So That’s How They Do It!

At the California Museum of Science and Industry, you can hop on a dinosaur and ride to Venice Beach or hang off the edge of a skyscraper--thanks to a bit of movie magic called the video compositor.

The marriage of artistry with science and technology is celebrated through “Special Effects 2,” an interactive exhibit at the museum that gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at cinematic sleights of hand. Visitors are taken through a series of studios, each one covering a phase in special effects development.

At The Shop, paper sketches come to life as 3-D models, and artists explain the scientific concepts of peripheral vision and forced perspective. In Visual Effects, illusions are created through the camera lens with a blue screen and front and rear projection techniques.

The Computer Generated Image Studio creates effects with the aid of a computer and shows visitors how digital technology transforms ideas into reality. Special effects artists talk about their work too.

The exhibit is a sequel of sorts to the success of the first such display three years ago.

The museum, 700 State Drive in Exposition Park, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; admission is free. “Special Effects 2” is in the Science South building and runs through March 19.

Information: (213) 744-7400.