blind person eyes : contacts or After Effects ?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
I have some scenes in my short film to shoot this summer where I need to show a blind woman's eyes, the frosted over cataract look. I see special contact lenses I can buy for this, at a cost of $250 or so for a pair. Not cheap. But would probably look good and would not require the time of key framing and all for Adobe After Effects. I see Andrew Kramer has a tutorial on doing this effect with After Effects on videocopilot.net, wondering what would be advised-- using contact lenses or using After Effects for this effect?

Contacts could be annoying and difficult for the actress, could pop out and get lost in the dirt and grass on set (all outdoors), be harder for the actress to see through with filming takes. But would require no AE. AE means no cost to order the contact lenses, but would require the time in post-production (not a problem really); but will AE give a pretty good result? Thoughts?
 
There was a thread about using lasers where one guy might have suggested a more hands on approach. Aside from that sad "joke"... I too would love to hear how to do this sort of thing! I have other eye stuff coming up.

Which is the Video Copilot tutorial? Oh, it is an actual eye replacement only video: http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/eye_replacement/

Has someone done this in AE?
 
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USLatin said:
There was a thread about using lasers where one guy might have suggested a more hands on approach. Aside from that sad "joke"... I too would love to hear how to do this sort of thing! I have other eye stuff coming up. Which is the Video Copilot tutorial? Oh, it is an actual eye replacement only video: http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/eye_replacement/
Has someone done this in AE?
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Yeah much as I would love to see the software (AE) save me cash on a pair of contacts, the contact lenses would make all that post production unnecessary and be more realistic. But like I said, contacts pop out and get lost which would reallky really suck. I mean, I picture my actress running across the forest floor, and then "hey the contact lens fell out!" That would not be good. She has never worn contact lenses either. Plus it looks like I would maybe have to pay for a visit to the optometrist for the actress to get her "base curvature" and "diameter" values for ordering the right size contact lenses (to make sure they fit and do not pop out or do harm).
r
 
That is a tough call, but I guess it would come down to the actress and how she feels about contacts, and whether she is paid or free talent. If she is just doing this to help you out, out of the kindness of her heart, do the AE thing. If she is paid, put her through the paces, and give her the contacts. Why? It will be more realistic looking, and save you many hours on the back end. If it does hinder her vision any, that will just add more realism to her character. Just make sure to keep a wrangler close by, so that she doesn't wander into traffic, or off a cliff.
 
Capt Quirk said:
That is a tough call, but I guess it would come down to the actress and how she feels about contacts, and whether she is paid or free talent. If she is just doing this to help you out, out of the kindness of her heart, do the AE thing. If she is paid, put her through the paces, and give her the contacts. Why? It will be more realistic looking, and save you many hours on the back end. If it does hinder her vision any, that will just add more realism to her character. Just make sure to keep a wrangler close by, so that she doesn't wander into traffic, or off a cliff.
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It is a short (15 page script) film, she is acting in exchange for headshots I did for her and her daughter (also in the film), and of course for credits and experience. Good point, maybe I will leave the decision in her hands, how realistic does she want the film to be, want her part to be, how important is it to her.
 
In that case, it might also depend on the purpose of the short. If you are just doing it because you have been snowed in all Winter and just have to shoot something, skip the expense. If it is a powerful piece aimed at Sundance, go the extra mile.
 
Capt Quirk said:
In that case, it might also depend on the purpose of the short. If you are just doing it because you have been snowed in all Winter and just have to shoot something, skip the expense. If it is a powerful piece aimed at Sundance, go the extra mile.
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I am going for quality. Maybe not Sundance, but trying to make it really good, training for a feature. Do plan to enter it into several festivals. I have some experienced actors lined up, and a great film composer for some quality soundtrack music. Cinematic locations, etc.
 
Well, checked at WalMart today and it will cost $100 just for an optometrist to do an eye exam on my actress to get the measurements "base curvature" and "diameter" because they say they have to do a normal contact lens fitting exam, $99 plus tax and all. Ugh. $100 exam, $250 or so for the lenses. That is adding up. Could be worth it, but I am going to take another look at Andrew Kramer's tutorial using AE for the funky eye effect, see if that could work. Difficult decision. In the final analysis, the contact lens route might prove the simplest, since no time intensive Adobe After Effects funking would be needed.
 
I just make sure my actors/actresses already have optometry insurance and are good at faking slight sight problems so all I'm paying for is the contacts themselves...

*whistles*
 
It's a shame I didn't see this thread earlier. I would definitely go with contacts. But I would also use something like After Effects if there was going to be any kind of transitional shot, using the footage with the real contacts as reference.

The upside with doing it in post is the amount of flexibility you have over the look. The downside of course is the amount of time, effort, and work involved tracking shots, putting the look over the image, coaching your talent for those shots, ect.


I haven't heard the suggestion of doing both. Using the contacts for everything, and then AE to enhance that look, if you want. A little desaturation or brightening for effect. That will give you the best of both, but will be far easier and look much more convincing than doing it solely in post.
 
Shop around for the eye exam - Costco optical was like $40 last I checked. You could also try schmoozing a local optometrist into at least a freebie for a credit . . .
 
pixelated said:
Shop around for the eye exam - Costco optical was like $40 last I checked. You could also try schmoozing a local optometrist into at least a freebie for a credit . . .
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Good idea about bartering, might work. I did check Wal Mart. Contact lens exam is needed, $99, more expensive than regular eye exam, bummer.
 
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