editing Floating Objects: Special FX

[shoegazer]

Hey all! I've been trying to branch out more into special effects and after watching this short film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ryp6En7trc I am extremely interested for ideas on how to make objects float so flawlessly. For instance at 1:10 in the film. Any suggestions??

 

[_Rok_]

For the paper shots, it looks like the paper's hanging on Magician's Invisible Thread, shot at high-speed (slo-mo).

 

[JakeSully]

Most of the objects must be either 3D objects, or animated stills.

 

[PaulGriffith]

That was stinkin awesome!

 

[jmoschner]

it's almost all 3d rendered. the exact how depends on the program(s) you are using.

The effects can be done with a combo of wires, green screen, composting and roto.

 

[MissingProductions]

Look up freddiew on youtube, he has a tutorial on how to do that.



Holy crap that film was amazing x_X that kiss was so powerful.

 

[eraserhead_in_time]

Everything is either rendered 3d object or 2d objects moving in 3d space... American flag could have been a simple prop..

Liked the film though the concept didnt make a whole lot of sense. And isnt that Goku from fuckall dbz movie?

 

[_Rok_]

2D cut-out's? Perhaps. But, really I don't see much need build/paint/animate actual CG models in these shots.

Many of those object are, or should be, in-camera effects: Wired (invisible, or painted out), shot as a high-speed practical element and comped in.

 

[eraserhead_in_time]

i think showing levitating objects and objects floating in zero gravity are two diff effects..
z-gravity objects movement seems easier to mimick in 3d imho.. much more control over the look

 

[_Rok_]

You make a good point about having the most control with CG elements, but it's overkill with such an unsophisticated (yet wonderfully realized) series of shots. The stuff looks great, because of it's simplicity and grace.

Aside from the composites in roof sequence (the least realistic part) all the rest can captured practically with wires, careful framing (like the basket ball), and locked-off shots (easy wire removal). A number of shots are also playing in reverse. These are savvy filmmakers, not computers.

If you want photo-real, and need it on time & budget, shoot it live.

 

[Anim8]

A lot of those shots are just simple composites. The stuff outside is pretty obvious, the amount of blur and perspective is slightly off and there is some aliasing on the object edges. Some of the others are shot in slo-mo with the footage flipped upside down, or with the camera moving as part of the set (like a gimbal shot). I didnt see many if any shots that were 3D... the youtube compression makes it hard to tell. I'm with Rok on this, its nearly all in-camera effects.