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!
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!
