This document is a student's final project paper for an English composition class summarizing the importance of balancing CGI and other special effects with storytelling and acting in movies. It quotes George Lucas emphasizing that technology does not change the core art of filmmaking. The paper argues that while effects can enhance a movie, overreliance on them can detract from quality story and acting, and that the best movies achieve a balance of all elements.

2. Balancing CGI: Why It’s Important
Final Project
Margaret Logan
English Composition
Joana Lincoln
August 31, 2014

3. “Don’t forget the basics. Don’t get enamored with
new technology, because it’s not new. Just the
medium we’re working in is new, but that doesn’t
change anything. The art of what we do is
exactly the same. It’s beyond technology. It’s the
art of movies.”
–George Lucas

4. Dear Movie Directors,

5. When you create a movie with the right blend of effects, it is amazing.

6. Sometimes, the effects can transcend the quality of story and acting.

7. Of course, it is best to have quality story, acting, and effects in combination.

8. But your movie shouldn't suffer for your efforts.

9. When the effects are good, but overplayed, they draw us out of the movie.

10. When the effects are bad, they hit us like a brick to the face.

11. Probably the worst is taking a good story and converting it to laughably bad through overuse
of CG.

12. Balance the techniques you use to create the best and most immersive
experience.