FOMF Production Diary

First significant zombie lair scene.  Lots of interesting complications, and had to re-render a couple of older effects to catch up with what I’m doing now, but the effect is, so far, very nice.  It’s surreal and weird.

I couldn’t quite get exactly the effect I wanted, which was more… steamy… but this is looking very nice anyway.

This’ll probably be the “official” effect for this location.

The house ALWAYS wins when you're brought this deep into an Undead lair...

Okay, got a Zombie-Motion effect I’m actually pretty happy with. First integration went fantastically.

There will be movement. Thus say I.

Here’s hoping whoever does the sound design can get the audio effect I need.

Current time: 10:31.

Maybe going downstairs -- not such a good idea.

Finished the effects for the entire rooftop sequence. Mostly rain effects, and trying to keep track of where the rain was coming down depending on the camera angle. Probably missed a few, but oh well.

Built a nice minor explosive effect, though, of which I am somewhat proud. Went from a “Well, I hope I think of something” moment to a “Hey, that fits just perfectly right in there” moment, which is a good jump to make.

Still gotta drop this bundle of effects (13 different scenes) into the main timeline, but all things considered, I’m pretty happy with what’s going on so far.

Next comes one of the biggies — Zombie Motion&trade. I’m going to have to figure that out one way or another — might as well be now, and that way, I can track my progress in a more-or-less linear fashion.

Yep, puttin’ in rain effects.  It’s not quite as bad as putting in bullet effects, but still, it’s pretty tedious.

Am also doing some neat tricks with a little camera shaking here and there. Surprisingly effective!

Think I did about a dozen effects shots today.

The three new effects sequences fit right in.  I’m very happy with them.

Have exported the remaining exteriors in the first sequence.  If I do this right, then I hope my next session will complete the initial exterior shots.

Which would be extremely cool.

Inadvertently flying over an ambush

Slammed out three effects shots today.  Not horribly complicated, but I’ve been a little leery about approaching the rain effects.  After reviewing, I think when combined with the right audio, it ought to be just fine.  Looking forward to the rest of it being done!

Heh, I just realized the still was captured when the running lights were OFF, so you can only barely see the helicopter up there, flying over the building.

Trying to get convincing running lights on a helicopter.

Actual running lights would have been easier.

Doesn’t look too bad, though.

Subcomposition designed for  larger piece that includes lots of compositing with live footage.  So, I’m excited to see it all come together.

Mark bringing the stricken copter in.

Finished the scene with the helicopter getting shot down. There are a few shots of ground-action that need to be fiddled with, though. Pushing them across the network to the laptop. I think they ought to go quickly.

“…for finish this damn movie!”

Finished two effects today — the actual RPG strike, and an electrical board on the helicopter blowing up.

I’ve got to add an effect to the shot of them running from the helicopter, but I don’t anticipate much trouble from that.

The thing that bogs me down the most, unsurprisingly, is having to work with cranky old versions of Premiere and After Effects.