Key takeaways #
- CGI quality paradox: Despite technological advancements, modern CGI often appears worse than older examples.
- Historical use: Early CGI (e.g., 'Jurassic Park', 'Lord of the Rings') was used as a tool to enhance storytelling sparingly.
- Increased reliance: Modern blockbusters heavily rely on CGI, with percentages of VFX shots skyrocketing from 4% in 'Jurassic Park' to over 80% in many recent films.
- Time constraints: Production schedules haven't kept pace with the increased volume of CGI, leading to significantly less time per VFX shot for artists.
- Invisible CGI: Good CGI is often 'invisible,' seamlessly blending with practical effects and supporting the story without drawing attention.
- Studio approach: The core problem is studios treating film as a mass-produced product, prioritizing quantity and speed over quality in CGI implementation.
- Solution: Using CGI in a measured way, as a tool to create spectacle rather than being the spectacle itself, and allowing sufficient time for its development.
Deep dive #
The quality of CGI in modern films is often criticized despite technological advancements. This paradox stems from a shift in how CGI is used: from a tool to enhance storytelling (as seen in 'Jurassic Park' and 'Lord of the Rings') to a primary driver of the narrative (e.g., Marvel films). Early films like 'Jurassic Park' (1993) used CGI sparingly, with only 4% of its runtime featuring visual effects. Over time, this percentage dramatically increased, reaching 80% or more in recent blockbusters like 'The Avengers' (2012) and 'Endgame'. This increased reliance on CGI, coupled with increasingly tight production schedules, means visual effects artists have significantly less time per shot. For example, 'Jurassic Park' allowed about 4.5 days per VFX shot, while modern films often demand completion in a matter of hours. This unsustainable demand leads to rushed, lower-quality CGI despite more powerful computers. The core issue isn't technology or artist skill, but rather studios treating art and stories as products to be mass-produced, leading to a focus on quantity over quality. Good CGI, often called 'invisible CGI' (as seen in 'Top Gun: Maverick' or 'Barbie'), seamlessly blends with practical effects and goes unnoticed, serving the story rather than becoming the spectacle itself. The solution lies in studios adopting a more measured approach, using CGI as a tool to support the narrative rather than overwhelming it, and allowing adequate time for its development.