Rayw isn't far off.
My suggestion is basically a simple transition using articulated roto. Rotoscoping? Old-fashioned roto? Yes, and here's why:
- It's easy to understand and accessible to the beginning compositor.
- You can view the results, often in real-time.
- Virtually all comp applications have a roto function.
- Roto is the foundation of most all composites.
- You can start rough, do a test comp and if it works, you can go back into the file and add more detail to the roto splines.
* DISCLAIMER: I created my examples in Nuke, and I have zero experience in After Effects.
Shoot all your plates (both rooms, an "interactive lighting pass", person over green screen) locked off, with matching camera height, tilt, lens and placement within each room.
Next, you will need to roto the elements in your first room plate, and animate the matte over time to create a 3D wipe effect. It's easier than you think. The examples I created took about an hour and I think would be good enough to finish a shot. I've uploaded a JPG of some types of layers to consider.
I also have animated Quicktimes of these examples but I can't seem to figure out how to link to my web server properly. The files open in my browser as binary code. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?
I can email them to you if you wish.
The roto layers provide you with mattes you can use to reveal your second plate. If you blur the mattes you can bring through any filters, edge transition effects, or light rays you like (just like the video game reference).
The interactive lighting pass would be a nice sweetener. It would help blend the CG glow effect into the plate. What I would do is after shooting your plate, leave the camera right where it is (do not move it, even a bit). Wait until after dark and turn off all the lights in the room. Take a super bright lamp with an exposed bulb. Block the side that faces directly toward the camera. Then walk the light through the room in the direction of the transition effect. Screening this element into your composite will create moving shadows which rake along the walls; implying the glow effect is lighting up the room as it moves through it. - You might consider grabbing some extra passes where you walk along the effect direction, holding the bulb 2ft from each wall. You'd have to do each wall separately, but you'd get even more dramatic shadows.
Come to think of it, an interactive light would be a good idea for the green screen element of the person.