I've read special effects can be costly. The script I'm working on is fairly low budget except for one fatal flaw... the character turns into a werewolf at the end of the movie and there seems to be no way to avoid it without ruining the script. Does anyone know how much something like this kind of thing would cost to include in amovie? A rough figure. I'm assuming this sort of thing is special effects (whether done onset or done during post-production). Am I right?
Special Effects Costs
- Thread starter tams
- Start date
you can pick up crepe hair and spirit gum for relatively cheap...and if you find a good costume shop (generally smaller ones), they'll show you how to use it correctly too. Time = Money...if you can spend time making something work yourself, you'll offset the cost it would take to have someone else do it.
A full face (or hand) fur treatment would take a couple of hours to do pretty well.
A full face (or hand) fur treatment would take a couple of hours to do pretty well.
First, I'll admit I don't know about prices. But you may want to give us more information so that those who DO know can help you better.
Depends on how you want to do it.
If the actor indicates he/she is about to go werewolf, the then camera cuts away and when it comes back, the actor is already done -- then you are just talking about the cost of a costume and makeup FX.
If you want to show the actor going through the physical transformation (like David Naughton in American Werewolf in London), that requires more intense and complex makeup FX in multiple stages.
If you think the transformation can be done using digital effects, then you need to consult with someone who knows CG effects.
If you can give a general idea of how much you want to show, you might get a more realistic response.
Depends on how you want to do it.
If the actor indicates he/she is about to go werewolf, the then camera cuts away and when it comes back, the actor is already done -- then you are just talking about the cost of a costume and makeup FX.
If you want to show the actor going through the physical transformation (like David Naughton in American Werewolf in London), that requires more intense and complex makeup FX in multiple stages.
If you think the transformation can be done using digital effects, then you need to consult with someone who knows CG effects.
If you can give a general idea of how much you want to show, you might get a more realistic response.
Thank you John. No, in my script I'm not interested in having the transformation shown as I think it would work against it in this case. For example, it would be mainly a scene in which the werewolf breaks into the home and tries to attack another character and of course the character has to fight it off. I'd say maybe five or so minutes of hide and seek footage in which the character tries to not get dead. If that's still too vague... let me know please. Thanks for your input!
I spend many years in make-up efx and I've done several werewolf
costumes and transformations. Unfortunately the issue of costs is
just to broad to even give you a ballpark figure.
How many screen minutes isn't the issue - the costs all come from
how elaborate the costume is. A full body werewolf suite to be worn
by an actor could run into several thousands of dollars. If the mouth,
ears, lips, eyes, lids, nose are going to move then there are mechanical
costs.
As I recall the least expensive costume I did includes 8 different sections
and was in the neighborhood of $8,000 - not including labor. But I
worked on on that had a budget of $200,000. What you will need to do
to get a realistic number is to have the script looked at by a special efx
person who will break down the the shots with you to know exactly
what you expect from the costume and make up.
As knightly said, you could buy an off the shelf mask for a few hundred
and make that work.
costumes and transformations. Unfortunately the issue of costs is
just to broad to even give you a ballpark figure.
How many screen minutes isn't the issue - the costs all come from
how elaborate the costume is. A full body werewolf suite to be worn
by an actor could run into several thousands of dollars. If the mouth,
ears, lips, eyes, lids, nose are going to move then there are mechanical
costs.
As I recall the least expensive costume I did includes 8 different sections
and was in the neighborhood of $8,000 - not including labor. But I
worked on on that had a budget of $200,000. What you will need to do
to get a realistic number is to have the script looked at by a special efx
person who will break down the the shots with you to know exactly
what you expect from the costume and make up.
As knightly said, you could buy an off the shelf mask for a few hundred
and make that work.
The trick with any budget vs effect issue is to think laterally.
Basically figure out what effect you're trying to have on the audience... then look at your resources... and then find a really cool and unique way of solving the problem.
The problem I've always had with werewolf costumes is they always look like a guy in a suit... for me that breaks the illusion of the movie. So, you real problem isn't "how do I get a great, cheap werewolf suit" but instead, hopw do I create the illusion of a werewolf for the audience.
Now, I also remember being on set, shooting a scene where a guy is beaten up... whilst we were shooting it the boom op noticed that the scene was throwing an incredible shadow... so, we shot the shadow. In the end, the combination of that shadow and the sound created a much more intense scene than showing the actual beating.
I'm not saying shadows are the answer... what I'm saying is budget restrictions force us to become creative and also to focus on being visually original.
Basically figure out what effect you're trying to have on the audience... then look at your resources... and then find a really cool and unique way of solving the problem.
The problem I've always had with werewolf costumes is they always look like a guy in a suit... for me that breaks the illusion of the movie. So, you real problem isn't "how do I get a great, cheap werewolf suit" but instead, hopw do I create the illusion of a werewolf for the audience.
Now, I also remember being on set, shooting a scene where a guy is beaten up... whilst we were shooting it the boom op noticed that the scene was throwing an incredible shadow... so, we shot the shadow. In the end, the combination of that shadow and the sound created a much more intense scene than showing the actual beating.
I'm not saying shadows are the answer... what I'm saying is budget restrictions force us to become creative and also to focus on being visually original.
Wow, thanks Directorik and Clive. Both of those answers were profoundly helpful. I really like the shadow idea actually. I'm going to keep it in mind in case that works. I have another idea I think might be good as well. Everyone's answers here were extremely helpful. Thank you so much.
I really like the shadow idea actually. I'm going to keep it in mind in case that works. I have another idea I think might be good as well. Everyone's answers here were extremely helpful. Thank you so much.
Hello,
I am a newbie to the Special Effects world. I have some experience with amature home vide, but I'm trying to break into the Indie industry. Anyway, the kind of work you are looking for can be done quickly by a more experienced SFX artist than I, but it will cost you a pretty penny. The effect is created frame by frame, so it's very time consuming. Since I'm a newbie and am looking into getting some experience with film, I might be interested in helping you out. Can you send me a pic of the kind of werewolf? I would need this to "matte" the keyframes. Also, how quick do you need this? If you need this right away, I won't be able to help you, but I do have some ideas, and I might be able to figure out how to do this in about a week and ahalf. Funny thing about SFX is that although a clip may only take 30 seconds, depending on the complexity of graphics, that 30 second clip could take about 3 days to get it right! I've spent over 3 hours on a 15 second clip with Light sabers and explosions..... anyway, this sounds like something I'd like to try if you haven't figured out a solution yet.
Last edited:
Hi EvsFX08,
I'm sorry for the delay. I ended up forgetting about the post and didn't have it fixed to get emailed when there was more comments. I actually am still working on the script. I actually was tossing up the idea of having a half-wolf kind of werewolf like done in the movie 'Wolf' with Jack Nicholson. I always thought half-wolves were creepier when done right. Am I right it takes mainly make-up for that? James Spader always freaked me out when I saw him. I still get chills looking at him. I always thought with a tad bit more effort that style was really effective.
Personally, I love the old-fashioned style they have going on in this movie. But I'm not interested in my movie having that style. I just like how they did it in that movie.
Here's a link at Youtube on the clip at the end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8IxjzmgIlw&feature=related
What do you think about the half-wolf/wolf man idea?
Last edited:
Hey, now it's my turn to apologize for the delay. I didn't think anyone checked my posts. LOL! Anyway, as far as the facial wolf features, I'd say that was done by make-up artists, but where James Spader turned back into a human (after he was killed), that's actually a simple masking processs that can be done with After Effects. Real Simple stuff.
Check out CreativeCow.net or videocopilot.com. you will find similar tutorials on how to do this type of effect. Look specifically at videocopilot.com's Healing Tutorial, I think that will point you in the right direction. These guys are the pros and have easy to follow tutorials.Hey, not a problem at all.