
The Use of VFX to Stitch Birdman Together
In 1941, cinematographer Gregg Toland approached Orson Welles, asking the director to let him shoot Citizen Kane. Toland wanted to experiment with some techniques he knew the studios would not allow him to use on any other film and guessed, rightly, that first-time director Welles would be open to letting him try. The most important of these innovative techniques was deep focus cinematography, made possible by developments in lens technology and high speed film that allowed an entire set to appear in focus, whether 18 inches from the camera lens or 200 feet away. It made for remarkable viewing and cemented Welles’ and Toland’s place in Hollywood history. […]