VFXhack

Nyarlathotep passed along this awesome pic that at first glance looks like some sort of Sci-Fi S&M setup but is really an early motion capture rig. There is more info on Dave Sieg’s Scanimation website about this image

I recall seeing a demonstration videotape in which a girl wore a harness equipped with motion sensors connected to a Scanimate. Each sensor was a goniometer, a type of rotary transformer which converts angular displacement into a corresponding phase shift between windings. The wearer of this harness could cause a stick-figure, generated by Scanimate, to mimic his movements in real time. Remember, this was done back in the early seventies, well before any of the recent magnetic or optical motion capture work.

I’ve searched the whole internet (well not really) trying to find the full demo video of this system but to no avail. Any hints from fellow VFXhackers out there could help us all scratch our vintage MoCap itch.

LINK to a cool movie of the Scanimation system in action for Dave’s site

Say you want to recreate the famous bullet-time sequence from the matrix for the DVD of your daughter’s ballet recital. You can

1. Rent the real rig from a vendor for $100,000 or…
2. Build your own rig in two days for $8,000

This is no joke! A couple of guys actually did this and best of all, posted a detailed how-to on Instructables. It’s a brilliant set-up that includes 24 pro-sumer digital cameras (with shutter cables), some components readily available from radio shack for a controller box, a few random pieces of hardware and some plywood. The resulting images were used to create the VFX for a low-budg rap video and amazingly close to the real deal. These guys really went the extra mile an included cameras with a Bulb setting so they could incorporate light streaks into the shots.

LINK to full tutorial

Rip Roar Media has created their entry in the One Greenscreen Per Child program with it’s Creation Station, an all-in-one VFX set-up for kids. Although it is a noble pursuit to try and get the youth of today creatively involved in projects other than trying to make it to the advanced level of Guitar Hero, this product is as silly as a circus clown. I’d bet every parent who has the $130 (retail) it would take to buy this thing would also have a consumer video camera laying around the house that hasn’t been used since the kids 1st birthday. The greenscreen that comes with the kit is also a rip-off considering Make magazine has a link to a great tutorial on it’s website on how to make an awesome Green/Blue screen out of fabric and PVC pipe for $16. That leaves $114 to spend on a tripod and some lights (work lights from Home Depot work great) with plenty of dough left over for chicken nuggets and a bouncey castle for the friends your kid will invite on their VFX playdate. Word out is that the software included with this product is also bunk especially when you consider the free open source alternatives out there like Jahshaka. Don’t be fooled by corporate America youngins, join the jrHack club today!

LINK to the DYI greenscreen article

LINK to Jahshaka homepage

Thanks to Nyarlathotep for the heads-up

Here’s the thing about going on set, it’s like going to war. Both consist of long hours of boredom punctuated by seconds of pure terror. And just like a good soldier, a good VFX Supe should never venture onto the battlefield set without the proper equipment. For your reading and viewing pleasure, I’ve put together a Flickr set that de-constructs a well put together kit bag, piece by wonderfully useful piece. Of course everyone will have their own ideas about what their own personal must-have items are, so let the commenting begin! ITMT here’s some tips on using your bag on set.

• Remember: While it is true that you can always fix it later, you really only have one chance to shoot it right. Five minutes setting up tracking markers can save days of tracking and roto back at the ranch.
• Don’t be shy. If you see a grip or a gaffer with a new piece of gear, ask em about it. If the conversation starts to drag on too long, you can always pretend you are getting a phone call or excuse yourself for a 10-100.
• Be prepared for people to make fun of you. From the length of your tape measure to the girth of your lens, everything is fair game on set. If you can laugh at yourself and give a little gentle ribbing back in return you should be fine.
• Answer all questions that come your way. When you open up your bag of tricks and start putting all kinds of weird crap up around the set people start to think “Does this guy really know what he’s doing, or is this all a bunch of bullshit?” It’s good to let the crew know the methods behind your madness.
• And finally, you can always count on this. No matter how careful you are to watch your matte lines, no matter how hard you fight to lock off that camera, no matter how many people scream at you to get out of the shot as you struggle to place that last tracking marker… Someone back at the VFX house will tell you that they would have shot it completely different.

LINK to the Flick set that includes a full breakdown of kit items with notes