Matt Grunau
Adobe Demigod
DVXuser Visual Effects Fest/Challenge
For the first time on DVXuser, we are going to have Fests specifically oriented towards Visual/Special Effects and Design. Here are the guidelines this far, though they are subject to update to better things, should we as a group decide so:
1. Each Fest will either be a one or two week challenge
2. Overall length of submission can be anywhere from 2-10 seconds
3. The Theme of the Fest will be determined by you in a vote fashion
4. Any software can be used, even demo software.
5. Any camera can be used, but please limit the frame size to 720X480 in either .9 or widescreen format.
6. Sound effects and sound design are welcome, but don’t use pirated material or music please.
With those general guidelines, let me explain what I hope to achieve here: Every video now has effect, from color grading to slow motion, to high end compositing. But not a lot of people know how to do these, and a lot would like to learn.
My goal with this is to have collaborative efforts if wanted, and to have people learn, and share their techniques, methods, and workflow, so that even more people can learn. There will be no prizes given, no real winners, though there will be a vote on favorite video. Whoever’s video is voted favorite will then share the techniques gone through to make it what it is. And we will all learn. The same applies to any sound design.
If you don’t do visual effects, or don’t consider yourself a guru, this is an excellent opportunity to expand you knowledge base. This can help you in the future with your own writing, knowing what’s available and achievable. We will need creative people for concept design too, especially to collaborate with on story design.
For those that really wish to push their VFX skills, this will be an excellent way to really pad your demo reel. The main thing is to have fun and learn.
And we will keep the work time relatively short, no Fest should require more than 10-20 hours (if you even need that much), and we can decide beforehand if an especially challenging Fest will deserve to be a two week one, or maybe longer.
As always, no porn and let’s keep cursing to a minimum. I’d say let’s keep it clean, but if the Theme for the fest is “Exploding Head”, that’s not going to happen.
In this thread I also encourage and ask for suggestions from all of you on how we can make the Fests even better. I certainly don’t know it all about things, and all requests or suggestions will certainly be considered, maybe voted on, and if liked, incorporated into the rules.
I want to share and have fun doing so. So collaborate, and get your ideas flowing.
The most important thing I want to stress is I don’t want ANYONE to hesitate to submit something you may think is not as good as someone else’s. Harsh criticism will not be tolerated, but constructive critiquing will. You may submit something you really want to achieve but can’t get the look you want, and someone else may suggest to you ways of getting exactly what you are looking for. That’s what this Fest and Contest is really about. If you have any questions, ask them in this thread and we will discuss them as a group. I am also looking for anyone who is willing to help me on the administrative side and run things.
Take care all, and I look forward to talking further with you guys about the possibilites.
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