Capturing the Action: Bullet-Time Photography Super slow motion would be relied on heavily in the stylization of the action scenes in "The Matrix," but certain moments in the script called for something special. These scenes required dynamic camera movement around slow-motion events that approached 12,000 frames per second. The Wachowskis called it "bullet-time photography." This "Flow-Mo" process allows filmmakers almost unlimited flexibility in controlling the speed and movement of on-screen elements. For example, a fighter leaping into the air to kick his opponent could accelerate to the apex of his leap, appear to hover in the air, extend his leg in a lightening-fast movement, and then gently descend to the ground. Joel Silver describes the process as similar to "full-cel animation, only with people." The Wachowskis met with JOHN GAETA, the visual-effects director at Manex, a visual-effects facility in Northern California, to discuss their goals. Says Gaeta, "The Wachowskis are from the comic-book culture, and are therefore familiar with the Japanese animation style called anime, which we re-created with live actors for this movie. Anime takes advantage of 'the physics of decimation'‚ it breaks down action into its components and allows those elements to be meticulously controlled to build the most dramatic effect from dynamic movement."

Mumbai Express digital projection