Blog: Discuss the digital effects of one or two works listed above. What kind of spaces are depicted in these various videos? Digital effects work on the data layer of the digital image, by the manipulation of pixels. Effects, such as green screen, manipulate the color and ordering of pixels. Compositing is the layering of multiple images or tracks into a whole. Glitch effects come from the damage of code in media files. How is the realism of traditional cinema (its truthfulness in capturing images of bodies in a three-dimensional world) altered, enhanced or challenged by these techniques? How might you use digital effects in your montage assignment?
Digital effects play a key role in shaping the spaces and realism of videos, allowing creators to go beyond what traditional filmmaking can achieve. Green screens, for example, replace real backgrounds with digital ones, transporting actors to places that don’t exist. This challenges the realism of traditional cinema, which usually captures real-world settings, by introducing a controlled, artificial world.
Compositing layers multiple images or video tracks, blending live-action footage with digital elements to create environments that feel real but are constructed. This blurs the line between what’s real and what’s fabricated, altering our perception of cinematic truth. Glitch effects, caused by damaged digital files, disrupt the image and can symbolize breaks in reality or emotional tension.
For my montage assignment, I would most likely use digital effects like color correction to adjust the tone of the scene or dim the lighting for mood. I might also use effects to make certain items pop, drawing the viewer’s attention to key elements. Additionally, incorporating a green screen layer could help place characters or objects in a unique background, adding depth to the overall visual experience. These subtle changes would enhance the visual impact without taking away from the realism of the scene.