在大银幕上，影视特效技术带来的视觉幻象无处不在。从依赖建筑外观还原复古的城市街景，到使用轻便可拆卸的泡沫地砖来伪装成鹅卵石路，甚至用微缩模型来拍摄气势恢宏的古堡。本文探索电影布景中的视觉艺术。

词汇：film set 电影布景

1 From painted foam pieces resembling delicious feasts to engineered weather, the magic of film relies on hidden details unknown and usually invisible to the unsuspecting viewer. So, let's explore some of the most fascinating behind-the-scenes tricks of the big screen.

2 Screen trickery and cinematic illusions are a huge part of what brings stories to life, and set is key to this. Consider period dramas like Sherlock and Peaky Blinders – both TV programmes changed modern street furniture like lampposts and signs by covering them up with facades or temporary structures. Cobbled streets, a staple of many historical dramas, can be created using plastic or rubber floor tiles, which are lightweight and therefore quick to lay down and remove.

3 But sometimes it's not just part of a set that's made, but the entire thing. A team of 86 artists and modelmakers built an incredibly detailed miniature model of Hogwarts, the wizarding school in the Harry Potter series. It was easier to create this than to build a real castle, and was especially used for sweeping shots of the castle's exterior.

4 It's even possible to control the weather. Filmmakers creating a rain scene generally don't use real rain, partly because you can't control it, but also because natural rain doesn't show up on camera very well. This is because the water droplets are too small, so rain machines that create bigger droplets are often used. Combine that with a dramatic backlight and the rain will glisten on screen. This was likely a technique used in The Matrix, possibly alongside CGI, in the final fight scene between Agent Smith and Neo, which takes place in a torrential downpour.

5 So next time you're watching a movie, remember the movie magic – you can't believe everything you see!

测验与练习

一、为本文选择总结句。

1. What could be an alternate title for this article?
a. How actors create illusions
b. The magical feel of film
c. Tricks of the movie industry

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. Food is often faked using soft light materials.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

2. What did period dramas Sherlock and Peaky Blinders do on set?
a. Covered up lampposts and signs
b. Laid plastic cobble street floor tiles
c. Used rain machines to simulate weather

3. The model of Hogwarts was used…
a. for camera crew to rehearse on.
b. to film exterior shots of the castle.
c. as a replica before building the actual castle.

4. Rain machines always replace real rain in films.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

5. What does 'that' refer to in the following sentence? Combine that with a dramatic backlight and the rain will glisten on screen.
a. Small water droplets
b. Rain machine
c. A camera

三、用方框中的单词完成对本文的总结。

Let's go 1) _______ and find out about illusions in cinema. Street furniture is often replaced or covered with a 2) _______ to ensure authenticity in 3) _______. Also, 4) _______ are sometimes built instead of building actual sets. These can make filming 5) _______ shots easier.

backlight
filmmakers
period dramas
behind the scenes
exterior
models
facade

（答案见词汇表后） 

词汇表

foam 泡沫
behind-the-scenes 幕后的
the big screen 电影，大银幕
trickery 欺骗
cinematic 电影的，影片的
illusion 假象，错觉
set（影视拍摄的）布景，片场
period drama 时代剧，历史剧
facade 虚假的外表
cobbled street 鹅卵石街道
floor tile 地砖
lay down 铺设，放置
model maker 模型制作师
miniature 微型的
sweeping 平扫的
shot 镜头
exterior 外部，外表
filmmaker 电影制作人
on camera 在镜头中
water droplet 水滴
backlight 背景光

答案

一、为本文选择总结句。

c. Tricks of the movie industry

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. a. True. From painted foam pieces resembling delicious feasts to engineered weather, …

2. a. Consider period dramas like Sherlock and Peaky Blinders – both TV programmes changed modern street furniture like lampposts and signs by covering them up with facades or temporary structures.

3. b. It was easier to create this than to build a real castle, and was especially used for sweeping shots of the castle's exterior.

4. b. False. Filmmakers creating a rain scene generally don't use real rain.This is because the waterdroplets are too small, so rain machines that create bigger droplets are often used.

5. b. 'that' refers back to the sentence 'This is because the waterdroplets are too small, so rain machines that create bigger droplets are often used.'

三、用方框中的单词完成对本文的总结。

Let's go behind the scenes and find out about illusions in cinema. Street furniture is often replaced or covered with a facade to ensure authenticity in period dramas. Also, models are sometimes built instead of building actual sets. These can make filming exterior shots easier.