VFX Fundamentals for the Games, Animation & VFX Industries
This page is dedicated to the VFX Fundamentals for the Games, Animation & VFX Industries Component of the AIM Award Technical in Animation, Games & VFX. Below will include projects including images, video & reflections.
Technical Skills
VFXF 1 - Be able to plan, design and implement a shoot to acquire elements for a visual effect.
VFXF 2 - Be able to convert acquired elements from camera to computer in preparation for compositing phase.
VFXF 3 - Be able to use compositing tools and techniques to create a sequence that blends live footage with computer generated elements.
VFXF 4 - Demonstrate and appropriate critical eye for detail and good aesthetic judgement.
VFXF 5 - Know how to organise post production pipeline and scheduling.
Special Effects
Here I have used Windows Based Tools to add special effects to a video.
Video Subtitle
This is your Video Description paragraph. It’s a great place to add a description of the video displayed in this section, and a few more words about your business, your site or what you do. Use a friendly and conversational tone to engage as many users as possible!
Double Exposure
Here I have used Double Exposure technique to blend a main subject into a city landscape background on PhotoShop. First, I used the Quick Selection tool to select the main subject and created a layer mask. I then created an adjustment layer and changed the background to the brightest colour of the images. The two images then blended together and I changed the opacity to make it look more vibrant. I felt confident that the images would work well together and that I could use the Double Exposure technique efficiently. The experience was positive as there were little to no problems and I was able to learn how to use the technique. The background image blends in nicely with the colours of the main image and has an interesting look to it. The background landscape image could be aligned better so it shows more of the background image in the main image. The background image could also be zoomed out more so it shows more detail and is less blurry.
Screenplay
1 EXT. MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN - DAY 1
The town is bustling and filled with people. The noise of cars and buses surround the area.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Middlesbrough seemed like any other
ordinary town until...
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
2 EXT. MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN STREET - DAY 2
Suddenly, the wind becomes stronger and litter starts to fly around the street.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
3 EXT. MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN STREET - DAY 3
A tornado can be seen looming towards the town wreaking havoc in the distance.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
(Authoritatively)
Chaos Arrived!
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
4 EXT. MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN STREET - DAY 4
As the tornado causes destruction fire and explosions can be seen as the cameraman gets behind cover.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
5 EXT. MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN - AFTERNOON 5
As the tornado leaves the devastation left behind surrounds the area and the cameraman gets up to film it.
END.
Storyboard
Location Recce
LOCATION RECCE
Prepared by
Kevin Maughan
Date 15/03/2022
Location Details
The location is Middlesbrough Town.
Scene/Purpose of filming
Using the town to film our film trailer.
Location Contact Name
Kevin Maughan
Room Number
Outside in Middlesbrough Town
Contact telephone
Point of access
7 days a week, 5 hours a day
Permissions
Granted
Availability 7 days a week, 5 hours a day
Points of Interest
The streets and roads of Middlesbrough Town
Suitability/Possible shots
Perfect as it is
Safety Issues
See Risk Assessment
Electricity Supply
We don’t need an electricity supply.
Sunlight
There will be enough natural light during the day.
Windows
There aren’t any windows as the location is outside.
Noise
The noise of cars and pedestrians are fine as we want the noise in our film trailer.
Shot List
Call Sheet
Contributor Release Form
Name of Contributor: Kevin Maughan
Address of Contributor: Middlesbrough College
Date: 05/04/2022
Working Title: “Terminus” Film Trailer
I agree to the inclusion of my contribution in this film, the nature of which has been explained to me. I understand that my contribution will be edited and there is no guarantee that my contribution will appear in the final film. I agree that my contribution may be used to publicise the film.
I understand that this film (or part of it) may be distributed in any medium in any part of the world.
My contribution has, to the best of my knowledge, been truthful and honest. I have not deliberately sought to conceal any relevant facts from the makers of this film.
Signed
Kevin Maughan
Notes on the Release Form
You need a Release Form for anyone who either gives you an interview or who speaks on camera. You do not need a Release Form for people on the street as long as your camera is not concealed.
You will need Release Forms for people who are identifiable in sensitive places even if they are not speaking e.g. hospital waiting rooms, gay clubs, law court corridors.
You should warn your interviewee/actor that you will need a Release Form signed after the interview and get it signed straight away. Try not to leave it until the next day or the next week by which time they may have changed their mind.
Anyone under the age of 16 needs to have their Release Form signed by one of their parents.
It is crucial that the Release Form is not signed under any misapprehension or false pretences. Whilst you do not need to share all your plans or thoughts for the film with the contributors, what you do say must not be misleading. It is best to communicate with your interviewees in writing before the interview so that you have proof that you were clear about the nature of the film.
In recent years, documentary hoaxing has become more common – you are advised to double check your contributor’s story. You should ask to see a passport to check they are giving you their real name and request appropriate evidence of their qualifications, if you are in any doubt.
Many release forms also contain a clause warning interviewee that they are liable for any libel case might result from their contribution to the documentary.
That clause has not been included here for two reasons. Firstly, it will not protect the documentary filmmaker (and the TV channel that broadcasts it) from being sued if the interviewee has libelled someone. Secondly this clause can frighten off interviewees from taking part to begin with. Remember that the responsibility for good journalism lies with you not with the contributor and see the Legalities of Documentary Filmmaking FAQ for more information about libel.
Project Film Trailer
Project Evaluation
I first started pre-production by creating a screenplay and then storyboard to get the story and shots planned out. I then finished the other pre-production documents such as the shot list, location recce, call sheet and contributor release forms. I then took the filming equipment to the locations I had planned out and shot the scenes using the documents I had used to plan them. I used the equipment to film all of the footage for the trailer and then began post-production. I started editing the footage by using software to bring all the footage together and place it in the correct part of the timeline. I also added custom sound effects and visual effects onto the footage to make it look how I had planned.
I found it difficult to try to write a screenplay and make a storyboard because I struggled to come up with an idea then start developing it. Once I had finished them, I found it easier to understand what I was going to film and create.
The film trailer works at trying to tell a story in a short timeframe and viewers understand what it is about. Also, the footage is edited well, and each scene flows into one another due to the well-placed fade effects. The sound effects, background music and original footage sound, are spaced out so that the trailer sounds clear and interesting. The sound effects really add to the visual effects and gives the illusion of them being real.
The visual effects don’t really blend well with the footage however, and they look unrealistic. All the visual effects have a watermark from the website they came from, and it immediately ruins the effect the effects should have. Also, some of the visual effects don’t have sound effects accompanying them and they look unrealistic because they are silent.
Carrying out research on film trailers and how they are presented, helped me envision what I wanted from my film trailer. It helped me understand how I should present the story being told in a short timeframe.
We found out that we would need to add more shots during production to show the visual effects off and we had to go and shoot more footage to fulfil that. This happened due to lack of preparation during pre-production.
From this Project I have learned how to come up with an idea and develop it, how to film footage from planned shots and how to edit footage professionally. I have learned how to bring footage together and add effects to it, these skills could be used again if I was going to create a video for something.
I should try to be more prepared during pre-production so that the production stage is smoother and more efficient. Next time I work on a project I should give myself more time to prepare to reduce unexpected issues. This would result in a higher quality of work, and I would feel more confident.