Panic Attack

[fedalvar]

Hi guys, Im Fede Alvarez, director of the shortmovie.

Thanks for all the good feedback!

I would like to share more data about the project whit you:

The shooting:

We shoot with 300bucks, that's right. We spend most of the money in the 50 extras. (5 bucks each I believe... most of them where friends and family of the crew...)

The rest was spent in food for one day of shooting. And, of course, all the crew did'it for the love to the art... I mean, for free...

We've shooted with a Sony z1. Love the results. I like more the sharpnes and color delivered.... more than the P2 and other HD video cámeras.

We didint use any lights for the exteriors, just some white panels.

The post:

The first two months (back in 2007) was dedicated to modeling, riggin, texturing, etc. (3d max)

We took hires pictures of old wreked ships at the harbor for the robots and ufos metal textures. It was very important for me, to use textures that where originaly giant in scale. It's not cool to use small scale textures, and then resize.. not cool...

From blueprints we've made de models for the air force Pucarás and T37Dragonfly (Those are actually the best fighters our air force have at the moment.... for real...)

For the collapsing buildings, we made partial sections of the structures, and breaked't up with RayFire (GREAT TOOL!)

This first part we didit between two guys., Mauro Rondan and I.

After that I was on my own. Mauro helped in a more creative way, but I had to put by myself the 90 vfx shots. I've put the project ond hold for almost two years... and I reprise in late 2008.

I used Premiere for the editing (not too pro.. I know.. but Im a PC guy) Boujou fot the tracking (still the best thing for me) 3dMax for the 3d part, and Aftereffects for the comps.

Inside Max, I used Glu3d for the very few liquid simulations (only two shots I believe..) FumeFx did all the simulation smokes, but a lot of the smokes and explosion where actually real footage, (download and buyed from DETONATIONFILMS.com).

It took me then 4 more months (non stop) for the animation, simulations, compos and final color correction and stuff.

But at laaast, its done. I posted it 3 days ago, and the youtube post got 45,000hits already.. still amazed...

Hope its some useful info!

Peace

Fede.

p.d: hope your excuse my poor English..

[Jim Brennan]

Inspirational. Results are what matter.

[Anhar Miah]

Hey Fede, welcome!

Your English is very good!

may I ask how many guys you had working on the 3d modeling, rigging, and texturing?

I assumed the missile strike would be AfterBurn/FumeFX, I also assumed that the collapsing shots were pro-cutter (pre cut structure) then use fracture rigid body collection + reactor, but I guess RayFire makes more sense!

I can't see where you used Glu3d.

Anhar

[motochron]

That was awesome. Amazing what can be done today. Loved it, the editing, score, the color...very inspiring to other film makers. Thanks so much for sharing. 5 stars and a new favorite.
-Chris

[insanityfw]

Thanks Fede for the info and the inspiration...and your English is perfect

I wish you the best with this. Just think of what happened with DISTRICT 9....a ton of hard work and creativity started a trickle that turned into a flood. If this doesn't open the flood-gates, there is no justice in the world

Great work, once again!!!

Best,

Jason

[Pookie]

Thanks for posting Fede.

Your short needed to be seen here, nothing like inspiration.

[Charli]

We more than liked it, it rocked!

[ilauzirika]

NICE! that's really inspiring!

Felicidades!

[USLatin]

Aguante Fede! Duro de matar en post!

Espero que te salga mas laburo con el corto.

[insanityfw]

I really wish that there could be full behind-the-scenes and step by step training for doing projects like this. I'm sure that doing the work is hard enough, without having to show people how you do it, but I can always dream.

I'm really a writer director that is now dabbling in 3d and have bought so many books on getting started and doing VFX, but nothing inspires like seeing something like this and wondering how it all transpired. Behind able to "peek behind the curtain" could offer such a short-hand on the practical side of things.

I know it takes years of work and even more years of practice and talent, but I would pay a premium price to see how this type of things gets done.

Fede, if you were to ever offer any behind the scenes and tips and tricks on your process, i will be first in line to buy.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

....And the ending had a pretty heavy punch.