Special Effects Artists: A Worldwide Biographical Dictionary of the Pre-digital Era - Tapa dura

Movie magic isn't just sleight of hand; it's the result of creative visual techniques. Throughout the course of film history, artists have used matte painting, stop-motion animation, model photography, process cinematography, in-camera effects, travelling mattes, optical printing, physical and floor effects to entertain audiences. Alphabetized entries provide career synopses and movie credits for important special effects practitioners and inventors, spanning the early years of cinematography through the end of the mechanical age of filmmaking, marked by Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" and its combination of conventional effects and computer-generated images. Coverage ranges from pioneers such as Robert William Paul, Georges Melies, Segundo de Chomon and James Stuart Blackton through modern special effects masters working with traditional techniques. A select chronological filmography, a glossary of technical terms and numerous publicity stills are included.

Rolf Giesen, a visiting professor at the Animation School of the Communication University of China in Beijing, has worked with special effects artists Albert Whitlock and Roland Emmerich, compiled a special effects collection for the German Cinematheque and has co-written several animation features.