artofsuntzu
Active member
A young girl tries to use the wishing-tools of children to get what she loves most.
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WISH - a short movie by Dudley Christian
- Thread starter artofsuntzu
- Start date
artofsuntzu
Active member
Cast
Nick Bruechert as "Dad"
Lauren as "Kate"
Conrad as "Jack"
Jandreett Totosaus M. as "Mom"
Production
soundtrack and special arrangements, Hania Zdunkiewicz
Nick Bruechert as "Dad"
Lauren as "Kate"
Conrad as "Jack"
Jandreett Totosaus M. as "Mom"
Production
soundtrack and special arrangements, Hania Zdunkiewicz
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artofsuntzu
Active member
Updating grabs while we wait for the festival to open for download:
3ds max for storyboarding.
3ds max for storyboarding.
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Luis Caffesse
Admin
Larry Rutledge
Fest Master
Luis Caffesse said:
I beg to differ .. I just checked my PayPal account, and the requisite Fest GateKeeper fee isn't there yet :evil: :grin:
artofsuntzu
Active member
But Luis Caffesse's PM said to pay him directly :huh:
(thanks for the feedback. quite honestly, this group set the bar so high I'm a little afraid of nosebleeds)
(thanks for the feedback. quite honestly, this group set the bar so high I'm a little afraid of nosebleeds)
artofsuntzu
Active member
I thought I'd take this opportunity to practice using a 3d program for storyboarding. Hand-drawn-chicken-scratch and 2d Adobe Illustrator works fine for me... but there are those times when I'm trying a risky shot and it'd be nice to have a solid sharing of the vision with the cast/crew. Especially with 4 year old actors.
So far I'm finding an unexpected benefit. I'm starting to edit inside 3ds as a virtual movie, with realtime camera cuts and timing. Addressing shot timing now is already showing me what scenes are working (and aren't working).
The potential cast seems to like it so far, too. Oh, yeah, I gotta get their headshots up soon.
So far I'm finding an unexpected benefit. I'm starting to edit inside 3ds as a virtual movie, with realtime camera cuts and timing. Addressing shot timing now is already showing me what scenes are working (and aren't working).
The potential cast seems to like it so far, too. Oh, yeah, I gotta get their headshots up soon.
Mark Johnson
The Dude Abides
Its great to see you using Max for storyboarding/camera tests. I hope you can post some screenshots as you progress.
We'll be using some 3D for camera tests and boarding ourselves and I'll post some of our frames when we get to that point.
We'll be using some 3D for camera tests and boarding ourselves and I'll post some of our frames when we get to that point.
artofsuntzu
Active member
I can't wait to see some of your frames.
I'm finding a lot of ways to approach this method, so I'll be curious to see some of the decisions you've made. Just trying to strike a balance between time spent on the computer and time saved on location.
I'm finding a lot of ways to approach this method, so I'll be curious to see some of the decisions you've made. Just trying to strike a balance between time spent on the computer and time saved on location.
artofsuntzu
Active member
I've looked at FrameForge and the like, but 3ds is great for accurate lensing and animation (I'm sure Maya too). I like the lensing for confined space decisions. And I like the real-time animation because it's creating a timeline that I can replicate in Vegas almost key-by-key. (great, now everyone knows I'm a geek).
Plus it's fun to see scenes running on the screen that elicite reactions from my preview critic: wife.
Well, this is still an experiment. I'm hoping it doesn't bog things down. What are you guys using?
Plus it's fun to see scenes running on the screen that elicite reactions from my preview critic: wife.
Well, this is still an experiment. I'm hoping it doesn't bog things down. What are you guys using?
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Mark Johnson
The Dude Abides
Good points. Discussing technique is one of the real benefits of this forum. Max is dynamite for previz and animation tests, but it isn't exactly good for quick and dirty if you have to do a lot of character work. As a storyboard tool I find FrameForge pretty decent once you get the hang of their quirky character posing approach. Also, it does generate pretty useful stats for your camera positions and lenses and has some pretty efficient tools for building sets, adding doors etc. that would otherwise take some time in Max.
We are among the few who actually use Poser with some frequency for scene tests because of its pre-rigged characters with a lot of cheap costuming available for free or low cost. For rendering and animation we simply open the Poser scenes in Max using Reiss Body Studio. I was able to set up, light and render the little short film Daydreams in three evenings using Poser and Max whereas it would have taken weeks of work to do it solely in Max.
Since we're trying to do this one "correctly" and with attention to pre-production, we hope to shoot some quick and dirty tests on low-res video and static cams to make some decisions regarding our setups. We'll post stuff as we complete it and hopefully can come up with at least a few things of interest and of use to other geeks like you!
We are among the few who actually use Poser with some frequency for scene tests because of its pre-rigged characters with a lot of cheap costuming available for free or low cost. For rendering and animation we simply open the Poser scenes in Max using Reiss Body Studio. I was able to set up, light and render the little short film Daydreams in three evenings using Poser and Max whereas it would have taken weeks of work to do it solely in Max.
Since we're trying to do this one "correctly" and with attention to pre-production, we hope to shoot some quick and dirty tests on low-res video and static cams to make some decisions regarding our setups. We'll post stuff as we complete it and hopefully can come up with at least a few things of interest and of use to other geeks like you!
artofsuntzu
Active member
Very nice. Your experience has already given me some ideas that I'm going to look into for saving more time. Thanks for sharing.
Oh yeah, another benefit, it doesn't hurt integrating 3ds as storyboarder and as a way to workout what clean-slates I need ahead of time since I might be using it for some CGI too.
I have to admit, this festival is serving its purpose when it comes to getting me off my @ss and trying some things I would have otherwise postponed.
Oh yeah, another benefit, it doesn't hurt integrating 3ds as storyboarder and as a way to workout what clean-slates I need ahead of time since I might be using it for some CGI too.
I have to admit, this festival is serving its purpose when it comes to getting me off my @ss and trying some things I would have otherwise postponed.
artofsuntzu
Active member
I'm practicing with a workflow experiment that's new to me.
First, I've created a to-scale environment in 3ds. On real locations, I found that rehearsing and blocking often reveals worthwhile story aspects. This is happening inside the 3ds max environment. The story is only roughly outlined. I'm letting the 3d environment act as a stream of consciousness for story details.
Second, I'm taking renders of the moving cameras and loading them into Vegas. Right now I've done a rough cut of the first scene against the soundtrack. I'm trying to see how much of the story I can tell with visuals before adding dialogue enrichment. (Bonus: I have slots I can use when the live footage is shot)
As a result, I'm finding it useful to 1) start with basic story elements 2) block camera in 3d, 3) edit renders in Vegas, then 4) write the script pages for actors and crew for December. (odd workflow, huh)
I'm saving time by using only minimal materials, right now. I'm trying only to spend the kind of time as I would on hand sketches... so that weird 'sword' thing you see at the beginning of the movie is actually a Toy Remote Control. I think my crew will be happy just to see that I stopped using hand sketches...
Anyway, if you want photorealism, definitely go see Mark Johnson... or "Mr. Industrial Light & Magic" in my mind.
First, I've created a to-scale environment in 3ds. On real locations, I found that rehearsing and blocking often reveals worthwhile story aspects. This is happening inside the 3ds max environment. The story is only roughly outlined. I'm letting the 3d environment act as a stream of consciousness for story details.
Second, I'm taking renders of the moving cameras and loading them into Vegas. Right now I've done a rough cut of the first scene against the soundtrack. I'm trying to see how much of the story I can tell with visuals before adding dialogue enrichment. (Bonus: I have slots I can use when the live footage is shot)
As a result, I'm finding it useful to 1) start with basic story elements 2) block camera in 3d, 3) edit renders in Vegas, then 4) write the script pages for actors and crew for December. (odd workflow, huh)
I'm saving time by using only minimal materials, right now. I'm trying only to spend the kind of time as I would on hand sketches... so that weird 'sword' thing you see at the beginning of the movie is actually a Toy Remote Control. I think my crew will be happy just to see that I stopped using hand sketches...
Anyway, if you want photorealism, definitely go see Mark Johnson... or "Mr. Industrial Light & Magic" in my mind.
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Mark Johnson
The Dude Abides
It is so great to see this insight into your workflow experimentation. Really cool stuff. A couple of questions:
1) Have you calibrated your camera and aspect ratio to what you are shooting?
2) Where did the soundtrack come from? It really is beautiful and poignant.
3) Will you "shoot" alternative versions of any scenes and when do you plan on showing clips to your cast?
4) When are you shooting in December?
1) Have you calibrated your camera and aspect ratio to what you are shooting?
2) Where did the soundtrack come from? It really is beautiful and poignant.
3) Will you "shoot" alternative versions of any scenes and when do you plan on showing clips to your cast?
4) When are you shooting in December?
artofsuntzu
Active member
I've calibrated the 3ds cameras to match my DV100. My shot list is taken from 3ds camera information: lenses, height, Tilt. I like talking in terms of standard 3ds/film lenses (32, 50, 85, 135, 200 mm) and do a conversion to DVX zoom settings at the last minute (0, 25, 55, 75, 85 % zoom).
I found her on a royalty-free website that a DVXUser wrote about in the forum. I emailed her and got a lot of cool instrumental and voice-only tracks to help with my soundtrack. Yeah, she's great.
(technology is cool: I'm getting audio help from her in Australia, I'm getting video help from a guy in Hawaii, I'm in Canada, and we've never met in person)
Absolutely. Anyone involved before shooting will be able to tweak and brainstorm ideas that I will then illustrate for them in 3ds max. That includes alternate ideas I have for certain scenes. It just a filename extension away.
On the shoot itself, I will be working with 5 and 7 year olds... so I expect everyone to conform to my 'single vision' and hit every mark I mapped for them, exactly
Actually, I always like to get the shots I need first, then open things up for all alternatives and safety shots that seem necessary. I find by doing my homework first, it leaves everyone with enough extra time for improv on the day of shooting.I'm thinking between Christmas and New Year, when one of my producer friends is in town. Hmmm... Christmas... I hope I'm not the entire crew at crunchtime.
BTW, thanks for not laughing at my simple 3d models; but, you get the idea.
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artofsuntzu
Active member
Principal photography on adult scenes (um scenes with grown-ups) wrapped a week ago. The 5 year old star prefers to work only 6 minutes a day. So, there will be 2 more weeks of shooting the 5 year old (uh filming) remaining.
No prob, the 3ds max animatics inside of the Vegas timeline has served its purpose: if the animatic clip on the timeline lasts only 12 seconds, then we don't inconvenience the kindergartener more than 12 seconds plus taperoll time.
I'm glad we spent the extra time in pre-viz.
No prob, the 3ds max animatics inside of the Vegas timeline has served its purpose: if the animatic clip on the timeline lasts only 12 seconds, then we don't inconvenience the kindergartener more than 12 seconds plus taperoll time.
I'm glad we spent the extra time in pre-viz.
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artofsuntzu
Active member
I wanted to show a .mov of the animatic, but it really IS the whole show. So, instead of getting DQ'ed, here's a BTS still that we used for comparing real lighting and camera positioning against the 3ds expectation:
3ds top view port used for camera blocking.
3ds camera render for lighting expectation.
BTS on-set lighting test.
3ds top view port used for camera blocking.
3ds camera render for lighting expectation.
BTS on-set lighting test.
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
Interesting. This is really looking like an early film that I did.
No, I'm not accusing you of anything.
I'm just interested in seeing how it plays out.
Cheers,
Mike
No, I'm not accusing you of anything.
I'm just interested in seeing how it plays out.
Cheers,
Mike
artofsuntzu
Active member
Hmmm, I can't think of any outside influences on this one... well, other than my wife forcing me to cast my daughter as a protagonist, finally.
But, if we have similar styles maybe there's a kindred Canadian connection we should look into developing someday.
Anyway, I'll be happy just to get my very first DVX entry in ontime. I'm honoured to be compared to anyone in this group.