Feedback needed on VR/Mission Impossible style clip

Norm Sanders

Norm Sanders

Script Wrangler
EDIT: New revised clip can be viewed at www.eefilm.com/clips/missiondetails2.wmv

Screengrabs for direct comparison below:

I was asked to help my church's children's Christmas pageant this year with a video clip. The setting is an agent ("Agent 00Heaven") comes down the isle with a flash light, as a live band cranks out the theme from Mission Impossible. When he gets on stage, he locates a pair of sunglasses & says to the crowd in surprise "Video glasses!". He puts them on to see the message, and the following clip I prepared will show up on the large overhead projection screen:

www.eefilm.com/clips/missiondetails.wmv

I feel it's missing that "something", and just can't put my finger on it. Would love some suggestions ideas to see what I can do to polish it within Vegas.

In my office, we quickly shot this guy who was TRYING to do a Sean Connery voice, but ended up as a more high pitched whiney Jimmy Stewart (I pitch shifted in Vegas to bring the voice down). He also didn't have any lines memorized, so he had to repeat each line the guy holding the mic said ... so there were TONS of breaks as I pieced all the dialogue/video together.

To cover the REAL obvious breaks (i.e. where he shifted his weight to one side, stepped closer/farther from camera, etc.) I used a TV interferance look w/static SFX. Everything's done in Vegas, with a CHEAP blue felt blanket just draped behind him for the key ... shot in my office, and finished to what you see here after about 4 hours of working with it.

missionsplitscreen.jpg


missionsplitscreen2.jpg
 
Sorry, but the "Sean Connery" impression is pretty bad...no chance on doing ADR to use a regular voice?

Anyway, I think this is really good. The only real complaint I had when watching (other than the voice) was that the guy seemed to sharp, in focus. When the TV effect was applied he looked more like he belonged in the "video link" I was watching. The rest of the time he looked too much like home movie superimposed over the "video link" setup. Maybe if you made him more holographic looking it would sell the idea more. Other than that, I think it was really good.

Just my $0.01 9/10

Peace,
Larry
 
Norm,

Larry_R nailed what I was gonna suggest...a more holographic feed look.

I didn't hear Jimmy Stewart, I heard Frank Oz (either way ADR may be in order.)

Finally...is this supposed to be an archangel (ie St. Michael)? If so maybe try changing the background or give him a gloriole around his head to represent this (I'm thinking traditional in appearance, but with a high-tech twist.)

As always, very good work, my friend - keep us updated.

Cheers, :beer:
Chad
 
I'm going to sound like a real jerk here, but even though it's for the church, it's free, and it's for a children's program ... taking the time to sync ADR to this is the last thing I want to do right now. I agree the voice is pathetic (at one point it had a hint of Yoda), but perhaps it's not TOO bad if no one thinks it's supposed to be an impersonation.

I honestly don't know who the person's supposed to be other than a supervisor/director giving this agent direction(s). I was asked to do this the night before ... I gave suggestions for set, etc., but instead they decided to just show up at my house. I quickly threw up a blanket for a key (REALLY need to purchase a pro screen), and said we'd figure something out in post. I thought of a more heavenly backdrop, but the guy who's directing the play wanted more of a tech look in the BG.

Tonight I'll duplicate the clip of the guy, bezier mask around the duplicated clip, and play around with the phospherous settings, and some other filters to see what I can come up with.

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

EDIT: FUNNY! I'm sitting there thinking of Chad's comment saying "where do I know the name Frank Oz from?". After I said I heard a hint of Yoda, I do an IMDB, and BAM ... same person. :thumbsup: :grin:
 
Sony Vision series loop. I WISH I could create something like that, but glad there are those clips you can just purchase instead.
 
Yeah, it would be impossible to do something quick like this otherwise, I guess.

Good work, though. I though the blue screen worked fairly well for being a cheapo solution.
 
I added a bezier mask around him, attempting to give him more of a holographic look ... brought his opacity down a little as well. Thoughts? See above for new link/grabs. I also seperated the distorted TV effect, so now he's the only thing effected vs. the entire BG as before.
 
Yes, that's it. Great Job! Making him more "holographic" sells the idea perfectly - in my opinion anyway. :) I also like the distorted tv effect only affecting him and not the entire scene.

Are you going to put in an visual explosion along with the sound effect, if not why not? Also, why does the clip run so long after it goes black?
 
Thanks guys! :beer:

Larry, there's no explosion on screen because what we're seeing on screen is only what the agent will be seeing through the glasses. At the 5 second count down, he'll take the glasses off between 5 & 4 (why it fades out there), and then tosses them to the side. The explosion will happen near the audience (puff of flour, some confetti, party popper, etc.) ... that's why it won't be onscreen.

The music continues on for a bit as a transition period as he's looking around for a phone booth to call "Agent Gabe" about the big mission.

Should be a fun, different Christmas Pageant (not to sound disrespectful, but you can only see the nativity scene so many times before it's good for something fresh), and this will be the only video in the thing so hopefully it "pops" a little.

Thanks again for the feedback ... everyone's consensus really helped a ton!

EDIT: Just noticed Larry's original comment about him being too sharp/in focus. Think I'll add a slight gaussian blur on his character for the final.
 
The bezier mask looks amazing, Norm. They are gonna be very happy with it...perhaps too happy. Now they'll have you doing effects for every holiday. :thumbsup:
 
Envision said:
FUNNY! I'm sitting there thinking of Chad's comment saying "where do I know the name Frank Oz from?". After I said I heard a hint of Yoda, I do an IMDB, and BAM ... same person. :thumbsup: :grin:
Click to expand...

Well, more like the older brother from E.T. tying to sound like Yoda, crossed with Sean Connery as a teenager. It'll work with the kids, though! Nice bass explosion, too.

I loved it. Good work.
 
Envision said:
Larry, there's no explosion on screen because what we're seeing on screen is only what the agent will be seeing through the glasses. At the 5 second count down, he'll take the glasses off between 5 & 4 (why it fades out there), and then tosses them to the side. The explosion will happen near the audience (puff of flour, some confetti, party popper, etc.) ... that's why it won't be onscreen.

The music continues on for a bit as a transition period as he's looking around for a phone booth to call "Agent Gabe" about the big mission.
Click to expand...

Oh, yea, for a moment I forgot that this was in a live dramatic production. That makes sense. Good job!

Envision said:
Should be a fun, different Christmas Pageant (not to sound disrespectful, but you can only see the nativity scene so many times before it's good for something fresh), and this will be the only video in the thing so hopefully it "pops" a little.
Click to expand...

You disrepectful punk! Just kidding. I agree that sometimes its nice to have something other than the straight traditional nativity play. This year we are doing the old fashioned nativity, but using all the kids in the church (the little kids are always a riot to watch), but two years ago we put on a production that focused on the Innkeeper and our take on how he might have been transformed by that miraculous night.

Anyway, good job. I'm sure they'll love it.

Peace,
Larry
 
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