1st ever DVXuser 3D Short Film collaboration?

Anhar_Miah

Anhar_Miah

Veteran
I’ve had an Idea, and wanted to see what you guys think.

My idea is simple, get lots of willing and skilled people together and make a 3d film short. Now I know its been done before BUT the difference is that it has usually been by people on 3d forums and not by a filmmaker community such as DVXuser (to the best of my knowledge).

Now I think I’ve seen collaborations done already here at DVX but thus far only for film, so far no one has done it for animation (again to the best if my knowledge)

I would like to get as many people involved as possible, here is a quick list of skills needed:

Script writers
Story-borders
Concept Artists
Pre-Vizers

Directors
Project managers

Sound Guys :)

Photoshopers (texture guys)

3d modellers (any app)
3d Animators (any app)
3d textures (any app)
3d riggers (any app)

Compositors (any app)

Web designer (for promos, later in pipeline)

This list is not final, if any one with the right skills thinks they can contribute bring it forward, or if you think something is missing then mention it.

You can do more than one role if possible.

Yes I know, most people might be already clicking away from this thread! But at least give it some thought, it’s a challenge for sure, but I’ve got this vision and I can see it happening, it just needs damn lots of effort.

I know there are some serious skills out here in this forum, all I ask is not money but a labour of love, to tell a story and be part of something possibly big…

If you have more ideas speak up! Maybe you think its not going to work, that’s cool mention it and say why you think it won’t work. I just want to brainstorm this idea, iron out foreseeable problems, create new thinking for workflow etc.

So tell me what you think, I’m really passionate about hearing your thoughts on this.

Anhar
 
I'd be interested in this but still working on assisting my brother with his DVX entries and a couple others here and there. I don't know what my brothers plans are from short to short but when we're not doing one for three months I'll be in. Otherwise we can barely get stuff done as it is.
I'm into realistic type animation like images over live footage, not Pixar style.
(Trying anyways.)

Would need a coordinator and I can't think of anyone better than yourself.
 
I guess the time line can be super relaxed, i.e. doing stuff in everyones spare time, so it will grow and everyone can watch it mature over time.

I'm not into pixar stuff either , I had visions of final fantasty,

I want it to be a masterpiece, I understand that everyone is busy (myself inlcuded) but I think if lots of people chipped away (slowly, no rush) over AS long as it needs to take and not Fixed to any deadline then we can see something great!

As for roles, for myself, I was thinking of doing what ever bits I can, I know my field is modelling, so I do those parts,

As for co-ordinator well, never done that, but I guess we could use this thread and PM's as well as Youtube to and Skype/MSN to keep in contact review progress/ updates etc.

I guess if its a group project Every member has a equal shout at the direction, and then we could leave it to group votes as to which way it should go.

But I'm really happy that your interested at the very least!
 
These things tend to unravel with even the best of intentions... seems to happen
faster with better talent attached as they use pieces of it to land fulltime gigs then
disppear.

You're better off working on a specific shot that can be completed in a limited
time frame that will work as a showpiece for people's reels, etc. Say, target
a completion of late July which would allow someone planning to attend
Siggraph to have it for their reels.
 
I hear what your saying thats definitely a risk, of course no one is shackled to the project and if people decide to go off that will happen and no one can stop them :(

My hope is that in that event the project would at least have grown to size that it fuels itself to keep going and if certain members go off then other new people can always be introduced.

A limited shot could also work, if that was to happen then every frame has to be a work in itself, a shorter shot would mean more engery focused over a smaller area so to speak.

Thats an interesting thought, like I said before this is my brainstorming period, I've got zero experience on these matters so input from anyone with experience is very much welcome.

Thanks Greggl for your interesting angle.
 
I like the idea, but I somewhat agree with Greg, these things can be hard to finish/execute, especially when aiming for top quality.

There is a similar thing in the mograph world where different studios/people work on short sections of a mograph film then "pass it on" to the next.

You can see the results of #2 here....http://www.psstpassiton.com/

It would be cool to have something for 3D or story based, but that would definately cause some of the visual continuity to be lost. Maybe a focus on story and let each serve up their own techinical mastery to their pieces....I don't know, just thinking out loud here.
 
Possibly a trilogy. Each member responsible for his/her own act/scene.
Story/theme has to be there. A goal and a deadline.

/yes I do fix my spelling mistakes.
 
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I think passing the story on idea may be a little harder to implement in 3d, its not a bad idea again its another avenue and not to be dismissed so it has its merits.

My initial concern though with this idea is that the workload is increased again, because instead of working on a small part of a bigger picture, you have to in a sense paint the whole thing :)

That path seems to part a little from group work in my view.

What about if we where to say that we lower the quality a notch so its not "unreachable" and cut down the actual shots down to a small size, say for example it could be just one scene (hence use one modelled bacground), use one character, use one voice etc, BUT has a very short but dramatic dialouge, and let the dialouge compell the story (saves on worload in the long run).

So for example you could have guy/gal in a subway speaking directly to the camera some dialouge (with body gestures of course). This way the entire scope is focused upon that one scene, hence some really good results could be possible.

The Script guys need to do the work to make the dialouge compelling, the story boarders need to think about body language and camera shots, the pre-vizzers need to think about timming and so on.

A test can then be done with a live actor, which can be recorded on video and used to help animators to get the movements right.

Anyways, don't just think subway, any room/environment is ok, but the idea being just one environment and one character plus one dialouge, this way it becomes one specific shot as Greggl has mentioned and could possible be done is a much shorter time frame.

Think about it, we got some really great skills in this community, lets fuse some of it!
 
Not to completely disuade folks, but there is also the element of repetition.

Any 'short film' is essentially going to rely on assets that are built up front, then
it becomes a slog-through for the volume of shots necessary for a real
showpiece.

One thing that can really be interesting, is to download a standard model rig
with full facial control and a line or two of character based dialog. Animating to
dialog, or animating a 'bit' with a specific prop is a classic exercise. Having
a half dozen people do the same prop or same dialog can be hysterical. Tends
also to be infectious as good prop/audio choices and some fun results can
attract a bit of 'one upmanship' and keep the thing going.

Very few collaborative 3d projects are ever completed... Its like deciding to
'casually' shoot a feature. I've worked on a few that shot in two weeks, edited
over the course of a month.. which is still SUBSTANTIALLY less time invested
than your average 3d piece worth watching :)

Stay small, and if sucessful, move on to something more involved.
 
I think staying small is something I totally agree with, thats why I now think it makes perfect sense, by keeping it small, the quality can be kept high, and everyone does not need to work from end to end, instead everyone does there bit and then when there part is finished thats it they leave to for the next person(s) (kinda like an assembly line).

I think if I start asking in other sub forums for that parts I need, that would be a good starting point.

Elephants dreams was a 3d short that was done by a group of people (all open software used, mainly blender), so its possible, and I'm not asking for something even that big!

Here is some more one to one "themes" I've come up with:

(1) Environment, Skycraper window Ledge
Guy holding onto window frame,

3-5 Minutes dramatic dialouge, shaky cam motion, with little perspective movement (mostly close up)

(2) Environment, Mental Hospital Cell

Guy in straight jacket, shot also close up, 3-5 minutes dialouge.

(3) Environment, underground bunker,

Solider guy, same as before

(4) Environment, Petrol Pump, (gas station)

car jacker guy, same as before

Ok, there is tons of other ideas that can be thrown in, if you have on do it, don't worry about the dialouge thats the script writters task.
 
hmmm, how about a compromise, semi-3d?
have the main character shot on video and then just concentrate on the environment, or is that just cheating? it would be 100 easier for sure, but it would also allow some crazy sets (see above) that may not be possible otherwise, and with dramatic scripts most people will not notice the environment :) but puts the theme into it.

need input...
 
A word of advice: start smaaalll. I've watched lots of projects over at CGtalk fall apart due to the epic nature of them. Shoot for like, 2-4 minutes, tell a simple story. You'll have a way easier time putting all the grandeur and detail into the film. If you get people together and get it to work, then you start looking at the bigger picture. I've gone through a lot of this myself, and unless you have a few really really dedicated people onboard, stuff kinda falls apart. I think you most definately have those kind of people here ;D

I'd be willing to help here and there, but like I said, I've been on projects like this before, so for now I'm going to start working on a short of my own, but I could do a model or animation or texture some stuff here and there. I also work in 3dsMax.

I may even start a "worklog" thread here if people are interested in seeing what I'm doing...I'm in the script writing phase right now, trying to iron out all my details and characters. I expect this to take awhile longer since I have a couple of other projects for some other people going on right now. One such project:

http://www.zephyrstar.com/stuff/mikuru20.jpg
http://www.zephyrstar.com/stuff/mikuru21.jpg
http://www.zephyrstar.com/stuff/mikuru22.jpg

I know a lotta people hate anime styled anything, but meh. :D

This is for a silly and for fun project a friend of mine is doing, and he needed this character to dance/rap for a scene in his video. My future production will probably be a stylized cel shade style (anime-esque but with WAY more accurate anatomy) (and although this model reeeeally sucks :/ I learned quite a bit about getting this stuff to look right through recent experiments such as this.) and I'll probably do a lot of handpainted texturing in photoshop.

Anyway, yeah, good luck and I'll keep a watch on this :)
 
Anhar Miah said:
hmmm, how about a compromise, semi-3d?
have the main character shot on video and then just concentrate on the environment, or is that just cheating? it would be 100 easier for sure, but it would also allow some crazy sets (see above) that may not be possible otherwise, and with dramatic scripts most people will not notice the environment :) but puts the theme into it.

need input...
Click to expand...

OH! I almost forgot:
Download and watch this if you've not already seen it:

http://www.starwreck.com/

Pretty fantastic stuff, but with a simple set and costumes. These kinda backgrounds would be very simple provided the camera doesn't move much, or you have someone who's awesome at matchmoving :)
 
I hear you, its the line of thinking I'm already travling down.

I can do 3d, I can do basic composting, I can do matchmoving, in theory I have all the elements to do this myself, BUT and this is the big but, its way too much work for one person to pull of, (not impossible, but huge amount of time and energy).

Thats why its better to get more people involved, we have lots of good 3d artist, lots of good compositors, and matchmovers right here!

I want to tap into the collective resourse to do something great, and yes one small shot (BUT very high quality) would not only be fun to do, it would raise all our games and skills to boot.

Food for thought.
 
Quick tests

so what I've done is not final at all, just a quick test, the first model was not done by me, it was downloaded (free model, for rendering contest), the second one was quickly modelled by me, now, I'm not using the high end Vray render, because it would take far too long per frame to make it viable in any pipeline.

So I used the default scanline with faked GI, to get the render time down to as small a time as possible, I've got it down to 14 seconds per frame, using fake GI.

sample_autrium.jpg


sample_balcony.jpg


now, what I would like is some one to just shoot a 20 second clip of a guy in greenscreen, (with tracking markers on them, eg using yellow post it) and some kind of orbit motion or simple hand held dolly towards the actor.

I want to do this as a test, see how things might work together, if anyone wants to give a hand with comping (AE or combustion) then I'll happly supply the matchmove and render of the background and if someone could then comp it.
 
I would be interested in collaborating in some sort of 3d/video project! I think it is a good idea to start off with something simple such as an actor on greenscreen who can be placed in a 3d environment. I've done some greenscreen work using the 8-point garbage matte/chroma keying in Final Cut Pro - the results were decent, but I think After Effects might be better for greenscreen work..

I'm looking to buy a used DVX within the next week or so maybe I can provide some footage for this project. What 3D programs are you guys using? I primarily use lightwave, but I think the models can be exported to 3dsm and vice versa..
 
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