Super Powers - VFX Challenge - Colin Levy

Hey mate,

To add an update just click on the Manage Entry link on the challenge page.

Uh oh, Cam, I'm getting an error:

Parse error: parse error in C:\Websites\simplycg.net\subdomains\challenges\httpdocs\myentry.php on line 188

Eep!

--Colin

awesome

Alright mate, all fixed.
Sorry about that, its been a loooong night/morning.

Uh oh, Cam, I'm getting another error - and this one's fatal! Anyway, I got to the update section but when I clicked "post progress" I got this:


"Fatal error: getframe(): Frame number must be greater than zero in C:\Websites\simplycg.net\subdomains\challenges\httpdocs\myentry.php on line 124"



Sorry to bug you again!

--Colin

Now that one is a bit different.

Super odd mate,

had a little fiddle, could you try again for me?

Heheh, here's what I get now:

Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in C:\Websites\simplycg.net\subdomains\challenges\httpdocs\myentry.php on line 126

Maybe it's just me. Are other people getting errors? Anyway, thanks for working on this!

--Colin

Just you mate, tested it many times with different file types + sizes.

but, obviously theres a bug that needs fixing.

thanks for your help, feel like trying again?

I think theres something a bit iffy with your video file.

This entry has been updated.



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Okay, cool! This is one of the clips I'll be working on. The guy in the cape is going to try to bend the lightpole via telekenisis. This'll probably be the most challenging clip since I actually have to replace an object instead of just adding a digital one.

--Colin

Well I guess thats an improvement.

Dude, what codec are you using?

Hah! Well, I've had another problem, first. I've been searching for five minutes for the "reply" button, and it had disappeared! I went to other peoples' entries and their "quick reply" button was gone as well. I logged out and logged back in and then they magically came back, heh.

Anyway, codec. I'm using Sorenson Video 3.

--Colin

well I think i've found the problem.

You're cursed.

Any witchdoctors about?

This entry has been updated.



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Okay, first update. First of all, I want to explain a little more about this project. I was thinking and brainstorming about ideas for this challenge and I started discussing possibilities with my roommate. At the same time, he was searching for a good idea for a movie he's got to make for his Video class. So, we decided to do a bit of collaborating. The movie is about a guy who believes he has superpowers. And thus, he's the only one who can see the coolness of his abilities.

So, I've taken charge of the visual effects for this sequence. The movie is... well, it's not what I imagined. But this sequence will still be cool.

SO, FOR THIS SHOT.

I modeled the lamp post in Blender using photo reference. The texturing is very basic but I tried to replicate it as well as possible, so that I'll be able to transition from the real pole to the digital one. The lighting is just estimated but I think it's looking alright.

The tracking is proving to be very difficult. I tried tracking it using Icarus but when the camera pans up the quality of the track plummets. Once the ground disappears. So now I'm trying to track it in 2D. I think it could work for this shot, since there's not too much movement in perspective.

I am trying to track a frame of the sky over the pole. This is where it's looking crummy, because the sky is sliding all over the place. While it seems relatively subtle on this compressed version, in the full-res shot it's very obvious.

I also need to work on the transition to the digital lightpole. So, I'll work mainly on the compositing

Anyhow, more updates soon!

--Colin

Uh oh, Cam! Something's screwy here.... This thread shows up okay in the forum but not in the challenges section. Gah!

This entry has been updated.



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Aha! Got the tracking to work! I think it was because I was using the wrong node (I'm doing this in Shake). Once I switched to the "stabilize" node (instead of "Matchmove"), everything was lining up beautifully!

Here's my node setup. Pretty straightforward, but I always think node trees are pretty, so...

This entry has been updated.



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And here's the final shot!

Unfortunately, I stopped recording precisely at that frame. I wish it could be slightly longer. But anyway, I think it will still work since I'm cutting to another closer shot of it.

Also, I did some color correction and added some sound effects. I think the sound helps a whole lot!

--Colin

Edit: unfortunately there seems to be some major clipping going on when you click on the clip. To view the full version, click this link:

nice work colin!

Thanks hype!

Hey thats darn cool!

Good stuff.

as for the clipping, for some reason the video importer has something against your quicktime clip, therefore it cant determine the size of your video, or generate a thumbnail.

Super odd, but i'm looking into it.

This entry has been updated.



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Okay, so here's the basic idea of the second shot. The pole here is REAL.

What I did is I shot this footage with the real pole to serve as reference, and then I shot a similar clip with nothing but the sky. So basically I want a similar angle and similar camera movement, and of course the pole will be bending.

--Colin

This entry has been updated.



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Okay, I was able to track the footage in Icarus. I'm now animating in Blender. Here's a rough version. I'm not really happy with the animation yet...

--Colin

This entry has been updated.



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Here's the second shot! I think this is final.

--Colin

Wow.... that whole thing is 3d? The lamp post is perfectly integrated! Great work!
~Mechis

Wow that looks awesome cool!

Thanks a lot, guys! Yep, for that last shot the whole pole was 3D.

Not sure if I should do another shot or not.

--Colin

This entry has been updated.



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Okay, folks - here's my final entry! I didn't do any more work, and it's a bit over the limit, but I can easily shorten it down if necessary. I just wanted to show my shots in sequence.

Remember, I did these shots for my roommate's movie, which is about a guy who believes he has superpowers. It could be better but it was shot and edited in just a few days...

Anyway, hope you like it!

--Colin

the compositing looks great, fits right in with the scene. good use of sound and music too. also, i like the humor anythings funny when you slowly step away from it.

my crit would be for your friend. use a tripod, use a dolly.

good work.

I love it.... it tells a brief story and I love the humor! Perhaps the final shot could have been angled differently, if I had to critique anything ... and reading through your thread, I'm sorry you seemed to have gone through hell uploading and such ... but other than that, you've got guts and good friends to get out there with a cape in broad daylight.

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