How Movie Special Effects Really Work

How are movie special effects really made? Go behind the scenes of practical movie effects with SPFX Supervisor John Milinac as he explains how professional special effects are created safely and effectively on a film set. In this episode of the Roll Camera Podcast, John takes us inside the world of movie special effects and practical effects, sharing what a Special Effects Supervisor actually does and the planning, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and safety that happen long before the cameras roll. Special effects are much more than explosions. Practical SPFX can include fire, smoke, rain, wind, mechanical effects, atmospheric effects, and many of the physical elements filmmakers use to create believable action on camera. John shares his experience working in the film industry and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how the SPFX department works on Chicago Fire !! What it takes to get an idea from the script and make it happen safely in front of the camera. Whether you're a filmmaker, film student, aspiring crew member, or movie fan, this conversation gives you a look at filmmaking from the perspective of someone who has actually done the work. If you've ever watched a movie and wondered, “How did they do that?”, this episode is for you. 0:00:40 John Milinac background SPFX Supervisor 0:04:11 What do you need to learn SPFX 0:08:53 When are you ready to work in SPFX 0:10:25 Your audition 0:11:40 Pressure test 0:14:21 The Learning System 0:15:40 Old Techniques 0:17:10 SPFX and CGI 0:22:10 Episodic TV Prep (Chicago Fire) 0:26:00 Backdraft 0:28:56 Courage Under Fire 0:46:30 What else is SPFX 0:50:17 Hop, Underdog, Weather man 0:52:05 Road to Perdition, Groundhog Day 0:54:30 Safety 1:03:29 Understanding camera Angles and Cut And we get some behind the scene stories from... The Fugitive Wonder Boys The Weather Man Chicago Fire Groundhog Day Courage Under Fire Under Dog Backdraft Road to Perdition Also mentioned https://www.specialeffectsunlimited.com 🎬 Roll Camera Podcast Real conversations with the professionals behind the camera about filmmaking, film careers, movie departments, and the people who bring stories to life. Subscribe to Roll Camera Podcast for more behind-the-scenes conversations with working film professionals. I'll see you on set. #MovieSpecialEffects #PracticalEffects #SPFX #Filmmaking #BehindTheScenes #Chicago Fire SPFX Supervisor #John Milinac