Need help on special FX, huge project « Videomaker Community Forums

cohenim
Member

Today is 1-9-2005. On March 19th of this year my video team is going to endeavor into a project in which I can do, but I have several aggrevating obstacles in the way. We were hired to film a backyard football game in a stadium for a comedy film and to try to synthesize a crowd with sound and visuals. This is simple.

The shot I need is with a 50 foot boom truck and the rest is bits and pieces, howeveer, the permission granted to us for filming will not allow for any trucks/ machinery on the premises for some idiotic reason. Now we're stuck with ground level shots of the action and in order to synthesize the crowd & stadium I will have to edit each frame and color out the background around each player, then layer in the rest behind the players. We're talking around 21,600 frames.

What I need is some advice on techniques I've possibly overlooked in order to speed things up a bit or is there any other shooting technique I haven't thought of. Anything helps! Thanks. You can email me at [url]z2films@hotmail.com.

Posted 7 years ago #
gwXtreme
Member

I don't know how in the world you'd do it. But you could use a blue/green screen.

Posted 7 years ago #
cohenim
Member

I've tought of the same thing, however, in this case it would be the easiest being that the overseers of the field doesn't want any heavy equipment such as a boom truck. (specifically)

The problem would be that I would need a 40'x360' (give or take) blue/ green screen. It would not only be aggrivating but storage and cost (being it is a back yard game) is the problem. I personally can't see spending a ton a money on a screen this size unless I was getting paid for a cinematography level of pay.

I wish the overseers would lighten up and let us use a boom truck. This would elimnate all special editing except for maybe field goals and kick offs in which I can take some time on.

Thanks for your input!

Posted 7 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Get a few high angle shots by using ladders, cameras mounted to poles, etc. Then shoot the action closeup enough to use a smaller blue screen.

But a better idea is to change stadiums. Some small college might agree to let you use a statium in return for a super video of one of their bigger events, plus credits.

Another idea is to put a big sales pitch on the people managing the current stadium. Tell them what's in it for them and what they'll lose if you shoot elsewhere.

Also, why do you need a stadium if you're going to chroma-in the crowd, etc.? Why not shoot the game on a hill where there are no trees, buildings, etc. in the background - nothing but a cloudless sky. Use a filter that puts as much blue into that sky as possible, then drop your "stadium" in via chroma magic keying on your blue sky.

Posted 7 years ago #
cohenim
Member

Thanks for the input, I'll probably try it out within the next week and let you know how it comes out. When we get into the post production of the game, I'll post again to let you know how it comes out. Thanks again!

Posted 7 years ago #
Josh's Audio and Video
Member

Have fun with that. You culd reshoot the team in front of a Chroma Screen and then add it over your crowd shots. Match lighting and angles correctly though or it won't look right. Then again, have fun finding a blue screen that size!

Posted 7 years ago #
compusolver
Member

OK, I'm breaking the rules, reviving an old thread but for the sake of others who'll read this sometime -

I've had time to learn a little bit about Premiere Pro, After Effects & Ultra and the way they can handle keying (I still have a long ways to go), and you didn't get the right info in this thread.

There are two techniques that can be used to do what you need. One is garbage matte and the other is image mask.

These allow you to take any section or sections of video and make them transparent so another video track can show through - without the use of a chroma screen.

If you use a high enough camera angle, you should be able to get your play action scenes shot so that only the field (up to the lower part of the seats) is in the background. Huddles & other closer shots can be used with a twenty-foot chroma screen.

Now you can shoot your action shots on any grass. Just make the sideline look enough like the stadium sidelines and seam your keys along that line.

Of course, you'll shoot your crowd (stadium) scenes on a separate track and have them show through above the sideline area.

Shots like high passes and kickoffs will need special handling in After Effects.

Sorry I was a little late with this.

Posted 7 years ago #