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CDM 324
Creating Composited Video
CDM 324
Task 1.1: To give an analysis of one film scene and one tv scene that uses composited video effects and breakdown how it was achieved from start to finish.
Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi
Wandavison
Episodes 1-9
In this scene and throughout the early Star Wars films they use a technique which isn’t used in modern film as much as it was decades ago which is Glass Shot. Developed for the first time in 1907 for a film called Missions of California. The technique is where an artist will paint portions of the scene on a sheet of glass in-front of the camera and the actors would be displayed behind. In one of the opening shots they paint the stormtroopers and the background. The only portion of the scene at one point is the few actors they had on set moving so it doesn’t look completely static. This shot is also used in combination with miniatures with a blue screen towards the start when lots of ships are flying. You can tell that some of the ships were filmed using a dolly and a blue screen. Miniatures are tiny models held still on a blue screen and a camera moves around them. They have a blue screen background so they can key it out in post production. This is what is used here and they replaced the backdrop with a glass shot which covers the whole screen. This is the same technique as the used in the other glass shot getting the actors in front of a blue screen and keying it out. Then after using layers to put the miniatures or people on the top layer.
Wandavison usied different techniques to most marvel shows and movies. This series was marvels first attempt for there own series which wasn’t in collaboration.
They chose to use a lot of real life sets and not Miniatures. The main “town” is a real set called Golden oak ranch which is a fixed set used in lots of projects. by using a set and not a green screen it makes it a lot easier for the actors during a shoot to be used to the environment they are in. This allows the actors to perform better during the shoot as it is easier to know the surroundings.
Lots of the shots however were filmed on wires when the characters were flying. This meant they needed to be edited out in post production editing. They would of had to do this by taking the frame with and without characters so they would have background to work with. They could of replaced the wires with the alternate shot they took another time so it doesn't look out of place. Another technique some filmmakers use is paintint. This is where they can CGI the background to cut wires out. Using wires was a massive part of production with a lot of characters being able to fly.
However the final fight scene was filmed in front of a green screen and the background was produced using CGI. The characters were masked out from the background and wires and placed in an alternative background. The background was created using footage and CGI effects. They needed this to added the "powers" of the characters while fighting. Another example of CGI used in the series is the “Sword HQ” which uses a NASA launch site and edited to add buildings. The buildings were CGI edited however the intior is a real balding in Atlanta. When leaving the Sword HQ in episode 8 she leaves through a car park. This was filmed at a high school in Georgia as it fitted perfectly however the background was a school so they used an effect called Rotoscoping. This is an effect which is very long to complete and is given to entry level positions. However it is one of the most important VFX jobs. They have to try and draw an exact line around objects so they can key outage background. However due to not using a green screen the have to capture all the detail including each single hair frame by frame. In the end it can provide a perfect matte.
Green Screen Workshops
We used the adobe editing software After effects to add the effects. The first effect we used was lightly which helped edit out the background. To do this we added lightly 1.2 and changed the eyedrops colour to the green which we used. From there we added the background we found on a copyright free site and placed it below the character. After we have our result we can see that the character is slightly transparent in places. To edit this we changed the screen matte. We edited the white and black slightly to create a fully black and white picture. We lowered the white and raised the black. After this we have a finished result however we wanted to add a tint to colour correct the shot.
In Small Groups we worked on a green screen workshop to create shots which we could key the background out of. We used lights on the side of the green screen to light the background to create a shadowless light. To do this we used defusers on the side to create a softer light. We lit the subject using a single 1x1 panel from the side. We placed the subject away from the green screen to have a shadow. This presented some challenges in filming as we couldn't film the feet however we made it work during post production. We used a Sony A600 with a Tripod.
Minitures
Using miniatures was my favourite
composition to complete using after effects. We used a blue screen and filmed the space craft which was being held my a pole with lights either side. We used a dolly to move slowly though the shot and we sped it up using after effects. We used keying, as well as masks for this project.
3d Text
Using camera tracking settings within after effects I have created an effect which makes text stay still within an image. This can be done using text, solids or a combination together. This was my first attempt of tracking camera in after effects. In the future I am hoping to be able to create large 3D text over bridges and hanging above rivers so I can make my drone shots look amazing.
Screen Replacement
In after effects I have replaced a laptop screen with a new image. The laptop was showing a solid green background which was easy to key out using key light. Over the top we can track the object which is the corners of the laptop screen and replace the image using a new picture and linking the tracking. This was perfect until saving where for an unknown reason it changed to a vertical version.
Tracking
In after effects we used the track object tool to be able to track a phone while moving. We selected the camera bump of the phone as it was a unique point in the phone. We tired to track corners and the apple logo however the camera bump works the best. We then scaled the picture in towards the 130% mark as the corners were now cut due to the camera staying in the middle.
Object Tracking
Using object tracking in Adobe after effects I managed to recreate a bullet wound to look like someone has shot a person. We used a yellow sticky note to show where we would want the effect to take place. In after effects we used object tracking and null objects to attached a wound we found on a non copyright stock image site. Using masks around the bullet wound as well as feathering it.
Matte Painting
In after effects I put all my skills together to create this short scene. Using matte painting I added a castle in the background of the shot. I cut out the castle image in photoshop then added it into after effects. Tracking the camera movement allowed me to keep it into a single place. I used colour correction to merge the image into the landscape so it doesn't look out of place.
Planning
Moodboard
Mindmap
My plan is to film someone in-front of a green screen on earth. Then they are going to be beamed up with a blue laser onto a mother ship where a hologram meets them. They then shot a laser and disintegrate them.
Final Shots
Compositing Effects
Glow - shot 2
I used the glow effects for certain layers which had individual objects on to create a interesting effect. The screenshot shows the effect I decided to use on the laser which was created out of a solid and then moved using 3d layer. I increased the radius to a high number so the laser looks like it is a bolt and not a rectangle. I also used this with motion blur so the objects looks like it is moving quicker.
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Tint - shot 2
I used a tint in this screenshot from the hologram I created. This allowed me to tint the shot for the subject to have a contrast between light and dark blue so they look more like an alien being instead of a human. This also had an effect on there skin and clothing. I chose the amount as 38 so it is not too intense.
Turbulent Displace - Shot 1
This effect is one of many I used to create the teleportation effect of Enzo at the start of shot 2. This effect allowed to use a pattern with distortion. I lowered the amount slightly so it is slightly transparent.
Keylight - shot 1/2
Keylight was the main effect I used to help key out my green screen. Keylight works by selecting the colour using the eye drop and to enhance the screen matte I edited the clip white and black to make thew shot clear between the backdrop and the subject.
Curves - shot 1/2
I used curves in both my shots to help enhance the lighting to add colour and create white balance to match the environment I was trying to shoot in. As we filmed on green screen I was limited by lighting but with curves I could edit them to help my creativity.
CC Ball Action - shot 1
I used CC ball action to create 3D particles around the outline the body shape to create a portal effect with blue and red lines opening. I scattered the lines apart slightly so you could still see the body shape but not as a solid.
Evaluation
I am extremely happy on how I managed to execute my shots and edit them with special effects to how I wanted to make them look.
With my first composted shot I used a series of techniques to make it look like Enzo was walking through a portal opening such as a timetravel jump. I did independent research on how to complete this shot which I took inspiration from star trek. I edited the shot which was taken on a green screen and then keyed out in after effects. One of the first actions I took was to add colour correction against the background as well as the colour scheme I wanted. Due to the lighting on shoot the subject was over lit with warm light in places. To edit this we used curves and the tint tool to help correct the colour and add a blue effect to the clothing and skin to make it look like they are from another world which is the name of the project. Towards the end of the shot I use a masked out solid to help recreate a light turning on from above. I edited the transparency in this to make it look like a strong light and not a solid so we could still see the subject. I used the position tool to move the light as the subject looks up into the air. Then I used the generate a beam tool to help make the subject disappear against the fade out tool. This alongside some added white colour using the curves tool makes the shot look complete and perfect.
In my 2nd composition I had the idea to create a hologram using the transparency tool along with other effects. Using independent research I decided one of the main tools I would use is the warp wave effect where you can separate the body to make it wavy and moving. I used curves for this like in shot 1 and put the blue to the maximum point possible. This allowed it to look like it was being projected or animated. This was the exact effect I was hoping to achieve. I used my skills I learnt editing miniatures to help create a laser coming out the end of a remote control to hit the subject and used the scatter tool to disintegrate them like from the movie Avengers endgame. This effect looks great and was very simple to achieve it just needed fine tuning. I used a lens flare on a black solid and blend modes to create a light at the end of the remote control when the laser was fired. This makes it look like a deadly weapon was fired.
Overall I am extremely happy and my shots well exceeded my expectations. I am looking forward to doing more specialist projects in the future in after effects and photoshop.
Action Plan
