CGI Workflow Newbie

[Hemmers]

Hey,
So, I've been making bits of short films, learning the trade mostly for fun (I bought a Canon 550D for photography and have ended up playing with the video functionality). All relatively straightforward stuff just camera and editor (FCPX. Don't judge me ). I'm looking to introduce elements of CGI though, and am trying to work out where one software package starts and another ends to understand how CGI meshes into live-action footage (and the grey bits where I could do it in a variety of ways!).

By way of example, take this promo video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtRhBJaSUU4
Everything up to about 0:55 is relatively straightforward in principle. Purely live action, with post-production colouration on it.

However, I'm then trying to work out what comes from where.
The sparks/explosion coming out the barrel would then seem to be easy enough to add in Motion/After Effects using 3rd party effects packages. It's the bullet that intrigues me.

I guess if you had a clip for the bullet you could composite it in using Motion/AE. Of course you would have to create the clip first (in something like Blender?) and make sure your virtual camera motion matches that from your real-world footage.

Or would it be easier to edit the video together first, then import it into Blender (which I understand can be used for as a compositor to layer digital assets onto live action footage?).

So, edit and merge it all in the CG software, or develop the assets separately and bring them together in the composite/edit process?

You may notice I'm a total newbie when it comes to CGI (and only marginally less of a newbie when it comes to film making in general). As I say, I've mostly used FCPX, with a bit of Motion 5 for some 2D composites. I mention Blender because wikipedia tells me the price is right, but I have no idea whether that's the best way in or not - edumacate me! Thanks!

 

[ChimpPhobiaFilms]

Hello new dude

I'm not very experienced in this field, but you would save you time (and possibly money) to get a CGI artist.

Good luck!

 

[Hemmers]

Thanks
My inspiration for doing it myself was that I was looking to do some no-budget bits for a local amateur sports team and it'd be a lot easier to do small repetitive bits myself (like adding event names/titles to the standard club logo), definitely not looking to build a virtual Narnia!
You're probably right though that it's easier to nose around and see if I can find a local CGI artist to compile those initial assets as a one-off.

 

[Jooble]

What you describe as your aims (adding titles on footage) are more of a 2d job, which can be done easily in after effects. If you want to do more colpicated stuff and add 3d thats cool but be aware its alot more complicated from this point as there are many steps from modeling, tracking, texturing etc to something like after effects where you composite the 3d into the footage. If you know nothing about VFX, start smaller with the 2d side as the learning curve is alot easier. If you want to move to 3d blender is a good way to go as its free and generally if you want to move on to maya or something you can.

The video you showed is from a video co pilot tutorial called bullet found here:

https://www.videocopilot.net/products/the_bullet/

Its basically footage of someone shooting, then taking some photos on set panning the camera, joining the footage and photos together to make a 'large panorama' but putting a post camera pan in then adding a 3d bullet.

If you want blender info blender cookie is most likley the best place to start:

http://cgcookie.com/blender/