Movie Magic at The Rank Organisation
Matte Shot – a tribute to Golden Era & Traditional Special Effects
It’s been a while since I put together one of my gargantuan matte shot tribute blog posts, and for that I humbly apologise. As I’ve often mentioned here, my personality is one of those where the ‘mood’ and ‘time’ just has to be right for me to embark on these (and much else I engage in too for that matter), and I tend to go through a sort of funk after each blogging wondering if anyone really reads them, or shares my passion for the old time trick work and whether I should bother doing another one – especially as most people – for reasons that escape me – nowadays probably read ’em on those damned cellphone sized devices with tiny screens. It doesn’t help matters when it’s known by many around me that I’m really a “cup half empty” kind of a fella, as opposed to the more upbeat “cup half full” seriously positive, driven types.
Anyway, after a warm summer here in NZ involving a fair bit of relaxed sea/landscape oil painting, several home improvements, building and all sorts of chores which leave very positive impressions upon my wife, it’s high time for a new blog post. The ‘mood’ is right, and so in my odd, yet typically idiosyncratic explosion of energy which bursts forth from NZPete so infrequently, I’m shutting out all else while frantically bashing out this article on Rank-Pinewood’s effects department…
…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.
