Has anyone seen the new movie “Cloverfield”? I have, and I am not alone. The film hit it big during the holiday weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day raking in almost $50 million dollars. Even though the movie is entirely seen through the shaky hands of New Yorkers taping on a handheld camera as they try to escape from a giant monster, there was certainly plenty to be said about the CGI, Computer-generated imagery that was created for the blockbuster. Personally I thought it was mind blowing without being overdone or over-reaching like I believe so many other Hollywood flicks are. Do you know anything about CGI? I didn’t, really. I just knew that it was all the awesome things that happen on screen that would be too hard to make happen in real life, or things that could not happen in real life like “Cloverfield’s” Godzilla-esque, alien-ish monster. So I decided to look up some information on CGI and this is what I uncovered.

 CGI is the application of the field of computer graphics, usually 3D computer graphics, to special effects in films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation, and even printed media. CGI is used for visual effects because effects are more controllable than other more physically based processes, such as constructing miniatures for effects shots or hiring extras for crowd scenes. CGI allows the creation of images that would not be possible using any other technology. It can also allow a single artist to produce content without the use of actors, expensive set pieces or props.

LightWave 3D Maya and Softimage XSI are the computer software often used to make computer-generated imagery for movies. Recent accessibility of CGI software and increased computer speeds has allowed individual artists and small companies to produce professional grade films, games and fine art from their home computers. This capability has brought about an Internet subculture with its own set of global celebrities, clichés and technical vocabulary.

Two-demensional CGI was first used in movies in 1973’s “Westworld,” though the first use of 3D imagery was in its sequel, “Futureworld” in 1976. The third movie to use this technology was the original “Star Wars” movie in 1977 for the scenes with the Death Star plans. Other movies that started the CGI phenomenon were “Jurassic Park”, “The Abyss”, “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” and “Forrest Gump”.

One thing is for sure, without CGI, movies would not be nearly as spectacular as they are. It had taken the movie experience to the next level. And, by the way, I absolutely recommend taking an evening and experiencing “Cloverfield”.