effects for indie and web media

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rhymeswithrunt

so I'm in the Development phase of making an action series based around magic and whatnot (supernatural/buffy style format).

difference is I want to do it online; take a 30 minute show and post 1 act on mon/wed/fri. it'll cost more than other blip, revver, and youtube shows but I figure cpm is cpm, so release episode trailers the day prior, release commentary tracks (meaning re-uploading the video with added audio) from actors and crew. I an idea to make a "character vlog" every week, where one of the characters would do a video journal about the things going on in the story; if it get's a fan-base maybe a creator's vlog where we ask the fans what direction they want the story to go (viewer interaction being the biggest difference between web and traditional distrobution). I figure all these things will allow us to cheaply raise CPM numbers to cover higher production costs on our chief shows.

anyway, my biggest concern is VFX. I have NO idea what it would cost, I have a friend in school at UNLV for motion graphics who said 20-45k for a 30 minute episode; even though it has at most, 3 or 4 effect scenes (lightning, character who looks human "shifts" to something else)! I figured the idea was dead, but then I see some kids making videos of teleportation; just some kid!

surely 2 or 3 such kids could manage a few fireballs, cat eyes, and maybe the occasional magic shield in exchange for 5-10% profits or something.


anyway, anyone else have experience trying to fit effects into a non-budget?
 
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You're right -- CPM is CPM. But what the heck does College Preperatory Mathematics have to do with this conversation?

I respectfully disagree with the advice that you learn to do it yourself. Unless you want to make a career as a computer graphics artist, or whatever.

Find someone who can do it for you. Because every minute you spend learning how to do crappy graphics that someone else could do better, you are taking away from time that should be spent learning and practicing the craft that you truly want to be good at.

What do you want to be? A director? Then learn how to be a director. You want to be a DP? Then learn how to be a DP. Unless you want to do VFX, I say look to a college campus to find someone who is willing to do it for you.
 
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Cracker Funk said:
I respectfully disagree with the advice that you learn to do it yourself.
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I would respectfully disagree with advice on not learning how to do it oneself. ;)

How can one fully appreciate the value of someone else's labour, if not by standing in their shoes for a short period of time?

In my opinion, all filmmakers should toy with all aspects of the process. Not necessarily by looking to become an expert in any one field, but at least experiencing what each field can offer to the production.

How can one ask for others to excel, when not having an understanding of what to ask for?
 
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Zensteve said:
I would respectfully disagree with advice on not learning how to do it oneself. ;)

How can one fully appreciate the value of someone else's labour, if not by standing in their shoes for a short period of time?

In my opinion, all filmmakers should toy with all aspects of the process. Not necessarily by looking to become an expert in any one field, but at least experiencing what each field can offer to the production.

How can one ask for others to excel, when not having an understanding of what to ask for?
Click to expand...

I will accept your usage of the words "short period of time", so I can respectfully agree with most of your argument. That's totally cool, and probably a good idea, to dabble in all sorts of areas, if only for a short period of time.

But to really get good at something takes a great deal of time. I'm just saying if you're going to focus a great deal of time on something, make sure it's what you want to do.

When in Rome. :)
 
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My advice was a specific response to the implication that the cost of an fx artist was too high. Combating that cost is done by DIY and tons of free time. On the should know part, I personally think everyone should strive for knowledge of all sorts - so there's no reason not to have a working understanding of the FX process -- or botulism treatments -- or nuclear physics -- or eastern philosophies -- or the effects of the heisenberg principle on your 2k fresnel with the 1/2 CTB and 1/4 scrim.
 
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thanks for the info everyone, I figure i can find a few amateur guys with VFX knowledge and then work with them to get it done.

how much would you pay an amateur (if you were gonna), like someone still in school for motion graphics?
 
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I've been told my prices are really low too :) I'm considering upping it to $500/day (since I graduated with my film degree), but I'm comfy at $300, so I don't currently see a reason to do so.
 
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I maybe able to help you out.. You can see my stuff here: www.pruittfx.com

I would suggest you learn at least the workflow for a VFX pipeline and technical specs for file in/out. This will stomp out a lot of headaches later on.
You should have a look at Particle Illusion for the FX youre describing.
 
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