I do however have a problem with creating the reflections similar to the about video. It looks like a few of the shots are chroma keyed, like the rock climber. How about the BULL and the cyclists and guy on the dirt bike.
I have been told that I should Combustion to get a better reflection effect, rather than using After Effects.
I hope someone could please shed some light on this. I'm trying to improve my compositing skills as im just getting started and I cant do this without your helpful advice. Sorry for the long post.
Re: How is this done? by Robert Houghton on Mar 8, 2007 at 5:19:24 pm
Ok, I'll take a stab at it.
If you look closely at the bike riders you can tell they were lit in full sunlight (or something of similar brightness). A decent luma key will pull a hard shadow like that off the pavement. Toss in a bit of a blur to clean up the edges of the shadow and you will have an accurately lit rotoscope.
I initially thought that the bull was a rotoscoped rodeo picture but the shadow is much too clean for that. I don't know if stage managers rent their stages for that kind of abuse. If not you can probably make a shot like that happen on a bright blue day on a dusty lot.
-Rob
Motion Graphics Animation
Professional & Freelance
Respond2
Opinions expressed above are not in any way connected to Respond2.
Re: How is this done? by mindset on Mar 8, 2007 at 5:36:09 pm
I agree with Rob. I recently worked on a series of "Pony" shoe brand, marketing bits. We actually went to a green-screen studio and filmed a horse, jumping around, reering up on it's hind legs, and the likes. The shots turned out great. Shadows did have to be touched up of course, as Rob stated.
Looking at the clips, I think that maybe some of those long shots, like the rock climber were done with parented images animated, as they silouetted and motion is minimal.
Re: How is this done? by Joseph W. Bourke on Mar 8, 2007 at 5:48:50 pm
My guess would be that there's everything in there from rotoscoping to 3D. That bull-riding shot just has an artificial look to it. It almost looks as if it was done in 3DStudio Max with motion capture information for the bull and a rag doll Reactor figure for the rider. There's very little detail, even in the close shot. The climber looks as if he was rotoscoped out of a real video shot (the tight shot), and the skateboarder looks as if he might have been shot on greenscreen in a studio. The guys on motorbikes, on close inspection, have an almost Poser 3D look to them, as do the bicyclists. There are so many ways to skin the cat these days, from dirt cheap, to ridiculously expensive, that it makes sense to use a variety of options, which is what I think was done here. However it was done, it works, and it's a really eye-catching look, with a simple concept behind it.
Re: How is this done? by StuntRider on Mar 9, 2007 at 10:05:34 pm
Guys,
This was not a simple project. I don't think they simply used 3D Max and got it right either. Seems like they used some high-end compositing and finishing product in the magnitude of either "Flame" and/or "Inferno" etc. They may have used AE at some point.
Also, simple get their reel and ask them what they use i.e. software/hardware. Many of these people are down-to-earth guys. They have already proven their capabilities and has the clientale that they want. Who knows, they may teach a thing or two, if you call them.
