FOMF Production Diary

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.

Managed to get a rocket trail I actually liked!

Will post a still after the rest of the atmospherics are done.

Took AGES to scroll through all the footage looking for a shot of the helicopter bucking from impact.

Spent the evening inching through the HD model footage, looking for two to four seconds of the tail bucking in a way that I can make it look as if it’s been shot.   Found one “well, that’ll do if I can’t find anything else” and still have one file to go.

Hope I won’t have to go out and shoot another chunk of the helicopter.  Shouldn’t have to…

Less than a minute before crashing in the dead city

Another effect done (and rendering).

One more helicopter effects and I can finally put the helicopter stuff to bed.  I know it’s a small victory, but a victory nonetheless!

I’ve already fixed the lack of blurriness to the fast-moving stuff, but I didn’t bother to update the still.

In other words, it looks better in the video than on the still.

Descending even more rapidly into the dead city

Lessons learned here include:

• Making somewhat convincing flame
• Stabilizing a model over a long shot
• Casting proper light on the body of a model
• Making light and flames “dance” properly
• Making a convincing main rotor
• Making buildings look good as they swoop by

Still working on the helicopter video. Moved on to the crashing part. Managed some very convincing flames and lighting effects.

Every time I start a new complex effect, I’m amazed that I can produce a reasonably decent effect from even the meanest footage. Not that this is BAD footage, mind you, but my point is that each time, I seem to forget how primitive all the pieces looked before I started.

This, of course, will not stop me.

Did some more helicopter effects work today. More chroma key effects, and sifting through the raw HD footage looking for a few seconds here and there that I like.

It’s weird.

For this shot, last Summer, I spent weeks trying to get it to look right, but couldn’t.  In the meantime, I’ve been plowing through effects for another fella’s movie, learning new tricks, fiddling with ideas, and so forth.

Descent into the dead city...

Now, I feel much faster.

Getting this far took me about eight hours, with little breaks here and there.  The final render’s not done, but I really like the way it looks.  No complaints at all!

My first experience with greenscreen, too.  Everything else I’ve done has been with compositing digital stuff, already keyed, and so forth.  but this is brand new.

I have learned so much about how to better shoot the next greenscreen model…

For example:

• Make sure the model is far enough away from the screen that no reflected color falls back on the model.
• Make sure the screen is as evenly lit as possible.
• Make sure any wires or puppeting devices are behind the model, taut and controlled, or off the model.
• If there is a motor in the model, make sure there is enough weight in the model that the motor’s vibration doesn’t make everything go crazy.

Just a few things…

Lovin’ the look, though.  I think I’ll keep it.

Setting up the greenscreen

Mark came over, set up a greenscren, and we shoot video.

Ah, the pleasure of actually making a movie!

One thing we hadn’t anticipated was how much the model would vibrate under full power.  Probably should have loaded it with lead.

Edward sets up the control lines

Instead of lead, however, we found we could get pretty good stabilization by stringing threads all around it and keeping everything taut.

Got some good shots — looking forward to keying out the background, and integrating it with the

Mark setting up the shot

stuff I’ve been working on.

Checking the monitor

The model in place