Side-by-Side VFX Showcase!
Added 2015-09-02 13:05:57 +0000 UTC[UPDATE: now open to BTS tier]
Not exactly a tutorial, but I'm posting this in the feed of tutorial-level patrons, for only YOU will have the patience to sit through something so strangely technical. It's a special version of the most recent episode: a split-screen shows the rough cut of the episode (no visual effects, reframing or color correction) next to the finished product, shot for shot. The debunking sections, where no footage was filmed, display corresponding portions of the script we used throughout production.
The audio has the dialogue track is muted so only sound effects and music are heard, for a better idea of the sound design. (Listen in headphones and crank it up!)
It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're the type of detail-oriented film nerd that wants to see the nuts and bolts of... EVERYTHING, well, you're welcome! :)
Comments
Okay, that's funny. I noticed that elaborate hair behind her head and was sure you did that on purpose just to show off.
Michael Krehan
2015-09-03 07:38:06 +0000 UTCThank you very much!
Keith Marrocco
2015-09-02 14:32:28 +0000 UTCHey Keith, totally valid points and good questions. Yes, the hair seam is quite messy in many places. The truth is it was a makeshift solution. Years ago, when we did the first video with Holly, I made sure that her hair was arranged in a way that no strands ever fell behind the neck. This time, I kind of... well... didn't think of it because there were a million other things to take care of. But faced with the dozens of shots where the hair intersects the neck, I had to solve it in a way that would look acceptable but also make it feasible to finish the video on time. You're right about the neck color. As thick as we laid that makeup, it wouldn't get fully opaque on her skin. And while it was very close to key color, knocking it out caused the detail of the hair to erode. So the neck had to be roto-brushed. The AE roto-brush doesn't have variable feathering like the masks and the edge had to work for the chin line. There was simply not enough time to track additional feathering onto the hair boundaries in every shot. I think if/when we do this again next time. All that hair is getting pinned up again! :)
Captain Disillusion
2015-09-02 14:25:05 +0000 UTCCool. I wish I could share this with video-making friends. I guess I should just tell them to Patreon up to see it. Please take this as me wanting to learn and not a criticism. As a dabbler in VFX, I was initially very impressed with the hair behind Holly's head showing through where her neck should have been. This drew my attention to it, and I noticed there was a very apparent seam where the rotoscoped(?) hair layer didn't seem to match up with the foreground hair. Do you think that more feathering would have helped? Also, the green makeup on her neck looked like it might be letting her skin tone through. Was there any difficulty in keying it out to get the final incredible result?
Keith Marrocco
2015-09-02 13:31:40 +0000 UTC
