Green screen tombstone ?

[Randall_Oelerich]

I want to break a sugar [breakaway] glass fake whiskey 1/2 pint bottle against a tombstone/crypt (actor will throw it against a tombstone, have it break). I would like to minimize any damage to the tombstone, so I was wondering--- could I even tape a piece of greescreen or green felt against the tombstone-- film the scene with the actor smashing the bottle against the green felt. Then film a static clip of the tombstone. Then somehow chroma key out the green felt so it appears the sugar glass breaks against the stone of the tombstone? Create the illusion of the bottle breaking against the tombstone without the bottle actually touching the tombstone?

I barely know how to use After Effects, but plan to buy it. Been looking at a few basic tutorials on After Effects off videocopilot.net This seems doable though, right?

[metro2307]

Yes, you could do this as well as some other techniques. And you can use after effects for CC and other filmmaking purposes, too. Read the DV Rebel Guide by Stu M.

However, you're treading on dangerous ground here. Even minimal damage to a tombstone is too much, as most people consider this holy ground.

[rogue_09]

I think you'd be much better off by doing this practically and have a fake tombstone made. That way the effect is flawless and you have no worry about damages to an actual tombstone.

[Randall_Oelerich]

Yes, you could do this as well as some other techniques. And you can use after effects for CC and other filmmaking purposes, too. Read the DV Rebel Guide by Stu M.

However, you're treading on dangerous ground here. Even minimal damage to a tombstone is too much, as most people consider this holy ground.

What is "CC"?

The sugar glass should be so soft compared to granite, I can't see how it could harm the granite, esp. if covered by felt? It's just sugar candy (not actual glass) after all. Could it actually scratch a stone tombstone covered by felt? I guess I could even put something between the green felt and the tombstone, hey there is an idea-- like a piece of thin plywood--just no way the sugar glass bottle could harm the tombstone then, that would defy physics.

[Randall_Oelerich]

I think you'd be much better off by doing this practically and have a fake tombstone made. That way the effect is flawless and you have no worry about damages to an actual tombstone.

I have a fake tombstone, from dappercadaver.com but there is no way the breakaway glass bottle will break and shatter against that.

I am going to sandwich plywood between a real tombstone (nearby) and a piece of BLUE felt (I just realized green grass is everywhere, so I better use blue felt).

The fake tombstone is for the fake dead person being visited. But the actor gets upset and throws a whiskey bottle at a nearby tombstone, and there are two nearby that have no name visible. Perfect. I also got permission now to film at the cemetery, awesome.

[metro2307]

7872

Seriously, get this book. CC is Color Correction. Stu is well known in the business and this is one of the best books I've seen on filmmaking, especially using After Effects.

Either way, put a lot of thought into this cemetery scene. Duluth is a great location, as you know. The lake and ships, the landscape, the downtown, the rich and poor areas...cool place to film. You want to keep a good relationship with everyone there. You probably know that, though. At the very least, I would use the prop headstone, just to be on the safe side. If you need a solid piece, ask to borrow a second or left over from the monument maker.

Good luck.

[Randall_Oelerich]

7872

Seriously, get this book. CC is Color Correction. Stu is well known in the business and this is one of the best books I've seen on filmmaking, especially using After Effects.

Either way, put a lot of thought into this cemetery scene. Duluth is a great location, as you know. The lake and ships, the landscape, the downtown, the rich and poor areas...cool place to film. You want to keep a good relationship with everyone there. You probably know that, though. At the very least, I would use the prop headstone, just to be on the safe side. If you need a solid piece, ask to borrow a second or left over from the monument maker.

Good luck.

Actually I have that book, need to go find it and read it more. Yeah Duluth is incredibly beautiful six months out of the year, frigid hellhole the other six. Thus the shorts I have written to film thus far, about five, all take place outdoors to take advantage our outdoorsness beauty. I need to write a couple of shorts though in the next few weeks to do some shooting indoors this winter.

[metro2307]

Yeah, but, the winter is cinematic, too. Fargo comes to mind. Biting cold off that lake, though.

Stu has some new stuff on the Rebel Forum you might check out as well.

Great luck to you!

[Randall_Oelerich]

Yeah, but, the winter is cinematic, too. Fargo comes to mind. Biting cold off that lake, though...

It would likely motivate me to learn to shoot scenes fast. But yeah, I could make use of winter outdoor beauty or cold as in "A Simple Plan" (movie).

[Stuie]

You could also film the actor against a green screen smashing the glass against a green object and then composite that in the shot with the cemetery. You just have plan the shot out in more detail, and get the lighting to match. Just a thought.