Learn "The Science Behind Hollywood Explosions" With This Awesome Featurette

JaredJones

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Learn "The Science Behind Hollywood Explosions" With This Awesome Featurette


"Explosions are not comfortable." -- Yevgeny Zamyatin

These days, digital explosions in Hollywood movies are a dime a dozen -- unless Michael Bay is directing of course, in which case they are an Iranian rial [http://toponthelist.info/2012/12/25/top-10-cheapest-currencies-in-the-world/] a dozen -- but do you ever wonder how filmmakers are actually able to pull them off (you know, beyond "with computer animated wizardry")?

Well luckily for you, Theodore Kim, the professor of Media Arts, Technology and Computer Science at the University of California, is here to explain exactly how Hollywood is able to create realistic explosions in movies with this video, "The Science Behind Hollywood Explosions." [https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2&v=vBLZ4jja8No]

The simple answer to your question is "algorithms." The slightly more complex answer is an algorithm called "Wavelet Turbulence," which was published as part of a study done by the University of California back in 2008.

As Kim explains, "Wavelet Turbulence" is an algorithm that deals with "swirls," the vortices often used to draw smoke, steam, and wind. Using this algorithm, Kim was able to build on previous research and determine how to add hundreds of smaller swirls to one larger, singular vortex. The tool, known as a "Wavelet Transform," combined these two sets of vortices into one cohesive image, and when combined with a method for moving the smaller swirls along with the overall "flow" of the explosion (known as "texture advection"), the end result was a faster resolving, much more realistic animation.

At least, that's what I *think* Kim was getting at. This was all a little over my head.

In any case, Kim's Wavelet Turbulence algorithm has become quite popular amongst Hollywood filmmakers in recent years, being used to create mind-blowing effects in such films as Monsters vs. Aliens, Avatar, Iron Man 3, and Super 8.

Check out Kim's wonderful breakdown of Wavelet Turbulence above, then learn all you need to know about the algorithm over at Cornell.edu [http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tedkim/WTURB/]

Source: /Film [http://www.slashfilm.com/video-shows-how-science-helps-make-realistic-movie-explosions/]



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Lightknight

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Nov 26, 2008
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Oh man, I loved watching this. I've always wondered about this sort of CGI algorithm and how they got where they are today.

Thanks for contributing it!
 

Kenjitsuka

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Sep 10, 2009
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VERY nice vid.
And then to top it off, they "just threw it in a ... Matrix".
Yup, matrices; you just gotta love em! :D
 

Lightknight

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Nov 26, 2008
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Kenjitsuka said:
VERY nice vid.
And then to top it off, they "just threw it in a ... Matrix".
Yup, matrices; you just gotta love em! :D
Matrices, that thing I got really good at in algebra II before someone explained to me that almost no profession anywhere still uses them. Kramer's formula of solving matrix problems? Nailed it. But to no avail or function.

Nice to know someone still does.