Hey guys, here is my first attempt at a 'special effects" movie. It's a tribute to all of the over-the-top blockbuster movies with crazy effects. I didn't have access to a green screen studio, so I just shot everything in my apartment and had to rotoscope (trace) all the characters frame by frame to get them all in the same shot. Take a look and let me know what you think:
www.youtube.com/watch
www.youtube.com/watch
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Chicago
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Re: The FX Movie
Sat, October 6, 2007 - 11:54 AMNice,
It would be a little more impressive it was not all from the same locked down angle.
Is that some particle illusion effects and a blood splats from Action Movie Essentials?
Also, I wanted to see the light sabers duel, not just the end of the movie. -
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Re: The FX Movie
Sun, October 7, 2007 - 12:37 AMHey Randy,
Thanks for the feedback. I shot the film at 1920x1080 and considered placing the final render into a 720x480 composition so I could move it around to create camera pans, zooms, etc. Since the whole thing was shot without a green screen, trying to have a camera man try to create the exact same camera pans for the multiple takes would be impossible.
The blood splatters are from movie essentials. I may have got carried away with them. lol The particle effects such as the smoke and rain were created by me in After Effects. (using trapcode particular particle generator)
I too wanted a full-on lightsaber duel, but I didn't know how to properly shoot it. (i.e. timing and placement of the lightsabers so that they looked like they were making contact) Although, if i do figure out a way to do it, i think that would be a first. (ive never seen anyone try a lightsaber duel against themselves). Any ideas on how to accomplish this?
If I try it again, I'll definitely use a green screen. -
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Re: The FX Movie
Sun, October 7, 2007 - 8:11 PMWell, real lightsaber duels are made with prop swords that actually contact. Fighting with yourself makes this harder.
It occurs to me that if you stood a pole in the middle of the shot, that you could always hit specific spots on the pole with your sword (from both angles) to create a contact point for hits. Use the same three contact points in sequence as Character A, then shoot Character B hitting the same points with the same order and timing. Blend the shots and matte out the pole. The two characters' swords will be hitting the pole, producing realistic contact, but it will look like the swords are hitting each other. -
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Re: The FX Movie
Mon, October 8, 2007 - 3:51 PMThe pole idea is good idea on how to get the two sabers to hit at the same point. The only problem I see is being able to time the hits from Character A and the hits from Character B to be exactly the same. (because even if the hits are a half-second off sync, it will look weird that one saber will stop before the other makes contact)
Maybe, I could create an audio track that has beeps on when to swing the saber. I can play this audio during the two shoots and as soon as I hear the beep, I can swing the saber.
A fist fight would have been cool but also a little tricky to plan out. -
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Re: The FX Movie
Sat, October 13, 2007 - 3:02 PMThe pole idea is great. Remember to shoot a reference shot so you can remove the pole later.
You could try recording a balloons. Hold them in your hand and rub them together to make sounds like the light saber. Even that sound when the light sabers connect and drag along each others blade.
Although to a beat might be better. Something like japanese epic drum stuuff or the song to Ghosts In The Machine by Ryuchi Sakamoto (did I spell it right?).
Just a though... -
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Re: The FX Movie
Mon, October 15, 2007 - 11:02 AMI like the music-beat idea. Will definitely try it out.
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