Just how much could you do exactly with these Special Effects programs?

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Steve33825

Member
I'm talking about all of them in general (Adobe After Effects, Avid, Magic Bullet, etc.). I'm assuming you probably can't create a Star Wars movie from your home computer with this stuff just yet (correct me if I'm wrong), but just what can you do exactly?

For instance, I have a low budget horror script which have two sequences that require special effects: 1) An Indiana Jones-style scene where a guy is crushed to death by collapsing ceiling; and 2) A subway train crashes through the wall, rips across the platform, killing the guy standing on it, and then crashes into the opposite wall.

Could this stuff be done on any of the Effects programs available to us? Or is it too Star-Wars-ish?

One last thing... Do editing systems like Final Cut Pro/Express, etc. come with the special effects? Or would you have to buy an editing program AND a special effects program?
 
After Effects is top of the line stuff. I'm sure that shots like what you're talking about are done all the time with the program, but know that you can't just create them from scratch in AE. You would need to actually shoot the scenes w/ miniatures + green screen, or however works best for you.

If by "special effects" you mean 3d computer modelling, you would need another program such as 3D Studio Max, Maya, XSI, or any other number of possible programs, but unless you have somebody who really knows what they're doing, you're probably better off shooting miniatures.

This is not exactly what you are talking about, but this http://www.graphics.com/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=190 shows how they created a matte painting for a B-level horror movie using photoshop. AE is much like a Photoshop with motion.

Remember that the original Star Wars movie was made w/ relatively low-grade materials. The lightsaber stuff was amazing back then, but just look how many knock-offs you can find online these days. After Effects and other software make all that stuff possible. I don't think Magic Bullet will help you though.
 
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If you're looking for a really good brick wall breaking apart, you're gonna want 3d. Maybe you can find someone to set up a wall and run a simulation on it for you and mask it in there using AE. If you don't have the budget for this, consider shooting miniatures against a greenscreen, then compositing this into the actual footage of the station?

Collapsing ceiling I would think would be relatively simple if you use this method. Still will take some doing to create a convincing miniature, but if you light it just right and use programs like AE to composite and adjust your color/hue/sat/bright/contrast etc. you can do some neat stuff. Sorry I don't have examples right off :/

I'm familiar with AE, and 3dsmax/maya, and I would say you'd probably be looking at the very least something like AE...Dunno if you can do all the masking/layering in FCP, but for the pricetag I'd assume you can. If you really wanna try some 3d stuff and have no budget, I'd suggest blender, which I've barely touched but I've seen some nice stuff come out of.

Hope this helps maybe? GL :)
 
Get the DV Rebel's Guide book. It's specifically for making action movies cheap. It may give you some ideas on how to approach a ceiling collapse where you don't need any special effects in post at all.

All of the software you mention are just tools. You need someone with the skill to craft 3D models for a train accident. You may end up compositing in After Effects, but you need a lot of 3D animation, I would guess.

MB is really just for looks and doesn't really apply to your scenarios.
 
Joshua Provost said:
Get the DV Rebel's Guide book. It's specifically for making action movies cheap. It may give you some ideas on how to approach a ceiling collapse where you don't need any special effects in post at all.

All of the software you mention are just tools. You need someone with the skill to craft 3D models for a train accident. You may end up compositing in After Effects, but you need a lot of 3D animation, I would guess.

MB is really just for looks and doesn't really apply to your scenarios.
Click to expand...

I agree DV Rebel's Guide is great much to learn about compositing in that book!
 
A lot of this stuff can be acomplished by the use of 3D and compositing. AE will help greatly with the placement of scenes such as these. But for the actuall 3D in the train sequence you'll need a good program like the ones Zephyrstar indicated. I personally use Lightwave as I dabble in game design from time to time and It can do a lot, there has been a ton of movies done with it, check the Newtek website and you'll see. Of course theres always the option of hiring a preofessional for the shots you need. Good luck :)
 
After Effects and Magic Bullet especially are almost esential to an editing setup for prety much anyone. They are amazingly handy and incredibly versitile. Knowledge of these programs along w/ FCP and/or Avid are a great foundtaion for making great movies
 
I need to check out that DV Rebel Guide...sounds like neat stuff.

Do you happen to have any still frames/shots of any locations you'd be shooting the train wreck at? (for to make matte paintings or determine masking options from)? I'm just curious to see what you're looking at.

And I agree with wrxguy on the comment on AE....no matter what NLE I'll be using, AE will always have it's place. Same for Photoshop.

And in terms of it being tough to do, it would not be incredibly hard, but getting it lit correctly and blended into your footage will be the hard part. Honestly, I think you should ask yourself a question for these scenes in terms of storytelling as well, do you really HAVE to show the train wreck? Or can you do it in some fashion where you don't need to SEE it happen but see the aftermath? Sometimes this can be more powerful than actually seeing the event happen. (And cheaper) Maybe just a thought since you don't have a big budget? Get creative with it? If it's a horror movie, that kinda scene has been done and done again. How could you adapt it to maybe make your audience a little more uneasy or on edge?

Hope this helps, looking forward to see how you'll end up :)
 
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