Friday, 25 October 2013

VFX Development - Chosen Idea & In Depth Plot Evaluation (Old)

So after going over my slightly more elaborate ideas, I have decided on the my 'sniper destroying a building with an air strike' idea. I think this idea has many options open to accomplish the task at hand. I have already completed my 'In Depth Plot Evaluation' on a Google Document here. But for purposes of the blog I will write the info below as well.


Command & Conquer Boris Inspired Sniper Scene

My story is going to be a real life enactment of the soviet soldier ‘Boris’ from the RTS game ‘Command & Conquer Red Alert 2’. He is what is known as an elite or special soldier in the infantry. What makes Boris so special is the fact that he has the ability to call in air strikes on a single building. Normally that would sound quite simple but the it’s the visuals that I am more interested in. When he targets a building for bombing, the points a laser at the building and it begins to glow red, jets then fly in the missile the building.

A minute of footage can easily be extracted from this idea. I’m going to start with a sniper in the grass or possibly (if there is any) snow, he will be peering through his scope which will then reveal the building targeted. Now you never actually see how Boris lasers the building from his gun nor is it possible to glow a whole building red, but that is part of the fantasy in recreating a game; Command & Conquer.

I’ll probably just mount a fake button onto the rifle with a laser pointer that when he switches on will create a very visible line of light (done in post). The shot which once again switch to the building (with a kind of distant binocular look), then it will begin to glow. I have a few ideas on how to light up the building but make it convincing at the same time. At this point it’s just a waiting game for Boris for a about 5 - 10 seconds for suspense I will hold shots between him and the building. I’m not sure whether to or not at one point have Boris basically caught in the distance, which will result in few enemy infantry starting to run to his position to stop him; this would add more to the suspense and stay true to the game.

The final part of the video involves an action shot of the camera facing upward, shaking and panning down to see the building. As that sequence happens I will composite a pair of fighter jets, the will fire a set of missiles towards the building and effectively destroy it. I have spent a lot of time researching on how to destroy a building, as I think these two effects are going to be the hardest; this is where most of my time will be spent in post production. The final shot will be Boris pulling a satisfying smile and saying one of his famous quotes from the game, “You’re no match for Boris”.

It’s a classic, people love to see Command & Conquer in real life; just like any other timeless game.

Needed/Wants

This production does not require a massive amount of props at all, if anything I think I’ll only need to get my hands of a model rifle and and possibly collaborate with a fashion student to maybe make a costume. Everything else is either vfx or on location, location is going to be the most important factor. I need to make sure that where I shoot my video is really impressive, with such a short video and possibly a lot of static footage the scenery needs to be inspiring. I'm hoping to be either high up on a building, or being a in a field somewhere that appears to overlook the city.

Equipment wise if I’m to include all the required VFX then I will need the green screen, lights, the canon 5d M3 and microphone (possibly boom). I will surely create an equipment plan sheet closer to my shoot dates to make sure I get everything. If possible whoever my actor is, I want to possibly get a make up or someone who hobbies in it in there spare time and have make Boris look ‘cold’ in a sense. Redness and slightly blue on the lips this should really emphasise how long he could have been out there.

Post Edit Ideas

The colour grade style on my short film will be cinematic cold, I want people to have the sense that Boris has been there a long time. Hopefully with using the 5D M3 I will have plenty of information to manipulate.

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