The discussion revolves around the calculation of Yoda's weight as depicted in a scene from The Empire Strikes Back, utilizing physics principles. Participants explore the implications of visual effects in film and the assumptions made in the calculation process, including the physical setup of the scene and the realism of the portrayal.
Participants express differing views on the realism of the scene and the implications of the physics involved. While some agree on the use of physics to analyze the scene, others emphasize the artistic liberties taken in filmmaking, leading to an unresolved debate on the accuracy and intent behind the portrayal.
The discussion highlights limitations in assumptions about the physical setup of the scene, the nature of visual effects, and the interpretation of the calculated mass, which remains speculative and dependent on various interpretations of the film's production techniques.
What? an estimate of what the fictitious yoda of the movie would weigh? You do realize that he probably was mostly movie effects, and no telling what materials the physical part of him was made.fzero said:This article in Wired http://www.wired.com/2015/08/used-physics-calculate-much-yoda-weighs/ describes a calculation of Yoda's weight from a still from The Empire Strikes Back. The author, Rhett Allain, is an Associate Professor of Physics at Southeastern Louisiana University. I didn't go through the details of the calculation, but it does fall in line with an obvious guess about how the shot was staged.
Evo said:What? an estimate of what the fictitious yoda of the movie would weigh? You do realize that he probably was mostly movie effects, and no telling what materials the physical part of him was made.
Obviously what is shown on film is purely for the visual effect and not intended to have any relationship to reality. The people that create these effects for film couldn't care less how realistic they are. Trust me, I know people that do the effects for these films and they give zero thought to reality. They do not care.fzero said:The calculation in the article is a bit more interesting than that. The scene is one in which Skywalker is doing a one-hand stand, supporting Yoda on his feet. By estimating the center of mass of the Luke-Yoda system and requiring that it be in equilibrium about the pivot point, Yoda's mass is determined from some assumptions about Luke's height and weight. The mass turns out to be negative, which I take as a fairly indirect confirmation that Mark Hamill's legs were supported by a rope or cable.
Evo said:Obviously what is shown on film is purely for the visual effect and not intended to have any relationship to reality.
You would be surprised to find out how much of what you see is not real. Easier to add it with a computer later than require any specific actions or abilities from an actor.fzero said:I am saying that the actor's orientation in the scene is not natural and some physics can be used to show that he had to be supported to maintain his pose. Presumably the shot was green-screened and Yoda could have even been added in post-production, but it makes sense that the actor was posed in a particular way for the shot. The result is consistent with that. There wasn't any particular reason to tilt the camera or rotate the frame in post for this scene.
Evo said:You would be surprised to find out how much of what you see is not real. Easier to add it with a computer later than require any specific actions or abilities from an actor.