Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (
More info?)
Hi Larry,
The short answer is they are all static shots. I'm making a feature
movie (it will be my second) and there are about 118 pages in the
script and some 160 scenes. Yes, I would love to do the fancy stuff
you mentioned, but even with just static shots, it will take several
months to create the virtual sets, add in special effects, and do all
the normal stuff (foley, music, etc.). The fundamental problems are no
money, of course (it's just little old me and a couple of credit
cards), and not enough time (I work full time in a different field). I
really would like to complete it before October (Sundance deadline) but
I realize I may not make that goal.
> The "Live Preview" I spoke of in Ultra is for the user to adjust the
camera
> height and angle according to the virtual set being used. Obviously
the
> "talent" cannot be placed realistically into a scene using jus any
shots of
> someone on a chroma key background. Which brings me to another
thought about
> what you said above.
Understood. I'm basically just trying to do backgrounds and static
shots.
> "Too difficult and time consuming". What are you thinking? Obviously
you are
> not interested in doing realistic looking chroma key compositing. If
you
> don't take the time to match the camera angle and position of the
scene you
> are planning to chroma key people and objects into, then how are you
going
> to make the scene seem realistic?
Yes, I want realism, but I also want to complete this thing in my
lifetime. (I'm actually much older than you think).
Plus, as you
might have guessed, it is probably outside of my set of skills. The
fundamental reason for the green screen is because I can't get access
to some of the places I need to shoot, e.g., a police station - they
just laughed at me when I asked. Oval office - I didn't even ask.
And of course, some of the places don't exist. Or rather, making it
cgi will cost me a lot less than trying to build a set in my garage.
For example, an Egyptian pyramid. Yes, it won't be totally realistic
but making a semi-realistic movie is better than making no movie at
all, IMO. Maybe somebody with money will see it and say, "hey, I could
remake that into a 'real' movie!"
> If you want someone to jump over a moving bus it is not possible to
simply
> take the camera onto a chroma key set and tell them to jump really
high from
> a camera tripod shot.
Why not? Then you could make the backgound movement to match the
camera movement. You'd have to shoot a couple different angles.
Please explain.
> In order to make scenes work you need to study the background shot
and
> somehow create comparitive movements of the "talent" on the chroma
key
> background. Take "the Matrix Reloaded" as an instance. How would that
have
> looked without the proper planning for the spectacular fight scene
atop the
> moving semi-truck? Or, how would those "Lord of the Rings" movies
looked if
> the animators just make little ugly beings in whatever fashion they
desired
> without matching the camera angles and movements of the scenes they
appeared
> in?
Yes, those were spectacular! And *far* beyond my capabilities!
> Explain to me how doing live keying "would make the shoot much longer
> because you have many scenes to shoot"? Sorry Rick, but I personally
don't
> think you know what you are doing. All angles and movements must
match for
> proper chroma keying - unless the talent and background are static
shots.
Well, first I'd have to build the cgi sets before I did any shooting,
right? I've already scheduled auditions so they would have to be
postponed. (Not a good idea because even now I don't finish shooting
until June - I can only shoot on the weekends, and shooting in the
summer interferes with people's vacation plans). Secondly, when doing
the shooting, you then have to track camera movements to the cgi
background movement, yes? I'm not sure how to do this either, all I
have is a tripod with a wheel bracket adapter thingy (like a dolly, but
it moves in any direction). Do you move the camera and guess rates of
movement and zoom? Or, what you do is shoot the camera first, then
create a cgi background to match that movement? Seems like the latter
would be easier.
But, the bottom line is, you are correct. I do not know how to make a
scene such as you described. That is why I'm sticking to static shots.
However, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of
view, that is not gonna stop me from making this movie!
To
infinity and beyond!
On the otherhand, if your services are available, and you don't need
money to live on, I would be glad to have your help. (Actually, I do
give a small percentage of the profits to all participants, but the
chances of making a profit are extremely small). I'm just trying to
follow my dream.
Rick