Interview with Special F/X guru Shane Saucedo Part 2
Today we continue with my interview with Shane Saucedo from Hellbent Studios.
Dave: Do you feel you can handle pretty much any special effect you might be called upon to perform, or are there things you would have to farm out to a different studio? Like, for example, if I wanted a scene where 18 walking people’s heads all exploded simultaneously while the villain is throwing Molotov cocktails and burning doves off a bridge, could you pull it off?
Shane: Most definitely! LOL!!! That’s right up the studios alley. I think the only thing I would farm out would be huge pyro work like in the movie 
Demolition Man, when they blew up the building and then it collapsed. I don’t know anything about imploding a building.
(8 bit Molotov cocktail image courtesy of the video game t shirt category)
Dave: Maybe one day. I’d love to blow up a building. What changes have you seen over the last years in physical special effects techniques? Is there a newsletter or special effects site you check to see what the newest innovations are?
Shane: I would say the only changes I have seen would be the overuse of digital effects. It is understandable, it seems like a lot of new directors just want to pass it of to the CGI studios and then cut it together. I have no clue of a newsletter or a site. Lemme know you know of one.
Dave: What are your thoughts on CGI verses physical special effects?
Shane: I like both and feel the both have their place. Very few can balance the two and use them to enhance each other. When they pull that off it is truly art.
Dave: Are there specific situations where physical effects can actually generate a better look than CGI?
Shane: I would have to say time, budget and crew skill have the most factor in quality. You rarely have the time needed or budget and so you have to do the best you can.
Dave: Do you see CGI affecting your business?
Shane: Yeah, but I think its okay. Sometimes its cost prohibitive to pull an effect off, or it’s a question of safety. Again I think visual and practical should work hand in hand to provide the best product possible.
Dave: Is the use or overuse of CGI specific to larger studios than smaller studios or vice versa?
Shane: I have seen the smaller productions doing a lot of CGI, almost to much. A lot of it has to do with certain skill levels available to the filmmaker. Myself, I have a cinematographer, editor, and director a phone call away. So when we go to make a film on a budget, if its cheaper I would most definitely would call a CGI guy in and hopefully be able to increase production value for a better price.
(conclusion tomorrow)
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