchecked, but as the director it's your responsibility to make sure this doesn't happen. So don't fear visual effects. Use them when you need them, just don't use them as eye candy for what should be a meal.