How do you make Dark City or The Crow on a small budget?

[Angelshare1]

My shorts and films have been modern and talking heads and I'm ready to learn more about making sci fi.

First, to make a sci fi city, do you go with models or CGI? If CGI, what kind of software programs do you use? Not looking for a step by step, just a general push in the right direction.

Thanks!

 

[Gord.T]

I think it depends on what your specific shots will be and whether this is something you would like to do yourself.
Distant city shots are probably the easiest as opposed to getting the camera right down in there.


You could do it with any one the 3D programs around including the free program Blender.
However getting it to look photoreal and convincing would be the tricky part.

One shot you could start playing with right away is to do a matte painting of a distant city using photoshop.
City matte painting examples.

If you need the camera moving a bit you can then project the images onto 3D models although that isn't always possible.
Google 'Camera Projection' or 'Camera Mapping'.
Camera Mapping example.

Depending on how much parallax is needed you can also cut out chunks of the photo and
move the chunks around (basically) to fake depth. That can sometimes work for long shots.
Here's an example I did using that technique although I cut up 2 pictures instead of one... http://www.vimeo.com/5442520

And ofcourse you could build it all in 3D. The destroyed city in Terminator Salvation was done that way.

None of this is something you can just walk up and do right away though but hopefully it gives some insight into some ways it's done.

If you need specific help with the above you can post questions in one of the Post Production forums here like AE, 3D, Photoshop ect.