Thursday, 14 April 2011
Storyline change
It should be noted that I have rewritten the storyline as I felt the previous idea was too convoluted and confusing. I decided to simplify the storyline to something that is easily conveyed to the viewer in a video less than a minute long. I decided upon something simple that everyone would recognise, a force overwhelmed by something dangerous with great power and strength. I feel this was a very good direction to take the storyline as it has provided a very satisfying end product that shows the viewer something interesting and enjoyable.
I feel that considering the time scale I have been using this program, which is obviously incredibly in depth and takes a considerable amount of time and skill to become proficient, the end result of this assignment is very rewarding, and has helped me learn key skills to continue using this program.
I feel that considering the time scale I have been using this program, which is obviously incredibly in depth and takes a considerable amount of time and skill to become proficient, the end result of this assignment is very rewarding, and has helped me learn key skills to continue using this program.
Post Production
After finishing the rendering of the video and editing it I decided to create a version which featured added effects to better emphasise what was going on in the video and add a little more immersion for the viewer. The effects were added in using Adobe after effects. The effects were from video copilots action essentials effects pack (http://www.videocopilot.net/products/action2/) and really give the video a boost in excitement and appeal. I featured a version that had the effects removed so the actual physical movement of the objects is more apparent.
Filming pt3
The following scene shows the radar base fulfilling its true role as a hidden Superweapon!
The rotation of the dome was made entirely within the curve editor for rotational movement. The curve was manipulated to give a constant acceleration until it reached it's top speed. The curve editor was perfect for this scene as it allows precise control over the motion. Had I used the normal keyframing method then the rotation would have built up then stopped again instead of reaching it's maximum speed. Manipulating it's curve in this way ensure smooth uniform movement as the weapon charges up to fire.
the scene after is a duplicate of this scene however the camera is viewing it from directly above to give a sense of the scale and magnitude of this superweapon.
The credits then roll showing the title of the film.
The rotation of the dome was made entirely within the curve editor for rotational movement. The curve was manipulated to give a constant acceleration until it reached it's top speed. The curve editor was perfect for this scene as it allows precise control over the motion. Had I used the normal keyframing method then the rotation would have built up then stopped again instead of reaching it's maximum speed. Manipulating it's curve in this way ensure smooth uniform movement as the weapon charges up to fire.
the scene after is a duplicate of this scene however the camera is viewing it from directly above to give a sense of the scale and magnitude of this superweapon.
The credits then roll showing the title of the film.
Filming pt2
The Scene in which a guardtower is destroyed was easily my favourite to animate. I ungrouped all the individual pieces of the tower allowing me to set keyframed motion to every single polygon It was made from.
In the scene a shell from one of the tanks strikes the guardtower and its debris are scattered across the scene. First I decided to animate the smaller parts as they would move fastest and require less detail than the heavier parts of the model. Using a mixture of lateral and rotational movement I sent the struts holding the roof on spinning in multiple directions, including head on to the camera. I then had the main part of the guardtower drop down from its position and slam into the ground. I gave it some slight rotation, though not much as it is the heaviest part of the tower and requires a lot of force to move it. I then animated the roof spiralling into the sky before falling back down again and slamming into the rest of the ruin causing it to dislodge the main struts and also knock the main body to the floor.
This looked visually impressive and really captures the more intricate mechanics of how the tower would be destroyed if it was real that might normally be overlooked when animating something being destroyed.
In the scene a shell from one of the tanks strikes the guardtower and its debris are scattered across the scene. First I decided to animate the smaller parts as they would move fastest and require less detail than the heavier parts of the model. Using a mixture of lateral and rotational movement I sent the struts holding the roof on spinning in multiple directions, including head on to the camera. I then had the main part of the guardtower drop down from its position and slam into the ground. I gave it some slight rotation, though not much as it is the heaviest part of the tower and requires a lot of force to move it. I then animated the roof spiralling into the sky before falling back down again and slamming into the rest of the ruin causing it to dislodge the main struts and also knock the main body to the floor.
This looked visually impressive and really captures the more intricate mechanics of how the tower would be destroyed if it was real that might normally be overlooked when animating something being destroyed.
Filming - cont.
The first view of the Radar dome was my first use of a moving camera in the video. The camera only has basic movement at this stage, very slightly panning up to reveal the whole radar base.
The scene afterwards shows the radar dome emerging from beneath the ice. This was achieved by selecting the whole radar base and keyframing it's movement vertically up through the ice.
The following shot carries on from the end of the last and shows the base unfurling into its full form. This was made much easier thanks to the grouping I did earlier. The main base, power generator and aerial are three separate groups making this movement much easier.
The next shot uses moving camerawork. The camera was keyframed to move downwards and rotate to face toward the radar base. During this time the tanks are firing rounds toward the base, the turrets movement was deliberately set to jolt backwards with recoil and slowly move back into position again to really give the feeling of the large caliber weaponry mounted within them. I keyed them so that there was a delay between them whilst firing to show them working as an orderly team rather than firing off shots at random and I think it helps to convey the feeling of an organised military force.
The scene afterwards shows the radar dome emerging from beneath the ice. This was achieved by selecting the whole radar base and keyframing it's movement vertically up through the ice.
The following shot carries on from the end of the last and shows the base unfurling into its full form. This was made much easier thanks to the grouping I did earlier. The main base, power generator and aerial are three separate groups making this movement much easier.
The next shot uses moving camerawork. The camera was keyframed to move downwards and rotate to face toward the radar base. During this time the tanks are firing rounds toward the base, the turrets movement was deliberately set to jolt backwards with recoil and slowly move back into position again to really give the feeling of the large caliber weaponry mounted within them. I keyed them so that there was a delay between them whilst firing to show them working as an orderly team rather than firing off shots at random and I think it helps to convey the feeling of an organised military force.
Filming
Whilst "filming" the scenes I used several techniques that I found worked well and others that didn't work so well.
for basic movement I simply keyframed the movement in which worked well as it meant i could move multiple objects at once, such as the convoy of 3 tanks at the start. Each of these tanks had been grouped into body and turret sections to make movement and selecting them much more easy than having to select the many polygons that made up the tanks themselves. This saved me a lot of time when wanting to select the tanks and move them around. I also used this technique for the radar base, and grouped it into 3 large sections to help in the later animation.
I keyframed the movement of the tanks turret simply enough, though it wasn't a case of rotating the turret section as it did not pivot on the correct point. This was corrected by simultaneously moving it laterally as it rotated to keep the pivot point in the centre of the tank. This worked effectively and gave a flawless outcome. These scenes had been filmed using a static camera as it was not required to move.
for basic movement I simply keyframed the movement in which worked well as it meant i could move multiple objects at once, such as the convoy of 3 tanks at the start. Each of these tanks had been grouped into body and turret sections to make movement and selecting them much more easy than having to select the many polygons that made up the tanks themselves. This saved me a lot of time when wanting to select the tanks and move them around. I also used this technique for the radar base, and grouped it into 3 large sections to help in the later animation.
I keyframed the movement of the tanks turret simply enough, though it wasn't a case of rotating the turret section as it did not pivot on the correct point. This was corrected by simultaneously moving it laterally as it rotated to keep the pivot point in the centre of the tank. This worked effectively and gave a flawless outcome. These scenes had been filmed using a static camera as it was not required to move.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)