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Tim Joy · 03-09-2009, 10:21 AM

Again to return

See the final cut here

Tim Joy · 03-09-2009, 10:21 AM

A lot of people have been asking about the technique. Here's how we did it:

It was shot on the Nikon D90, but instead of using the quirky video mode, we used the fast motor drive and took a series of 2k jpeg stills. The quality and color of those jpegs is outstanding, and such a joy to work with.

The camera takes about 4 frames per second, and holding the shutter down it will shoot for 25 seconds before it has to rest and clear the buffers.

We took about 25,000 pictures total for this movie. YIKES! It was a lot to manage, especially since the frame numbering restarts after 10,000 so there are duplicate names of different pictures. The shutter life is rated at 150,000 clicks, so this technique could potentially wear out the camera quick.

The final movie uses probably less than 1,000 photos, and the missing in-between frames (approx. 3,500 @ 24fps) were created using the plugin Twixtor. Every single shot in the movie uses Twixtor. Some more than others. The push in at the office, for example has only 4 "real" frames and the rest is morphed from those. (Special thanks to dvxuser Matthew Bennett for the idea)

Depending on what settings in twixtor I used it produces some artifacts as you push it way beyond the limits it was meant to go. (when you slow something down to 2%)

The shower scene was shot at a 1/4000 shutter, the highest the camera goes. To get an exposure we almost lit Kevin on fire blasting so much light in there. The high shutter freezes the water in time and then once you add twixtor it makes the really cool morphing/ moulding water effect.

The vertical Portrait frame was probably not the best idea, but it was experimental. Twixtor needs to be viewed at 100% when editing, posing a significant problem for viewing a frame that is 1400w X 2100h on my small monitor. So I decided to bite the bullet and did a batch resize in photoshop to 584x880, the frame you see now. It was heartbreaking to loose the resolution, but my computer couldn't handle much more anyway.

The "flying through the painting" shot was accomplished by attaching the painting frame to a grip arm that was attached to the rails of the camera. The rails and camera were mounted sideways on the tripod head and mounted on the crane. We craned over Kevin and tilted the camera (frame moving with the camera) and went down around him. We also moved the light overhead. In post I blew out the background so it looks like he moves instead of the camera. I'll have a BTS video up soon so you can see.

This technique of making a movie from a series of stills is not new, ( I thought it was, but others have done it way before me) and the others I've seen put a disclaimer at the beginning, letting the audience know that the stuttering effect is supposed to be there. I didn't say anything to see what people thought, so my question is: do you think this film needs a disclaimer at the beginning that says it was created from still images?

Thanks for watching and commenting. I love these festivals and I always learn so much.

Behind the scenes video

BTS Quicktime version here

ZazaCast · 03-09-2009, 10:31 AM

I was waiting to see what you had going...looking forward to it!

Tim Joy · 03-09-2009, 10:48 AM

Uploaded!

Rodney V. Smith · 03-09-2009, 11:08 AM

DUDE!!!! You're back! Cool!

TheMacB · 03-09-2009, 12:22 PM

hey, i know those actors! Can't wait to check it out.

Tim Joy · 03-09-2009, 01:31 PM

Shot on the D-licious 90

Mark Harris · 03-09-2009, 09:02 PM

Really liked your TwilightFest film, looking forward to this.

stinkpot · 03-09-2009, 10:07 PM

You gotta fill your own big shoes (from last fest). I'm looking forward to seeing what you are doing this time.

Brandon Rice · 03-10-2009, 12:38 AM

Wow. Unique. Original. Different.

03-09-2009, 10:21 AM	#1
Tim Joy Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Middlebury, Vermont Posts: 1,387	____A_g_a_i_n__t_o__r_e_t_u_r_n____ Again to return See the final cut here __________________ WIDOW - shot on 7D in native B&W Last edited by Tim Joy; 03-31-2009 at 07:07 PM.

03-09-2009, 10:21 AM	#2
Tim Joy Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Middlebury, Vermont Posts: 1,387	A lot of people have been asking about the technique. Here's how we did it: It was shot on the Nikon D90, but instead of using the quirky video mode, we used the fast motor drive and took a series of 2k jpeg stills. The quality and color of those jpegs is outstanding, and such a joy to work with. The camera takes about 4 frames per second, and holding the shutter down it will shoot for 25 seconds before it has to rest and clear the buffers. We took about 25,000 pictures total for this movie. YIKES! It was a lot to manage, especially since the frame numbering restarts after 10,000 so there are duplicate names of different pictures. The shutter life is rated at 150,000 clicks, so this technique could potentially wear out the camera quick. The final movie uses probably less than 1,000 photos, and the missing in-between frames (approx. 3,500 @ 24fps) were created using the plugin Twixtor. Every single shot in the movie uses Twixtor. Some more than others. The push in at the office, for example has only 4 "real" frames and the rest is morphed from those. (Special thanks to dvxuser Matthew Bennett for the idea) Depending on what settings in twixtor I used it produces some artifacts as you push it way beyond the limits it was meant to go. (when you slow something down to 2%) The shower scene was shot at a 1/4000 shutter, the highest the camera goes. To get an exposure we almost lit Kevin on fire blasting so much light in there. The high shutter freezes the water in time and then once you add twixtor it makes the really cool morphing/ moulding water effect. The vertical Portrait frame was probably not the best idea, but it was experimental. Twixtor needs to be viewed at 100% when editing, posing a significant problem for viewing a frame that is 1400w X 2100h on my small monitor. So I decided to bite the bullet and did a batch resize in photoshop to 584x880, the frame you see now. It was heartbreaking to loose the resolution, but my computer couldn't handle much more anyway. The "flying through the painting" shot was accomplished by attaching the painting frame to a grip arm that was attached to the rails of the camera. The rails and camera were mounted sideways on the tripod head and mounted on the crane. We craned over Kevin and tilted the camera (frame moving with the camera) and went down around him. We also moved the light overhead. In post I blew out the background so it looks like he moves instead of the camera. I'll have a BTS video up soon so you can see. This technique of making a movie from a series of stills is not new, ( I thought it was, but others have done it way before me) and the others I've seen put a disclaimer at the beginning, letting the audience know that the stuttering effect is supposed to be there. I didn't say anything to see what people thought, so my question is: do you think this film needs a disclaimer at the beginning that says it was created from still images? Thanks for watching and commenting. I love these festivals and I always learn so much. Behind the scenes video BTS Quicktime version here __________________ WIDOW - shot on 7D in native B&W Last edited by Tim Joy; 03-15-2009 at 02:55 PM.

03-09-2009, 10:31 AM	#3
ZazaCast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 4,370	I was waiting to see what you had going...looking forward to it! __________________ ZazaCast Films iZaza - get the app on iTunes!

03-09-2009, 10:48 AM	#4
Tim Joy Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Middlebury, Vermont Posts: 1,387	Uploaded! __________________ WIDOW - shot on 7D in native B&W

03-09-2009, 11:08 AM	#5
Rodney V. Smith What The Puck Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA/Toronto, Can/Brooklyn,NY Posts: 4,494	DUDE!!!! You're back! Cool! __________________ Rodney Smith - Flyin' Monkey Films Writer/Director/Cinematographer Website \| Facebook \| IMDB Link HVX200, Brevis35+Flip, Glidecam V-8

03-09-2009, 12:22 PM	#6
TheMacB Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,090	hey, i know those actors! Can't wait to check it out. __________________ www.elmatadorfilms.com "There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan."

03-09-2009, 01:31 PM	#7
Tim Joy Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Middlebury, Vermont Posts: 1,387	Shot on the D-licious 90 __________________ WIDOW - shot on 7D in native B&W

03-09-2009, 09:02 PM	#8
Mark Harris Pain in the ass Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: BKLYN Posts: 6,378	Really liked your TwilightFest film, looking forward to this. __________________ NEW UPDATES Feb 7, 2010 - New post at NEW BREED

03-09-2009, 10:07 PM	#9
stinkpot Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Happy Land - Cleveland Posts: 731	You gotta fill your own big shoes (from last fest). I'm looking forward to seeing what you are doing this time. __________________ - One who enjoys beer. -

03-10-2009, 12:38 AM	#10
Brandon Rice Many Things Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southen California! Posts: 16,101	Wow. Unique. Original. Different. __________________ NO GREATER LOVE being distributed by LIONSGATE, On DVD Everywhere NOW! See official thread! New short film A DIM LIGHT INFORMATION AND MORE SMUGGLER'S RANSOM available on DVD NOW! www.SmugglersRansom.com

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