special effects

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special effects

special effects in motion pictures, cinematographic techniques that create illusions in the audience's minds as well as the illusions created using these techniques. Some common examples are the use of rear-screen projections, in which previously photographed material is projected behind the actors; the filming of miniature objects in such a way that they look life-size; and the use of animation techniques to create realistic looking scenes, creatures, or objects that can be combined with live action that has been filmed separately. Disaster films, horror movies, and science-fiction movies are three genres that often depend on elaborate special effects. Such effects were used dramatically in the Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark series. See also motion-picture photography .

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special effects

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

spe·cial ef·fects • pl. n. illusions created for movies and television by props, camerawork, computer graphics, etc.

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"special effects." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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