A detailed insight into 50 of the most astonishing moments in SFX and VFX history from Ian Failes.
It’s called WHOA! Great Moments in Effects History Vol. 1. You can buy it in PRINT or Kindle right now on Amazon.
So, what’s WHOA! about? Well, I’ve often thought about those unforgettable effects moments in film or TV shows (and even in commercials) where you watch it, and you just simply go ‘Whoa!’. There’s shots like that in The Matrix (with Bullet Time, of course), or moments in films like Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park where I still can’t quite believe what I’m seeing.
So, I wanted to focus on those kinds of shots. There’s 50 featured here in this book, which you may have already clocked is ‘Volume 1’. I plan on writing a new volume regularly with more and more of my – and hopefully your – favorite effects moments in them.
The moments might represent individual shots, or other times they’ll be part of a larger moment in the project, and occasionally you’ll read about an overall approach to a certain kind of special or visual effect that was used, such as a single character achieved with incredible visual effects. They might be achieved solely with practical or optical effects methods, or with digital ones, or often a combination of both.
Do you mean VFX or SFX shots? It’s both.
OK, but you have missed out a lot of super-cool effects shots. Like, so many. I know! That’s why there’s going to be future volumes. And, I’d really love your suggestions for effects moments to feature in coming books. It could a specific shot or sequence, or it could be a character or vehicle, or a type of effect that you’ve loved.
Remember, there’s often multiple great effects moments in the same projects, so feel free to suggest a shot or sequence from a project where a different moment from that project has already been featured.
To send through your suggestion, drop me a line at beforesandafters@gmail.com. You’ll be helping to build up a fun record of innovation and artistry from past visual effects and animation projects. I’d love to hear your ideas!
SOURCE:
beforesandafters.com: https://beforesandafters.com/2026/08/12/introducing-whoa-great-moments-in-effects-history-vol-1/
