VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGi 143 ft. William Mesa

Summary

In this episode of 'Visual Effects Artist React,' William Mesa, a veteran of the film industry, shares insights on early visual effects, particularly the innovative Introvision system. Mesa's career began with 'Outland,' where he utilized Introvision to create expansive scenes. The discussion delves into practical effects in 'Stand By Me,' the iconic stop-motion in 'Army of Darkness,' and the challenges of filming 'The Fugitive.' Mesa's journey from film to game development, including his work on 'Maximum Surge,' highlights the evolution of visual storytelling technologies.

Takeaways

• 🎬 William Mesa has a long history in the film industry, contributing to well-known films such as 'Fugitives', 'Stand By Me', 'Army of Darkness'.
• 🚀 Introvision is introduced as the precursor to modern LED volume stage filmmaking, utilizing projectors and reflective screens to combine live action with pre-projected backgrounds.
• 📸 Mesa's background in commercial photography helped him excel in creating realistic close-ups for films like 'Outland', where he started as a visual effects supervisor.
• 🌌 'Outland' (1981) was Mesa's first visual effects supervising role, where he used the Introvision machine to create Sci-Fi space backdrops.
• 🎇 The filming of 'Stand By Me' involved practical effects and no CGI, aiming to make the audience feel the characters were in real jeopardy.
• 🚂 A train scene in 'Stand By Me' involved real danger for the child actors, with the train's brakes intentionally bled to create a more intense scene.
• 🦄 Mesa shared insights on the technical aspects of visual effects, such as using black tape for matting and the challenges of maintaining continuity in composite shots.
• 👻 'Army of Darkness' featured stop-motion animation and motion control for intricate scenes, requiring long hours and meticulous work.
• 🤹‍♂️ Working with Sam Raimi on 'Army of Darkness' was a memorable experience for Mesa, with Raimi's unique directing style pushing for multiple takes and effects.
• 🛫 'The Fugitive' sequence showcased the use of Introvision for a train crash scene, blending miniatures and live-action footage seamlessly.
• 🕹️ Mesa's transition from film to video games, working on titles like 'Double Switch', 'Corpse Killers', and 'Maximum Surge', represents his adaptability in the face of technological changes.

Q & A

Who is William Mesa and what is his role in the film industry?

William Mesa is a veteran visual effects artist who has been a key figure in many famous films, contributing significantly to the film industry over a long period.

What is Introvision and how does it relate to modern film making?

Introvision is the precursor to modern LED volume stage film making. It was a technique used before computers to project a background image onto a reflective screen, creating the illusion that actors are in front of the background without the need for post-production visual effects.

What was William Mesa's first experience with Introvision?

William Mesa's first experience with Introvision was when he was brought in to shoot plates for a project. He used a product camera to make vegetables appear giant for the film 'Outland'.

How did William Mesa become a visual effects supervisor?

William Mesa became a visual effects supervisor by accident when he was asked by the company making 'Outland' if he wanted to take on the role. He accepted the position, despite not knowing what a visual effects supervisor did, and this marked the beginning of his career in visual effects.

What was unique about the visual effects in the film 'Stand By Me'?

In 'Stand By Me', the visual effects were done practically without CGI, and the film's creators did not want to disclose the use of visual effects to make the audience feel like they were in serious jeopardy.

What was the challenge with filming the train scene in 'Stand By Me'?

The challenge with filming the train scene in 'Stand By Me' was that the brakes were bled to create a sense of danger, but this resulted in the train not being able to stop, leading to a crash that destroyed the camera equipment.

What is the significance of the stop-motion puppets in 'Army of Darkness'?

The stop-motion puppets in 'Army of Darkness' were significant as they were used to create the main characters and were part of the film's iconic scenes. The process was labor-intensive, requiring long hours of animation.

How did the filming process for 'The Fugitive' differ from what was discussed in the script?

The filming process for 'The Fugitive' involved a combination of real train footage and miniature model composites to create realistic scenes, despite the initial assumption that the train crash was a separate plate projection.

What was the experience like working with Sam Raimi on 'Army of Darkness'?

Working with Sam Raimi on 'Army of Darkness' was described as one of the most fun experiences in film making, with Raimi known for pushing the actors and crew to their limits for the perfect shot.

How did William Mesa adapt to the technological changes in the film industry?

William Mesa was excited about the new technology and was always looking at what was happening in the industry. He transitioned from traditional visual effects to 3D work and digital compositing, and even moved into creating video games.

What video games has William Mesa worked on and what makes 'Maximum Surge' unique?

William Mesa has worked on several video games including 'Double Switch' and 'Corpse Killers'. 'Maximum Surge' is unique due to its complexity and the fact that it is a full motion video game that has been redone to be more fun to play.