suggestion for realistic looking "alien" ?

[starcentral]

Hi guys, I'm producing a short film and have all locations secured. The script calls for a scene where an office worker peers into the staff kitchen only to find two aliens bickering over how to use the coffee pot machine..

It would be a quick shot, they don't need to "walk" but the body movements should be realistic, as well as the realism of the image.

I've used 3D max before, but am no expert "modeller" and worse, I wouldn't know how to make the 3D rendering photo realistic.

 

[Gord.T]

3D modelling is one thing, rendering another and professional compositing is yet another and the latter is the one most commonly overlooked and misunderstood imo.

I think you've underestimated what you've taken on, quick shot or not, if your looking for photo realistic.

That said, I suggest you find a VFX supervisor to handle it or at least one to discuss it with. I'm being sincere here.

edit:// An example of that I mean by professional compositing (not just using an alpha) can be found here.

That's really what brings CGI renders to life. It's so often overlooked when most people have it right, just not taking it far enough.
And yep, me too. Don't ask me how they do it because...I do not know.

 

[starcentral]

Hi Gord, thanks for your reply.

I can do my own compositing, masking, motion-tracking, and even rotor-scoping if needed, but the cut to the FX shot will actually be a static POV of actor, so really its the body animation and photo realism I need (or need to hire someone to do).

Do you know anyone who could help with this?

 

[Gord.T]

Photo realism is a *****. There's a lot involved. I do know someone but they are out of the country right now. What is the goal for the film if you don't mind me asking?

 

[CallaghanFilms]

High-res latex, talent and a ****.ton of goo...

 

[starcentral]

I watched your sample Gord, but in no way is what I need a multi-layer composited shot ie. creating a landscape with new set elements, sky replacement, etc.. all that jazz...

I'm just inserting a couple alien dudes into a kitchen scene and at most will need some shadow maps, possibly reflection maps but doubtfully. The main thing is the aliens movements are real, and the lighting/rendering looks realistic. I know plugins like Brazil are suppose to help with photo realistic lighting/rendering but I need to focus on making my film right now and not learning how to use 3D software.

As for the goal of the film, it is meant to be a calling-card short film with high quality cinematic lighting and cinematography. This is just one quick insert shot, and actually the rest of the film has nothing to do with aliens and just happens to take place in an office environment.

 

[Gord.T]

High-res latex, talent and a s*%t.ton of goo...

You know what? There you go.

I just spent half an hour trying to respond and get all techno s*%t and , there you go. ^^^.


Since I've already spent so much time trying to respond, I'll go ahead and post my "Former" thoughts on the idea.
Otherwise I agree with Callaghan. (where were you 10 minutes ago?) -beers.


...

OK, so if the CG isn't quite up to digital domain standards, that's not the point of the short. OK.
I've seen some features on T.V in the past year and honest to god there are people here that could do better CGI than what was on those films. Crazy.

Reflection maps I wouldn't worry about because there will be little hi def detail in the reflections of a creature. Unless they are very very wet and even so the reflections would still be unrecognizable.
If needed, worst case, a still of the scene would be plenty to suffice as a reflection map. No need to get the chrome balls out and all that jazz.

Environment map(s) is all you really need for the scene. And luckily, these are blurred out so much that a basic still of the set can be used as an enviroment map. Again, no need for photographing gray balls for an enviroment reference.
(pssst. Yes you should technically. From the enviromaps I've made, phhhst, don't even worry about it. It's just a very vague general blurred out lighting map.)

The photorealistic lighting begins with the enviroment maps, and an understanding of where the sun is relative to the shot, the type of grain the camera is producing, which you could shoot a gray board for maybe 20 seconds and get the grain values from the camera with a simple piece of software. Then you have to soften the edges of the 3D model renders using shrink matt functions and blur them a bit to match the s*%tty resolution of video cameras. Sorry, but true.

I'm not an expert by ANY means. This is a hobby for me. I'm trying to help the best I can.

-beers.