Study of Special Effects Techniques in Sri Lankan Cinema (Based on Three Selected Films)

Abstract

The purpose of using special effects in a film is to recreate reality and attract the audience. Special effects are actually used on the set. The research problem is that the use of special effects is successful relative to the use of visual effects in Sri Lankan cinema. The main purpose of this is to study the special effects used in the set of the filmmaking process. The other objectives of this study are to focus the attention of the designers to create in a wide range by identifying the existing problems in the use of special effects in Sri Lankan filmmaking. Bandhanaya, Aloko Udapadi and Ran Kevita are three films of different genres created using both special effects and visual effects, selected by random sampling. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods are used as research methods. The data gathered from interviews with directors and special effects designers, as well as published articles about special effects, the qualitative data gleaned from book references, the quantitative data gleaned from descriptive analysis, and audience survey reports obtained from the IMDB website, were analysed using Excel software and graphs and tables. Due to a lack of skilled artisans in this field and technological advancement, directors have turned to use visual effects easily compared to special effects, and due to the country's current economic recession and inflation, it was evident that designers are more inclined to the use of visual effects due to the low cost of the producers in cinematography. However, regardless of how advanced the technology is, it was determined that the usage of special effects is more effective than visual effects in gaining audience attraction by reproducing reality.