Multiplying people

[Hawk Teflon]

I have a shoot coming up where we're going to need a crowd scene. The more the merrier, really. Though, we really only anticipate a few people (maybe 10). We'll of course keep the shots tight and fib people into shots and stuff, but I'd love a wider shot that looks like a ton of people are there. Is there a way to multiply people into a crowd scene (dark, listening to a concert) that looks believable?

 

[oneinfiniteloop]

You can use Particular do pretty easy crowd duplication. Here's a tutorial from Mike from Belief, it's pretty nifty:

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-make-a-crowd-with-particular-in-after-effects-18735/

EDIT: Here's another one from Graymachine - http://www.graymachine.com/2009/08/creating-a-crowd-with-trapcode-particular-2/

 

[Hawk Teflon]

Man, those look good. I really like that second one. I'm currently Trapcodeless, though (which is odd, considering how much AE I use at work). The concept can be done without it, but it would sure make it easier. I think I may follow those examples and do it all by hand. Thanks for the insight and help!

 

[Hawk Teflon]

Geez, I priced some green screened crowd shots to save me some time later, and they're like $300 for a 6 second clip. Standard Definition. Hmmm... no thanks! I'll definitely make those clips myself. Why are they so expensive? I know I'm cheap, but come on! I'd pay $15 for one that length.

 

[Arson]

Because an editor in a panic will spend $300 or even $3000 of someone else's money rather than plan a green screen shoot.

 

[lhdor]

did you try istockphoto for prices?

 

[Hawk Teflon]

Yeah. They're cheaper, which is nice (SD), but after many many pages, disappointment shrouded my search.

 

[oneinfiniteloop]

Did you try Aharon Rabinowitz's Crowd Control? Full HD clips are only $50 and 720p is only $20, plus it's all pre-keyed.

http://footage.allbetsareoff.com/

 

[msorrels]

All Bets Are Off also has a really nice detailed tutorial on makeing a crowd with their footage and Particular 2, I'd recommend watching it even if you don't use their footage.

http://allbetsareoff.com/tutorials/rgtv-ep-25-crowd-p2/

 

[Hawk Teflon]

Yeah, thanks! Oneinfinite posted the link to that (graymachine), but I'm particular-less. I really need to pick that up, but I'm a bit broke.