underwater skeletons, corpses ?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
I am writing an indie horror screenplay to produce, wondering if I could pull off some special effects on an indie budget ($50k-$100k+). I have a scene where the protagonist ends up in a lake, sees corpses and skeletons roped to weights on the lake bottom, some of the corpses/skeletons floating up off the lake bottom, even reaching out to the protagonist. How the heck could this be done on a low budget? I could see using scuba gear, actual skeletons, actors in makeup, but that would require scuba gear, scuba rigged professionals to help with air, and would the water be too murky to film that? If done CGI / VFX, how would that be done with real actors (Protagonist), since I would not have access to a large water tank with green screen as they did for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire? I could possibly have access to a community swimming pool to green screen but that might only get ten feet deep at the deepest end of the pool. Ideas? Thoughts? Can this be done on an indie budget, or should I just find a way to rewrite the scene without the underwater effects-- not as good but I suppose I could just have the corpses/skeletons reaching up out of the water surface to the protagonist in a boat, etc.
~randall
 
Well, actually filming underwater might be done relatively easy (water is never actually easy), but the guys at the bottom is going to be a lot of fun. I' definately discard the idea of using actual people. The security involved, and the hassle of actually getting multiple people to do what they're supposed to while underwater is going to be tough. Perhaps some of those plastic skeletons they used in schools, combined with old wigs, torn clothes and paper mache?
 
I'd be dubious about greenscreening - underwater lighting is weird, especially when complicated by any murk and gunge in the water, and could be very difficult to match across multiple elements.

Have you considered minatures? They'd be a whole lot easier to film, e.g. in a fishtank. Interaction between models and live actors would obviously be hard, but if you choose your shots carefully you might be able to get away without showing models and live actors onscreen at once.

Are you wanting a completely realistic look? If not, you could consider 'dry for wet' which is what they did in the Stingray puppet TV show - the models were dry but shot through a narrow fishtank full of tiny live fish.
 
Oh, those are cool suggestions too! Big miniatures hanging from the roof in a smokefilled room. That could make som nice shots too.
 
yeah thank you all for the great suggestions. i also just heard from a friend about The Spirit, new release on DVD, special features show how they shot the actors dry hanging from a rope and blew wind on them with a fan, all against a green screen, to then composite with underwater CGI so it looksl like actors are underwater; going to watch how they did that when i get that DVD in the mail from netflix in a few days.
 
I like that idea. I could get a big fish tank, line it with green whatever if needed, fill it with weeds and miniatures, film tiny corpses and tiny skeletons; or film underwater (lake, clear water-- we actually have pretty clean and clear water in places up here in northern MN) 1/4 scale skeletons and corpses-- viewer would not know size per se; and actors could be out of that shot, cut to actor in water with look of horror looking at the corpses, skeletons; make some compromises since of course i could not have a 20x20x60 green screen water tank like they used for Harry Potter Goblet of Fire.

clang said:
...Have you considered minatures? They'd be a whole lot easier to film, e.g. in a fishtank. Interaction between models and live actors would obviously be hard, but if you choose your shots carefully you might be able to get away without showing models and live actors onscreen at once...
Click to expand...
 
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the ring, had a much better "faked" underwater scene than the Spirit did. It worked in the spirit because of the kind of movie it was but as far as realistic, LOTR was better imo. They basically did the same thing. Over cranked it when shooting and when the footage was slowed down it looked like they were under water.

Some get crazy and add bubbles but that would be tough on a low budget...
 
I would probably grab a couple of plastic skeletons and clothe them in torn up rags and gunk 'em up. Then sink 'em to the bottom of a pool or lake.

I would do this because:
a. It would be sorta more realistic.
b. It would be fun.
c. It could be good for experience.

You could even operate them like marionette puppets. But, it would be rather difficult to have them interact with actors in scene.
 
One other thought if you do go for underwater models - you may be able to puppeteer them with transparent thread which should be invisible in the water.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top