FMP: What have changed from the script in the Edit?

Edit Vs Script

The script for Break Free is very detailed and is extremely imaginative. One of the hardest challenges to have to face when creating Break Free is to get the writers imagination to play out on the screen. The issue was some of it was not able to work. Especially with the limitations that the Lego stop motion can have.We tried to do the best we could with it but because a lot of it didn't make any sense with the animation, I had to cut out a lot of the script going along and try to make sense from what I had. I think considering the time I had and what I had to do in that time, that being sync all the animations, finish off a couple of parts with the green screen live action, I create my own fire in after effects and working on another project, I have had to make some tricky decisions on what to cut out and keep it for it to make sense.

After I cut out the entire 3D animation, because I was left with very little time to work with it, I added in some of the clips of the narrator arriving home whilst the children were being chased. I thought it might work as a 'meanwhile' type of cut. The glows could have been done better, but it was to show that the portal had opened up from the book. we didn't get time to have them jump through a portal since that part of the green screen didn't get finished due to actor availability. So that was the best way around it that I had found.

FMP: Title Sequence for Mercy

This is just a test sample to see the idea of what I was going to do for the degree show. If I had more time, I would have created this fully for the deadline. However, since I have not got that time, I had exported a short clip to show how I am going to do each character introduction.

Using after effects and some free to use ink splats, I used an inverted matte to make the images bleed out, slightly symbolising blood splat. Along with the name animatedly moving, using 3D Layers and roatation, so it didn't look too static and boring.

The colours were decided by both myself and the director. It look gritty and dirty, that we wanted. I just need to continue this with each character and maybe experiment with a few other effects and splatters.

FMP Issues with Wobbly Footage

In this video I was playing around with the wobbly footage that I had to see if I didn't have to use a still image. I have managed to use some tracking before, so I know I can do it. I had to use it for the green screened reporter scenes. Since the camera on set moves, I had to make the actor move with the camera. Therefore, I know it is do-able and within my abilities. For some reason, my guess is to do with the luma matte I had used, it did not want to track. I did ask for still footage but I was given it too late and had to get on with the main edit along with the other project I am working on.

Creating Pine Edge City (Matte Paint)

This post is to explain how I have done this, issues I have had, how I went around them and my thoughts on the final look. I attempted to record the screen to show the progress but since it kept crashing, I only have so much footage.

How did I create it?

I decided to use Adobe After Effects because it was professional and I was most comfortable with the program since I have used it previously. This city matte took my skills to the next level because I had to add buildings behind an existing building and make them look in place using colouring effects and getting the right perspective. John, the director and producer, of this project created the buildings in 3DS Max to add in.

(Will Insert Images Later)

To do this, I created the entire image black and white, using levels and curves, so that I could luma key out the background from the foreground. The main part of the image that we wanted to keep, is what is originally a fire station that we turn into the police station. Once I had created a luma matte and took out the background, I was able to create a fake sky that was key framed to move.

Issue That Came Along

In the beginning, I only had very wobbly footage that was followed up with 'can you just stabilise it?' creating more work for me. It needed to be still or very smooth movement that I was able to the track. I did try to make it stable but the program would crash with the amount of work and effects getting added. I ended up having to take a still and animating parts to move.

I was given new footage later after I had done a lot of work on the still image. However, the footage's framing was gaining too much thin tree branches to cut out/around.It was also extremely time consuming to keep having to restart a new matte paint when I had multiple edits to work on.

Existing After Effects City Matte Paints (Research)

After Effects us a useful tool to add in what is not there. In my minor, I learned this as a skill to use for my major so I didn't need so many tutorial but more influence and ideas. The image I am creating with Mercy is a gritty theme. I thought that I would look at different styles since it still could give myself some influence.

This video showed a breakdown of changes within a scene done with computer visual effects. I like the fact the minimal amounts of changes can make a big difference to what you are looking at. By adding some lights and futuristic video, it has changed the scene.

Instead of looking at something futuristic, I looked at something more fantasy make belief theme. This effects is done more for the background. To make the surrounding area look bigger than it is. This is what I will be applying to my own work. I want to give the illusion that there is more to what you see to create a fake city.

Mercy: City Landscape Research for Matte Painting

Before I get on with the Matte Paint, I have done some research into some city skylines in order to look at sizing and perspective. The overall look that the Director, John, has asked for, is for it to look gritty. John will be creating any of the buildings needed using 3DS Max professional modelling software.

Whilst looking at examples on the internet, I have taken note to the colour scheme and similarities within the photos. It has a lot of broken down gritty looks. The thoughts that came to mind were prominently some of the buildings that you see in the video game, Grand Theft Auto 5.

Although when I create this city, I will be mainly just adding some buildings into a background of a real building that is physically there. This is so that the location looks bigger and that we are actually in a large town/city. With them being in the background, I hope for them to look more realistic and less video game models. However, John will be creating those.

Creating the Portal for Break Free

This is not the final design but this is the basic idea of how I came to create the portal for break free.

In the video, you can see a speeded up presentation of using after effects to create a moving portal. I began by creating a solid and adding fractal noise to it. By holding the CTRL button and clicking on the stop watch for the fractal positioning, I can use the (time*NUMBER) to animate movement. Then I use a circular mask and feather the edges. From this point I use a lot off effects like 'twist. ripple and vector displacement'. This just helps to create the shape and movement of the portal. However, this is not the final design. The portal changes constantly.