shooting a cocoon and butterfly?

tripleAAA

tripleAAA

Active member
Hey guys,

For my script I have to shoot a cocoon. The butterfly in the cocoon doesn't come out, but it is on the verge of doing so.

I also have a later scene where the buttefly (the audience assumes it emerged) flutters around one of the actors.

Both scenes are exterior day scenes.

I'm not sure if I should use a real cocoon and butterfly for these scenes or try and make fake ones. I'd love some input...

Thanks,
triple
 
Use a real one.
Two reasons:
CGI isn't as convincing (especially during the day).
Butterflies and moths are very docile right after emerging (my Dad collects them and even raises them and I've put them in several films). They will land on you with no fear for about 2-3 hours. You can get some incredibly magical sequences! Go real.
 
cyclone,

I was thinking more of using "puppets" rather then CG, of course I'm not even sure you'd call a fake butterfly a puppet, but you get the idea.

Also, assuming I went with the real deal, is butterfly hatching seasonal? The plan as of now is to shoot this piece late winter/very early spring when everything is first begining to bloom, when snow might still be on the ground.

triple
 
Yes, it is seasonal. They lay dormant in their cocoons during the colder months and hatch when it turns warmer. I've tried to fool them, but haven't been successful. I once had to schedule a shoot months in advance with everyone on call. Once they started to hatch, I called the cast and crew and we quickly pulled it all together to get the scene. Butterflies and moths only live for a few days. They don't eat (that was all done as a catepillar); they fly and mate and die. Whatever kind of butterfly you are planning on using, go on the internet to find out the typical hatching times. As far as time of day - it's usually morning. If they are local to you, go out and find some of the cocoons and bring them inside so you can wait for them to hatch (and so the birds or spiders don't get them first). Give them a little spray of distilled water every other day to simulate the morning dew. (Don't use tap water - the calcium will kill them.) Be sure to put a twig nearby so they can climb up to spread and dry their wings. Good luck!
 
wow. this is incredible.

I am almost so inclined to write a short using a cocoon and butterfly just to capture the magic.

good luck tripleAAA. And thanks cyclone.

cheers.

p.s. regardless, i don't think it will be as easy as it sounds.
 
arhartman,
You should go for it.
If you can find the cocoons and are ready to shoot when they emerge, the darn little things perform really well without much prompting at all. They like to land on you because you are a warm body.
 
well i just got my letus35 and my rail system comes tomorrow. I think this might make for some good test footage.
 
Who told you butterflies don't eat?
A caterpillars s first meal is its own eggshell. It then spends most of its time eating the leaves of the plant on which it hatched. An adult butterfly uncoils its long, straw-like proboscis to sip nectar from flowers, juice from rotting fruit and water from puddles.
The average lifespan for an adult butterfly is 20 to 40 days. Some species live no longer than three or four days; others may live up to six months.
?
 
Sorry. Didn't mean for any confusion. Yes, catepillars eat - butterflies and moths don't (they hydrate themselves with liquid). Didn't mean to give bad info - just passing on my experiences. Anyway, here's a shot of a Luna Moth from a production I'm shooting. Luna Moths (and some of the other larger moths, like Cycropia) seem to have the shorter life spans. The frames in the background are all from my dad's collection.
1156908144.jpg
 
Wow, thanks for all the input, this is one more reason why dvxuser is a great site :)

I've thought a lot about the script after reading the response and you guys are right, the real deal is definately the way to go.

The movie will probably be shot before butterfly season (end of winter, first signs of spring, again I want spots of snow on the ground), so what i'll probably do is shoot everything except the butterfly shots, and then pick up these shots as soon as I can. I can't believe I was considering a puppet butterfly haha.

If anyone is in or around Illinois, who has worked with butterflies, wants to come down in the spring to be the butterfly wrangler, let me know!

triple
 
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