Introduction. CS5245 Vision & Graphics for Special Effects. Leow Wee Kheng

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1 CS5245 Introduction 1 Introduction CS5245 Vision & Graphics for Special Effects Leow Wee Kheng Department of Computer Science School of Computing National University of Singapore

2 CS5245 Introduction 2

3 CS5245 Introduction 3

4 Digital Special Effects CS5245 Introduction 4 Digital Special Effects Digital special effects (DFX) have revolutionized media industry. Artists can create visually stunning DFX. DFX is used in nearly every production. Many DFX companies have appeared: Industrial Light & Magic (US) Realviz (US) Rhythm & Hues (US) Weta Digital (New Zealand) and many more

5 Digital Special Effects CS5245 Introduction 5 Digital Special Effects What makes DFX interesting and captivating? DFX must look realistic and believable. Example: Forrest Gump hand-shaking sequence. Comments: The Lord of the Rings [LoR1], [LoR2] DFX must blend into the real scene seamlessly. Good DFX is one that viewers do not realize it s there. Example: Harry Potter flying camera sequence. Comments: The Lord of the Rings [LoR2] add story-telling elements, but erase the tracks

6 Digital Special Effects CS5245 Introduction 6 Digital Special Effects DFX are created using DFX elements: Real visual elements: video or film footage of real scenes, actors, objects, motions, actions, natural phenomena, etc. CGI (computer-generated imagery) elements: Computer Graphics (CG) scenes, characters, objects, motions, actions, natural phenomena, etc. Audio elements: dialogue, sound effects, music.

Digital Special Effects CS5245 Introduction 7 Difference between DFX and Computer Animation Computer animation involves only CGI elements.

7 Digital Special Effects CS5245 Introduction 7 Difference between DFX and Computer Animation Computer animation involves only CGI elements. DFX involves real visual elements, and sometimes CGI elements also. DFXs require the CGI elements to look realistic. Computer animation can look like cartoon. (a) Cartoon character. (b) Realistic character.

8 Production Process CS5245 Introduction 8 Production Process Three stages of media production [Kel00, KM01]: 1. Preproduction 2. Production 3. Postproduction Good learning examples: The Lord of the Rings DVD, Appendices. Forrest Gump DVD Disk 2: Behind the Magic of Forrest Gump.

9 Production Process Preproduction CS5245 Introduction 9 Preproduction Preparation stage: Project proposal: summary used to sell project Premise: concise statement of story Synopsis: short description of basic story line Treatment: plot summaries in short-story form Scripts: production guides on paper, what will be seen or heard in finished product. Budget: how fund will be spent Storyboard: graphic visualization of shot sequence

10 Production Process Production CS5245 Introduction 10 Production Begins with design, setup, rehearsal: Conceptual design: artistic concepts of visual elements in pencil and paper and small sculptures Set construction: construct set, miniatures, etc. set up stage, cameras, lighting, rigs. Document the set: for use in creating special effects Props construction: construct props, prosthetics, etc. Costume design: design and make costumes Rehearsal: rehearse dialogues, moves, etc.

11 Production Process Production CS5245 Introduction 11 Production Visual production: Live shoot: shoot actors, scenes, etc. Create CG models: create CG models of characters and scenes. CG animation: animate CG models of characters Audio production: Music scoring: compose and score music Music recording: perform and record music Sound recording: create and record sound effects, re-record dialogue.

12 Production Process Postproduction CS5245 Introduction 12 Postproduction After visual and sound elements have been recorded: Compositing: compose various DFX elements into the live footage Film editing: edit footages into a locked footage Sound mixing: add dialogue, sound effects, and music into the locked footage to produce the final footage

13 Production Process CS5245 Introduction 13 Production Process Traditionally sequence [KM01]: Storyboard Live shoot SFX Sound recording Music recording Compositing Film editing Sound mixing Final product

14 Production Process CS5245 Introduction 14 Production Process Contemporary sequence, e.g., Lord of the Rings [LoR6] Storyboard Live shoot Animation Sound recording Film editing Compositing Music recording Sound mixing Final product

15 Summary CS5245 Introduction 15 Summary Media production involves a lot of creative talents. 3 stages: preproduction, production, postproduction. In this course, we shall focus on Storyboarding Camera and lighting Digital compositing Algorithms that facilitate creation of DFX

16 References CS5245 Introduction 16 References [Kel00] D. Kelly, Digital Compositing In Depth, Coriolis Group, [KM01] G. Kindem & R. B. Musburger, Introduction to Media Production: From Analog to Digital, 2nd Ed., Butterworth-Heinemann, [LoR1] The Lord of the Rings DVD, The Appendices, Part 1: From Book to Vision. [LoR2] The Lord of the Rings DVD, The Appendices, Part 2: From Vision to Reality. [LoR6] The Lord of the Rings DVD, The Appendices, Part 6: The Passing of an Age.

20 Producing a Video. Media 20

20 Producing a Video. Media 20 LESSON PROJECT IDEAS COPY MASTER Video Book Report Choose a key scene from a story you have read. Write a script for the scene, sticking closely to what happens in the story. Then prepare a storyboard