A few days ago I was introduced to a Youtube channel of someone creating CGI Bigfoot. They are not creating these for a hoax, but for fun and to hone their skills. They are also using their talent to enhance and re-create other videos.
CGI means computer-generated imagery or special visual effects created using computer software. We see this type of thing in almost every film we watch nowadays. The technology is getting better and better and it is getting harder to tell when something is CGI or real.
There are only a few videos on this guy's channel but I think some of them are very good work. It is the type of thing you might see in a promo for a Bigfoot TV show or something used in a documentary film.
Lets take a look at one of the videos
These were created by an amateur using, what I am assuming, is free or low priced software. I think in one of the videos, he states, in the description, that it was created with Blender, which is free, I think.
Here is still frame from a video entitled Bigfoot Clan. To view the video, and I recommend you do, Click Here.
Here is a video of a Bigfoot doing rock clacking. This is CGI that has very fine detail.
I invite you to check out Ronboy's channel and some of the work he has done. To watch his other videos just Click Here! Hats off to Ronboy for creating some very good animation.
This is the kind of work I wouldn't mind using in some of my documentary Bigfoot films. It would be great to add an animated sequence to someones sighting report.
This also got me to thinking about the possibility of someone using this type of animation to fool people and pull a hoax.
This Bigfoot image, on the left, was presented by Todd Standing and is featured in his hit film Discovering Bigfoot.
It has always had a CGI/Digitized feel to it to me. I even read somewhere where someone claimed that he admitted the image was computer enhanced. If you compare this photo and that segment of the film to the stuff on Ronboy's Youtube channel, I think they are a pretty similar.
Now, I'm not suggesting Ronboy made the Standing images, I'm just comparing the two and looking for similarities. Now, if Ronboy, being an amateur, can make images as good as he has on his channel, just imagine what someone who has the proper training, time and money could do.
CGI is used in most movies nowadays and it can be very convincing and even harder to spot. I expect as technology advances it will continue to get even better. I think it is important for people to understand that CGI is getting better and that it could be used in potential hoaxes. There are numerous types of CGI software out there but normally big studios use some type of in house software to create animation. Take like Pixar for example, they use programs they've developed in-house that aren't available to the public. But there is a big list of software that is available to the general public, some of which is free or low cost.
We must also remember that some of this type of software was introduced in the 80's and it has only gotten better. It is also important to understand that many times several different types of software is used on a single animation. One piece of software may only render the object in 3D, while another piece of software may be used for lighting conditions.
I also think it is important for us in the field of Bigfoot and the paranormal in general, to understand a little bit about these types of creations. While much of it is well over my head, I still want to study, compare and look for things that would be helpful to me in picking out real of fake videos.
I think many researchers probably don't really want to study any of these types of things but I feel it is important for me to have some basic knowledge on the subject to detect fraudulent videos/Pictures. I guess years ago, all you had to study was the costumes and costume makers. Well now, we have that, photoshop and computer software to learn about, just to name a few.
Understanding how a hoax was created is very helpful for debunking future hoaxes. To do this we in the Bigfoot/paranormal world need to study and increase our knowledge on many topics. This is a continual learning process for many of us. Of course, we gain knowledge from hands on, boots on the ground research but we must also learn about other topics to help out our research efforts. Sometimes it is just not very glamours but it is something we need to do.
[all images are property of their rightful owners and only used for educational purposes.]
Thanks
Tom
This post by Thomas Marcum, Thomas is the founder/leader of the cryptozoology and paranormal research organization known as The Crypto Crew. Over 20 years experience with research and investigation of unexplained activity, working with video and websites. A trained wild land firefighter and a published photographer, and poet.
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