The FX Movie (A Tribute To Visual Effects)

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1. The FX Movie (A Tribute To Visual Effects) - HD version

by Spinning Blade

2 years ago

This short film is a tribute/parody of all those special effect movies I grew up watching with over-the-top non-stop action. Some references in this film include Star Wars and Quantum Leap.

If you're like me, you enjoy explosions, gun fights, super powers, lightsabers, action sequences, and anything involving ILM and WETA. I hope you enjoy the visual effects in this film.

I'd love to make more of these, so if you have any feedback on what you'd like to see or what worked/didn't work, let me know.

Music by Mitchell Covington.

Directed/FX/Starring Jake Mathew
jakemathew.com

I shot this with the Canon HV20, and had a great HD version (1920x1080) which was about 20 GBs. I then had to compress it to a 320x240 quicktime to upload to youtube which then endured further compression and stretching, resulting in this low-res disaster:
youtube.com/watch?v=NKtb5EgmlWY

I'd like to give props to Vimeo for being the first site to display videos in 720p HD. (and allowing my films to be seen in the way they were intended)

Credits

180 Likes

VJ KodeK
13 days ago
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30 days ago
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1 month ago
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1 month ago
JMSavva
1 month ago
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2 months ago
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2 months ago
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See all 180 likes

Tags

Blake Whitman 2 years ago

Amazing.
Blake Whitman 2 years ago

and welcome!
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Thanks Blake. Took a lot of late nights to finish. I really dig this vimeo site. (speaking of dig, thats where I found out about you guys...Digg.com) I sense this site is going to be huge in a few weeks.
Patrick Moberg 2 years ago

Nice!
sanddunesandsea 2 years ago

great work!
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

thanks
Forrest O. 2 years ago

really does look great at vimeo resolution
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

the resolution looks great, but it seems that the frame rate isnt playing at 30fps. I've noticed this for a few of the HD videos. Maybe its just my computer. (which is unlikely since I have a 8 GB Mac G5) Does it play smoothly for you?
Forrest O. 2 years ago

hmm i might have read 24 somewhere...
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

I've exported a 30fps to 24fps before. This doesn't look like that...more choppy...like 15fps or 12fps.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

It plays fine on my Windows XP laptop, though. Weird.
Andrew Pile 2 years ago

This is fantastic, especially liked the Quantum Leap bit. Thanks for posting it here!
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

I like the Quantum Leap bit too. (just finished renting all the old episodes on Netflix)
Chad Pugh 2 years ago

There's nothing quite as satisfying as killing yourself over and over again in what could possibly be some of the most painful ways imaginable. Great Job! Welcome to Vimeo!
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Haha yeah. A little satisfying. A little stress-reducing. Definitely a bit morbid.
Clintus McGintus 2 years ago

kick ass stuff man. Makes me wish I was still in film making.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Clintus, I'm not a filmmaker, this is just a hobby. So just grab a camera and start making films.
Jonathan Marcus 2 years ago

Awesome response!
Mark 2 years ago

Just a hobby? Wow! You have inspired me.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

It's a hobby, but I work full-time as an animator/designer for a TV network. So I had the technical skill, just needed the time and motivation to create this in my free time.
Erick C. 2 years ago

this is really cool. the blood looks a little Mortal Combat-ty but if you were going for tongue-in-cheek or humor it was great.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Yeah, the blood needs some work. I was actually trying to make it look realistic. (although, getting punched in the stomach doesn't cause blood to shoot out of your stomach as it did in my film)
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

The content was supposed to be funny but the effects were supposed to look real. (except for maybe the giant fist, which was inspired by Looney Toons/Monty Python)
Ayz Waraich 2 years ago

that's outstanding sir!

wow.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

thank you, sir.

Your icon would fit nicely in this film. (if there was some blood splattered on your shirt)
Henning Horn 2 years ago

"...props to Vimeo for being the first site to display videos in HD"
- Take a look at Stage6 (stage6.com)

Here you can upload your video in True HD (1080)
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

The article I read on Digg didn't mention Stage6. (I hadnt heard of Stage6 or Vimeo prior to yesterday) In any case, the more sites that offer HD options, the better! Its only a matter of time before YouTube joins the HD club
James Bayliss 2 years ago

This is unbelievably awesome. :)
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

It was unbelievably a pain in arse to rotoscope (digitally cut out) each version of myself frame by frame since I didn't have access to a green screen. =P
Toby 2 years ago

wonderful stuff....nice rotoscoping...
Matt Chapman 2 years ago

Beautiful work man. That is the coolest visual effect demo reel I have ever seen if you are trying to advertise your skills.
Matt Chapman 2 years ago

Dude i live in the Bay Area too. Check out my YouTube Page

youtube.com/profile?user=matttchapman
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Rock on, Bay area!
Bernard Maltais 2 years ago

Amazing! Great clip!
dalas verdugo 2 years ago

I'm not a huge action FX dude, but your titles look really awesome, and I'm not being sarcastic. I'm really bad at making good titles.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

thanks!
Radthanael 2 years ago

He's right. The titles are incredible.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Are you referring to the 3D title logo, or the end credits text?
walt 1 year ago

i was thinking the same, both really.
Ian Lucero 2 years ago

whaaa was that huge spliff that guy had in his mouth?
Yan 2 years ago

It's a cigar.

It's a reference to the T.V. show Quantum Leap.

I also like the Loony Tunes reference.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Yes, I was doing my best impression of "Al" from the show Quantum Leap. But I was in such a rush to start on the FX, I rushed through the pre-production and production. When it came time to shoot the "Al" scene, I didn't have a cigar or a "Ziggy Upload Link thingie" so I just ripped off a page of my script and rolled into a cigar shape and then just used my cell phone as the handeheld link.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

For that Looney Toons reference, I originally wanted the guy to brush off his jacket and look in the sky, and then take out an umbrella and hold it above his head as a pre-emptive safety against more bad weather. Then an ACME anvil or something would have crashed on top of him. But, I couldn't find my umbrella during the shoot and didn't know of a way for the anvil to exit the screen. So i made a giant fist instead which is similar to the giant foot from Monty Python.
Dr. Tae 2 years ago

Did you shoot this in 60i or 24p?
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

I think the Canon HV20 doesn't do 60i. Only 30fps. Even its "24p mode" apparently shoots in 24fps and then converts it to 30fps when it stores it on the miniDV tape. Weird. I shot this one at 30fps and shot another piece in the"24p" mode and the latter definitely looks more like film. (despite it still being played back at 30fps)
chriskalani 2 years ago

gosh that is some good stuff
Paul McClintock 2 years ago

You have to post some kind of tutorial on how you achieved some of the effects. NOW! GO!
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Any effects in particular you wanted to learn more about? I don't think I'd be good at creating a tutorial, but can answer any questions here.
Redge 2 years ago

Nice job man!
HooverDST 2 years ago

Ahahaha nice work! For those looking for some After Effects tutorials, then look no further than the excellent efforts of Andrew Kramer online:

videocopilot.net/tutorials.html
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Hoover i right, Andrew Kramer has the best FX tutorials out there. I used his techniques to create the lightsabers and blood splatters. I even added him to the credits because he is so bad-ass.
Lucasberg (Joey) 2 years ago

That was just plain Awesome
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Nice! It got an "Awesome" with a capital "A"
Prasad RL 2 years ago

This is just fantastic. well done.
Reeven 2 years ago

I'm looking at an HV20, and I've been learning After Effects using the tutorials and lessons on Andrew Kramer's site. After seeing you taking the things he taught and going the extra mile with them, (that weather stuff at the beginning was awesome, and when you get shot, the way the blood slowly drips down the wall! I actually said "woah" outloud.) it's really inspiring to see what can be done with this stuff. Excellent work.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

thanks man! cant wait to see what you come up with
Scruff_E_Guy 2 years ago

really cool....am I morbid that I liked the blood splattering the most?
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Just as morbid at me for finding painful ways of digitally killing myself on screen.
Brad Miller 2 years ago

wow, who could think some much action could happen in one kitchen.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Ooooh...that sounds like a good tagline to promote this film.
Roland Lazarte 2 years ago

I love this! Stuff like this really makes me want to dive into AE!
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Thanks. I've been working with AE for about 2 years. It's definitely worth learning.
Jonathan Mak 2 years ago

The movie's incredible! And the music's pretty awesome too. Great job :)
Chodite 2 years ago

Soo bad ass! Great work man.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Thanks
m4tthie 2 years ago

*gough* video-co-pilot *gough*

well done mate! took some time, didnt it?? :D
Motionblur Studios 2 years ago

Brilliant!
Eddie Navarro 2 years ago

This is incredible work... I'm very impressed. how did you get the effects layering done? What did you use? truely cool effects man. Thumbs way up!!!
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Not sure what you mean. Everything was composited with After Effects. I had the bottom layer of just two minutes of nothing (just my kitchen wall), then a layer for each 'actor' and then a layer for each effect (lightsaber, blood splatter, smoke) By the time I was finished, I had close to 100+ layers.
Ryan Ramtin 2 years ago

Bloody Brilliant! (And I'm not even British.)
Barrel Assassin 2 years ago

Please, go make a movie! I will pay money to see it.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Now I just need someone to pay money to FUND it! =P
Wynner3 2 years ago

Awesome work, not to sound creepy but I like watching you. Your work.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

A little creepy. But glad you like it.
ElectroFilms 2 years ago

pretty good effects, i know roto is a pain in the ass!
your lightsabers do need some work though.
The Glow was WAY too huge, and you could see the prop most of the time. Frame by frame is the only way for good results.
btw. andrew cramer's sabers look like crap
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Yeah, the lightsabers didnt turn out as I thought they would. A lot of it was frame by frame, though. I can't see the prop behind it. The prop cast a dark shadow on the wall behind it so maybe thats what you are seeing.
Scott Blanks 2 years ago

What software did you use to do the titles? Both at the beginning and the end. And what software for the effects? Effects look great. I use VisionLab from fxhome.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

For the 3D titles, I modeled and animated the text in Cinema 4D. For the effects and end titles, I used Adobe After Effects.
Xerxes Sangco 2 years ago

This was really cool. Did you use some of the clips from Creative Cow's Action Movie Essentials? If so you did real good with them. Would you also be able to tell me how to create an alpha matte of yourself? Preferably in After Effects? I've been trying to figure this out so that I can complete my motion tracking projects in 3DS max.
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

I used the blood splatters and gunshots from Action Movie Essentials. To create an ALPHA matte of an actor, you would need to shoot them on a green screen, and then remove the green in After Effects with Chroma Key or something. I didnt have an actor, so I used the Bezier pen tool and masked out my actor when I needed to put effects behind him. (or add another version of myself to the scene)
AE Whisman 2 years ago

Yeah...I wanna know what FX program you used too. I'm guessing After Effects. Really cool vid
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

yup. After Effects.
jean-pierre chery 2 years ago

good work that was really entertaining
►Alex Leahu◄ 2 years ago

Nice fx movie, it was entertaining...I had to watch it more than once. :)
Wasted Lives 2 years ago

i never imagined all this in one continuous shot. wow... nicely done!
Spinning Blade 2 years ago

Glad you liked it. I lost count on how many late nights I was working on this. (after getting home from my day job) I entered it into a film festival in San Francisco and won "Best Visual Effects" and runner-up for Best Editing and Best Music
ShadowChaser 2 years ago

Absolutely awesome!!!! Love your Quantum Leap reference - excellent...I'll have to watch it again now!!!
Saydren Koth 2 years ago

yikes! Well done sir. very well done.
Web Mistress 1 year ago

Great piece! I'm sure it took alot of work!
Spinning Blade 1 year ago

Thanks. It did! I recently have thought of an idea for a "sequel". Stay tuned! =)
tuco 1 year ago

In response to your HV20 doesn't do 60i, Canon's default HDV mode is indeed 60i on this camera. I believe Cannon's 24PsF (and 30PsF on HV30) are in a 60i wrapper.

Because when I want 24p from mine, I shoot at 24PF and I capture at 1080i60, firewire basic in Final Cut Pro and follow the work flow noted below to get a 24p time line with no interlacing or cadence issues.

Also note that 60i is 60 half-frames per second (= 30 full frames per second). They're interlaced!

HV20, 24p Workflow (FCP):
docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306389
Spinning Blade 1 year ago

Ooooh...interesting. Thanks for the article...I've probably been importing my HDV footage wrong all this time..
Gord Stephen 1 year ago

That's great! :D I'm amazed that you rotoscoped the entire thing. Well done.
Spinning Blade 1 year ago

Thanks. Rotoscoping was a tiring process, but I was listening to some podcasts to keep me from falling asleep. Despite all the rotoscoping, there are several instances where you can see mask lines around specific characters. I'll pony up for a green screen backdrop next time.
Spinning Blade 6 months ago

I'd say about 80% of the video needed rotoscope work. (only the parts that had two versions of me on screen at once) Lost count of how many hours I spent doing just rotoscoping. (and you can see some sloppy or sleep-deprived parts where the rotoscoping is noticable)
Matthew Joseff 1 year ago

You make it look so easy! Love the blood splatter.
kahve 1 year ago

super effects. well done.
Mark Espina 1 year ago

Abolutely FUN-tastic!
Christian Fauteux 11 months ago

Very cool! Noticed quite a few Artbeats in there, I use them lots! Check out my vids, they're along the same lines somewhat.
Austin Hewitt 7 months ago

This was absolutely amazing. You have a for sure future in the film industry (if you dont have one yet). Good luck bro, but you wont need it! :)