Alright! Just so you don't think I haven't been working hard, here is a quick test scene of the new Alley set I've created. It's far from finished but I thought I'd post it anyway.
I've got the model built and started shading but I need to make the shadows and set look more realistic. Once I figure out how to do that it will be on to building the rest of the sets. Doing a quick count, I still have to make Thomas' bedroom, the warehouse and the break/server room in the warehouse, an abandoned building, the top of one of the towers on the Brooklyn Bridge and the Tuberculosis Building on the abandoned North Brother Island in the East River.
That's a lot of sets to build so it looks like I'm gonna be in pre-production for at least another month. It's a good think this isn't an actual Hollywood movie because I would have been fired by now. Fortunately, I know the producers so I think my job is safe. :)
Once I figure out how to make this look more realistic I'll post it. Until then, here's what I got so far.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Looks Like I'm Back in Pre-Production!
I know, I know. I thought I was done with pre-production. I even reported that I was, but as you can see, the blog has been a little slow with updates this last week and a half. The reason, as you may have guessed from the title of this entry, is that it looks as thought I hadn't figured things out as well as I thought.
So, what's the problem? Surprisingly, it's not editing. The problem is the one things I thought I'd figured out very early in pre-production...BACKGROUNDS!
I spent many hours working on backgrounds during pre-prod. I did one for the warehouse and one for the alley and I used Photoshop to create some interesting locations. I did it in such a manner that I thought it would be easy to continue in that manner, just using Photoshop to create every background I would need. In theory, that would work pretty well, as long as there wasn't any camera movement during the scene!
Sure, I could do that, but it would make for a very boring movie visually speaking. Think about it. What movie would look good, even low budget fan made films, if every shot was of the same background from the same distance? Answer, none. It would look like you were watching a play. Now, that works if you're in the audience, but if you're viewing it from the video you made from your camcorder it sucks! There aren't any close ups, there aren't any shots from different angles, it's all just one, boring, ill laid out scene!
So, that's not a problem (I thought to myself). I'm pretty good with Photoshop. I can manipulate the image in ways that will allow me to give the movie some depth. Yeah, sure, if I wanted to go through the hassle of creating a separate backdrop for every shot! To put it simply, there's no way I have that kind of time. As I've said before, I'm not ILM.
So, what's the solution? Simply put...3D models. Ahhhh, now you see my other dilemma. I have to build 3D models of every location in the movie and although I'm no slouch with Photoshop, I'm completely new to the artistry that goes into creating 3D models. So, much like when I started toying with video editing software and special effects, I've been trying out the world of 3D imaging software.
The truth is, there is a lot of modeling software out there. Some very expensive ones that would take weeks to learn, not to mention master, and ones that are pretty simple and very cheap. So which one will it be for this movie? Right now, I'm thinking Google Sketchup. The price is right (it's free) and it is a pretty good program that puts out some pretty good images. Below are some different angles of the alley the animals live in at the beginning of the film. Now, this model isn't even close to done and it has taken me about six hours (over the last week) just to do this. Once I am done with the model I will manipulate it into the image I want for the background and then I will use Photoshop to touch it up. All in all, a very intensive plan, but the only one I can come up with that will work for what I am doing.
So, It looks like I'll be back in pre-prod until I get the backgrounds created that I need. The good news is that is only about 6 sets to build. The bad news is that those sets are pretty complex. That said, I think I'll build the sets in pre-prod and do the touch up with Photoshop in post-prod. That way I can keep the movie going.
So, in the meantime, check out the set shots for the alley in it's very early stages. Click on each image to open a higher quality pic. I will update as new sets are built and then it will be back into production.
Wish me luck!
So, what's the problem? Surprisingly, it's not editing. The problem is the one things I thought I'd figured out very early in pre-production...BACKGROUNDS!
I spent many hours working on backgrounds during pre-prod. I did one for the warehouse and one for the alley and I used Photoshop to create some interesting locations. I did it in such a manner that I thought it would be easy to continue in that manner, just using Photoshop to create every background I would need. In theory, that would work pretty well, as long as there wasn't any camera movement during the scene!
Sure, I could do that, but it would make for a very boring movie visually speaking. Think about it. What movie would look good, even low budget fan made films, if every shot was of the same background from the same distance? Answer, none. It would look like you were watching a play. Now, that works if you're in the audience, but if you're viewing it from the video you made from your camcorder it sucks! There aren't any close ups, there aren't any shots from different angles, it's all just one, boring, ill laid out scene!
So, that's not a problem (I thought to myself). I'm pretty good with Photoshop. I can manipulate the image in ways that will allow me to give the movie some depth. Yeah, sure, if I wanted to go through the hassle of creating a separate backdrop for every shot! To put it simply, there's no way I have that kind of time. As I've said before, I'm not ILM.
So, what's the solution? Simply put...3D models. Ahhhh, now you see my other dilemma. I have to build 3D models of every location in the movie and although I'm no slouch with Photoshop, I'm completely new to the artistry that goes into creating 3D models. So, much like when I started toying with video editing software and special effects, I've been trying out the world of 3D imaging software.
The truth is, there is a lot of modeling software out there. Some very expensive ones that would take weeks to learn, not to mention master, and ones that are pretty simple and very cheap. So which one will it be for this movie? Right now, I'm thinking Google Sketchup. The price is right (it's free) and it is a pretty good program that puts out some pretty good images. Below are some different angles of the alley the animals live in at the beginning of the film. Now, this model isn't even close to done and it has taken me about six hours (over the last week) just to do this. Once I am done with the model I will manipulate it into the image I want for the background and then I will use Photoshop to touch it up. All in all, a very intensive plan, but the only one I can come up with that will work for what I am doing.
So, It looks like I'll be back in pre-prod until I get the backgrounds created that I need. The good news is that is only about 6 sets to build. The bad news is that those sets are pretty complex. That said, I think I'll build the sets in pre-prod and do the touch up with Photoshop in post-prod. That way I can keep the movie going.
So, in the meantime, check out the set shots for the alley in it's very early stages. Click on each image to open a higher quality pic. I will update as new sets are built and then it will be back into production.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Opening Credits Done with AE!
All I can say is I love After Effects!
In order to get more familiar with the product I decided to re-do the opening credits of the movie with the new software.
With that, behold! The opening credits anew! The image clarity is better and there is even more space footage with a faster flyby effect. In truth, this is probably the only other test I can re-do. Because I used so many different blue screens in my early tests some of them are so poorly lit that even AE can't make them any better than the original tests.
Not to worry though. When it comes time to edit the movie the quality will be on par with these last few tests.
Enjoy!
In order to get more familiar with the product I decided to re-do the opening credits of the movie with the new software.
With that, behold! The opening credits anew! The image clarity is better and there is even more space footage with a faster flyby effect. In truth, this is probably the only other test I can re-do. Because I used so many different blue screens in my early tests some of them are so poorly lit that even AE can't make them any better than the original tests.
Not to worry though. When it comes time to edit the movie the quality will be on par with these last few tests.
Enjoy!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Jacko Test with Sound!
Well, I didn't have much time to do anything on the movie this weekend, so I decided to add sound to the Jacko Test I did last week.
I don't know how much time I'm going to have to work on the movie this month. October is a pretty big month in my house. We are Halloween freaks and I'm going to be busy the next couple of weeks building new additions to our annual Halloween party.
That said, I'm still going to use as much of my free time as possible working on the movie. I'll try to make updates as much as possible.
Until then, enjoy Jacko with sound! Don't worry. I'm not doing the voice in the movie. I was just the only person around to read the line when I made the test.
I don't know how much time I'm going to have to work on the movie this month. October is a pretty big month in my house. We are Halloween freaks and I'm going to be busy the next couple of weeks building new additions to our annual Halloween party.
That said, I'm still going to use as much of my free time as possible working on the movie. I'll try to make updates as much as possible.
Until then, enjoy Jacko with sound! Don't worry. I'm not doing the voice in the movie. I was just the only person around to read the line when I made the test.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Jacko Test!
I know, I said I couldn't do a Jacko test, but I did find a way to do it and I'm glad I did!
I got a chance to play with After Effects and it is simply the best! I like the free editing software I was using (Wax 2.0) but After Effects just has so much more to offer and since I'm already familiar with Photoshop it was relatively easy to pick up.
One thing AE offers that I just didn't know how to do with Wax is the ability to key multiple colors from one layer (so even if the blue screen lighting isn't even I can still get a pretty good removal of the blue) as well as add shadows! That was something sorely missing from previous tests.
Now, the test below isn't perfect, but I think it is one of the best tests I've done to date. There isn't any sound, but that's because I haven't added it yet. Let's see what you think.
Enjoy!
I got a chance to play with After Effects and it is simply the best! I like the free editing software I was using (Wax 2.0) but After Effects just has so much more to offer and since I'm already familiar with Photoshop it was relatively easy to pick up.
One thing AE offers that I just didn't know how to do with Wax is the ability to key multiple colors from one layer (so even if the blue screen lighting isn't even I can still get a pretty good removal of the blue) as well as add shadows! That was something sorely missing from previous tests.
Now, the test below isn't perfect, but I think it is one of the best tests I've done to date. There isn't any sound, but that's because I haven't added it yet. Let's see what you think.
Enjoy!
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