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.

FMP: Green Screen Tests (Break Free)

Green Screen Tests for Break Free

Photographed by  Chloe Lowe

These tests were to have a bit of fun and practice with the lighting. The difference between these tests and other that I have done before, is that we have used a green flooring as well, to allow more movement and create a wide shot that can be green screened. This really helps when you want your actor to be walking in a completely make belief world. I was watching a tutorial on YouTube about Matte Painting with people within a scene and gave it ago myself.

I have not posted the final outcome on here and posted them into the hand in folder instead. This was because I used a real claims number at the time but it was not made to be shown further than tests. Therefore, I would rather not post it on this post to be safe.

However, I can explain what I did to get to that stage. I have lost some of the tests I had done with the catwalk but I have placed the original footage in here anyway. I had done this for multiple tests, including the one with an actor jumping through a portal.

Firstly, I masked around the area where the actor moved so their whole body was always in the shot but the lights and other studio surroundings had been cut out.

I then used the key light as I usually do, and played with the setting so that the background was completely gone. Usually to get the best result, I change my view screen to matte black and white. Then I make the whole of the foreground white and background black to separate the image much more clearly.

Then I add in the background and any extra lighting where I think it works best. Followed by any graphics I want to add on.

Here are a couple of original clips. They do contain swearing. However, they did turn on well in the edit suite.

This portal test was done using the same green screen set up as above.

Professional Studies: How Does IMDb Work?

As part of my professional studies research, I have researched into how IMDB works and how to be credited for your own work for an online presence.

Firstly, IMDB stands for, Internet Movie Data Base, giving you the vague idea of what can be found within the website.You are able to find any creditable movie and much information about the movie you are looking for. As for non-commercial use, the website is free to use. To sign up a paid membership, you can use the IMDb Pro Website for a monthly price of $20 or if you pay annually, $12.50 ($149.99 a year). A registration in order to rate movies and write reviews is completely free.

Although any member is able to change and add information, similar to wikipedia, the website has consistent checks to ensure it has as accurate information as possible. If you add information to the website, it doesn't become public until staff has processed and checked the information given.The IMDb site claims that their source of information includes on screen credits, press kits, official bios, autobiographies, and interviews.