Lands of Wonder, Romance & High Adventure – Part 3

Matte Shot – a tribute to Golden Era & Traditional Special Effects

Today’s issue of Matte Shot – the third and final entry in a series of three Lands of Wonder specials – is a bonanza indeed, even if I do say so myself. I’ve sifted through my vast (and I do mean vast!) collection of matte shots and effects clips and put together a healthy exhibition of future worlds, fantasy lands, visionary technology and even post apocalyptic devastation from a myriad of films and tv shows originating from numerous photographic effects practitioners. Some shots will undoubtedly be instantly familiar, though quite a number probably won’t be so.

I’ve endeavoured to secure as many high definition matte shots from BluRay discs wherever possible (and when available to me), with the resulting matte artistry looking spectacular indeed in most cases.

I grew up in the 1960’s and, believe it or not, animated tv shows like the futuristic Hanna-Barbera cartoon THE JETSENS actually had a profound effect on me as to how I perceived ‘the future’ and all it had in store. Likewise television series such as LOST IN SPACE and the original STAR TREK had much the same effect on this writer and had me utterly captivated no end. I fondly recall in those days staying for long periods at my grandparents house – a real treat that I looked forward to – though the one negative offshoot of the visits were the banning of TREK and DR WHO etc as my dear Grandma, who was very religious, felt that the very notion of man going into space and landing on the moon etc was ludicrous – possibly even the work of the devil himself (!) and must surely be the notion of crazy people and such ideas were dangerous to a young and impressionable mind (this was some years before Neil Armstrong did his big thing mind you)! Those were the days!…

…Read the Full Article @ Matte Shot

A tribute to the artistry and ingenuity of traditional matte painters, this collection celebrates the hand‑crafted movie magic that once shaped cinema — from grand, epic vistas to invisible effects even seasoned viewers might miss. It’s designed for both casual fans and dedicated enthusiasts, offering a renewed appreciation for skills largely forgotten today. I’ve also reached deeper into the Matte Shot archives to bring even more of this remarkable work forward, and I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I do.