OUDF601: Survey Results

After finishing my practical synthesis, I conducted study, it was a survey consisting of 10 participants, aged between the ages of 18-24 years, 3 were female and 7 were male. The study was to find out which effect had, a superior visual style, a superior visual illusion, flexibility, cost efficiency, and finally which clip they preferred overall.

100% of the participants said the digital effects clip has a superior visual style.

100% of the participants said the digital effects clip has superior visual illusion.

60% of the participants said digital effects clip has superior flexibility while 40% said the special effects clip was more flexible.

70% of the participants said the digital effects clip was more cost efficient to produce while 30% opposed.

Finally 100% of the participants said the digital effects clip was more superior overall.

OUDF601: Synthesis Practical | Magical Orb Project

Creating the orb that I ended up using was relatively easy. I started off by wanting to model it using Autodesk Maya but that proved to be a bit complex. I simply created a sphere using a polygon primitive, to achieve the glow effect I experimented by assigning a new material called 'mia material x' and rendered using mental ray. The effect wasn't what I desired so I tried a different material called the 'maya surface shader'. The glow effect was perfect and it was the desired look. Now came the time to export the object into After Effects, this proved to be an impossible task, watching tutorial after tutorial, i simply couldn't grasp the concept. 

I then decided to do an alternative solution of creating a 2 dimensional orb on Photoshop CS6. I had to to make it to appear 3 dimensional, to do this I simply added a subtle drop shadow and a slightly intense glow, see fig.1

fig.1

To retain the alpha channels I saved the image as a PNG. The next step was to import to After Effects and line it up with the footage I filmed earlier. the footage was shot using a canon 5D MK2 with a 50mm f/1.8 attached to it. I used available light to illuminate the environment and the main subject.

The orb was perfect and it didn't need any tweaking at all. For result see fig.2

fig.2

The next step was to add a flame for realism. For this I simply used  footage of a flame with alpha channels on it, I turned the blend mode to 'colour dodge'. See fig.3 of a flame with an alpha channel on it.

fig.3

A one of the frames, the flame was spilling out from the orb, to fix this I simply masked it out around the orb and slightly increased the feather. The solved the problem immediately. The animation process was also simple as I was going for the simple floating look. See fig.3 

fig.3

I decided to duplicate everything I did above for the second angle that shot. see fig.4

I finally graded the footage to give it a film look, and a bit of depth to the colour so it can be pleasing to the eye. 
I'm happy with the final outcome of the video. I added titles, particle effects and music to finalise everything. 

OUDF601: COP3 | Academic Poster

During our extended assay we were asked to present academic posters to help us present our research information. The title of my essay is Are Visual Effects Improving or Detracting from Cinema?
Prior to creating this visual presentation, I hadn't done one before so it was a bit of a challenge. The whole idea of this project was to give us an idea on how to create one so we can use it to our advantage in the future. 

What I included on my poster is the Introduction to what I'm doing on my essay, the Objective of what I'm going to cover throughout the essay, the Methodology of my research, the Quotes from the research that I've done and finally the References of the books I read.

The poster was not bad to say it was a first draft. In terms of feedback, I did not get much constructive criticism except for "good information", "poster is readable", "good illustration" etc.

I've attached an unfinished version of the poster as I could not find the full version that was printed off. 

OUDF601: Synthesis Practical | Storyboard

Fig.1

Above (Fig.1) are the main ideas that are going to be used for testing an idea. The project is compare Visual Effects to Special Effects. 

The images are above are going to be computer generated, therefore are going to include live action flames composited to a CG orb. A glow effect will also be composited at the post processing stage using appropriate tools. 

The images below represent special effects, therefore I will be using tools such as a polystyrene ball, fishing wire and other appropriate tools to help me achieve the illusions. 

The shot are going to be filmed using a still camera with a 50mm lens attached and also mounted onto a tripod for extra stability  there will not be any tracking shots. 

OUDF601: Research for Essay | Failed Interviews

While looking for interviews for my research question, I sent email to a few number of profession Industry practitioners. Unfortunately some of them never do respond to your emails but those who do offer kind responses. I got into contact with a practitioner named Susi Sie for an interview and she kindly agreed. The downside is her English speaking language wasn't up to par as she mentioned so herself, so when it came to actually asking the questions, she failed to fully understand and never responded.

This led me to continue searching for other practitioners to contact. I joined Linkdin in an attempt to find other contacts who work in the visual effects industry.

Below are screen shots of the interview process with Susi Sie: 

OUDF601: Acoustic Levitation

While I was researching ways to levitate the polystyrene ball, I came across this article of Japanese Scientists that Discover a Way To Levitate Objects Using Sound. 

The developers mentioned that they employ the ultrasonic speakers and you hear nothing around the device. The science behind it seems very complex and it is beyond my ability. Therefore I will stick to using the near invisible fishing wire.

Author Tim Williams wrote,

"The three Japanese scientists/engineers are from the University of Tokyo and the Nagoya Institute of Technology and the device they’ve recently unveiled uses sounds waves to move objects through three dimensional space. It uses four sets of speakers which converge their sound waves on one point that can be moved up, down, left and right using a set of controls, essentially allowing objects to be levitated and moved around. What’s better is that the sound is ultrasound so the machine isn’t even loud – it’s completely silent." (Williams, 2014)

Williams, T.

VIDEO: Japanese Scientists Discover Way To Levitate Objects Using Sound

In-text: (Williams, 2014)

Bibliography: Williams, T. 2014. VIDEO: Japanese Scientists Discover Way To Levitate Objects Using Sound. [online] Available at: http://www.sickchirpse.com/japanese-scientists-levitation/ [Accessed: 30 Nov 2013].

The video is below:

OUDF601: Practical Synthesis | Mood-boards & Concept Art

A lot of inspiration to this was taken from Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The film feature Wizards such as Gandalf the Grey and Saruman the White, this led me to also look at Albus Dumbledore from harry potter & use the inspiration. 

OUDF601: Practical Synthesis

On our CoP3 module, we're required to integrate our extended essay with a practical idea of choice; the definition of synthesis is the combining of separate elements or substances to form a coherent whole. In my case, my essay is about whether visual effects can improve or detract from cinema. I brainstormed through a couple of ideas that were likely possible concepts to use & I came to a conclusion of the following.
Practical Idea: To use two indistinguishable scenarios, in which they're both the similar but only one of them features computer generated imaging while the other uses traditional special effects. Judgment will then be made to which is the superior footage, the one with conventional special effects or the other that features contemporary digital effects.

A conceivable idea that can be done within the short amount of time that I have is as follows: To use an actor dressed in character as a man with magical powers, otherwise identified in legends and fairytales as wizard. The idea is to have the character hold a magical orb, through special effects the orb will be made to hover and glow. The second scenario is to use digital effects; use a CG orb modeled in Autodesk Maya and through compositing software such as Adobe After Effects and Nuke, I will add animated effects such as glow, particle effects & more.

Pre-Production:

· Brainstorm Ideas
· Research appropriate locations
· Storyboard
· Recruit an actor
· Equipment (Camera 5D MKII, Green screen, Lighting, Sound)

Production:

· Filming
· 3-D Modeling

Post Production:

· Compositing
· Digital Effects
· Colour Correction
· Editing

OUDF601: Structure / Chapter Plan

Are Visual Effects Improving or Damaging Film? 

My Extended piece of writing will consist of the following possible chapters.

Abstract: This part will be the whole essay condensed into a paragraph, it will consist of the main problem addressed, the solution offered and the conclusion reached. 

Introduction: Are Visual Effects Improving or Damaging Film? This will be the central driving question and theme of the essay. This is where I will present the question or problem that the essay will try to solve, I will demonstrate my competence at researching a topic at a professional level and present my findings in an appropriate manner. 

I will also explain how and why my essay is structured the way it is (chapters). This will insure that reader understands why I'm giving particular information. 

Main body of essay | First discussion. 

How do Visual Effects Improve Film?: Here I will talk about numerous films that have been successful due to the beauty & art that visual effects provided.  I will talk about films that can't be done practically without the use of VFX.I will also talk about the companies who work tirelessly to make this happen, I will have to include the industry practitioners who are willing to provide information about how they go about doing their job to constantly improve the quality of the computer generated imaging we see on screen. These will include, directors, VFX supervisors, compositors, animators, editors, actors etc. The films I wish to talk about are Pans Labyrinth (Pale man, Fann, the subtle use of VFX & mostly SFX), Life of Pi (Using a CG tiger as to using a real one), Gravity, Elysium, Avatar, Transformers trilogy, 300, Sin City and more.

Second Discussion.

How do Visual Effects damage Film?: Here I will present the argument and explain how visual effects actually damage film instead of improve it. Finding information on published material for this argument has proved tough, this is where research methodologies come in. 

Quantitative & qualitative research will be useful at this point, I will create questionnaires which do not have leading questions but refined questions that will genuinely engage the people with my research. The responses will enable me to evaluate what others think & they will help me construct my argument with more validity as to what other people's views are on the subject. 

Conducting Interviews is one of the best ways to conduct this investigation, by interviewing appropriate people such as industry practitioners through emails and also interviewing my fellow colleagues and my tutors will help me with this investigation. 

Criticism of VFX

Third Discussion.

The Progress of VFX & what it can achieve:

OUDF601: Level 6 CoP3 | The Beginning.

Before we broke up for the summer holidays, we were briefed on a new module for our third year study called Context of Practice 3. In this module we are to write a 6000-9000 word essay which is the same as a dissertation but it's an extended piece of writing due to the fact that we have to produce a synthesised practical with it. 

We were given a massive head start to begin our research, this was 3 months prior to handing in our final proposals. What i liked about the brief of this module is the fact that we can write about anything that interests us, it doesn't have to relate to any studio concerns. To make the most out of my study, I had to relate it to what I'm specialising in on my my 3rd year & my speciality is Visual Effects & focusing solely on digital compositing in post production for Film & TV.

My initial essay proposal was 'The Evolution of Visual Effects in Media', the feedback I received from this was that the subject matter was way too broad. So over the summer this led me to do a lot of research that would help me conclude to a good topic. This led me to read a number of undergraduate dissertations to learn styles and structuring of writing an appropriate extended piece of writing. I also Read journalistic articles and various academic papers  from Academia.edu & some on Google Scholar, as well as  blogs. Doing observation research such as watching relevant films also help to an extent, these were past & present films, this also led me to watching various interviews of industry practitioners.

I was recommended a good book to read over the summer & it's called 'Special Effects : An Oral History by Pascal Pinteau', the book is a good read & it features interviews with the practitioners who worked on big films such as The Matrix, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, Star Wars, E.T to name the least. It covers a series of interviews from the big names in the industry, Early movie SFX to today’s big blockbusters VFX, it’s a good read, it’s filled with great history & good insights that are otherwise hard to find. 

With all the reading & thinking during the holidays, I came up with a new title for my extended piece which is less broad & has a much focused question. My new title is 'Are Today's Visual Effects Improving or Damaging Film'. I feel much better writing about this essay as I now know exactly what to focus on, my mission now is to think of an appropriate practical idea to combine with this essay for synthesis.