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Author
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Topic: flow-mo
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amittman
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posted 04-25-1999 04:18 PM
ok....just for the fun of it, i want to try flow-mo.....if you are unfarmiliar with that, it is the technique used in the matrix. I think that i would be able to do it just to try but i was wondering what kind of film do you put into the single frame cameras to get it to look exaclty like your movie camera. also, once i have the proper film, how do i transfer the pictures into premiere. also, if i shoot on a blue screen back ground, how do i get a 360 degree back ground. for example, when the camera angle changes, how do i smoothly change the background. i know this will be terribly hard to figure out with my equiptment, but it will only work if i try. PLease respondlater
amittman |
Doug
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posted 04-25-1999 05:33 PM
The film in your still cameras should be the same as the film in your motion picture camera. For The Matrix it was easier because they were using 35mm motion pic cams and just loaded the same film into 120 35mm still cams. I'm only assuming you're using a video cam, so if you scan your 120 still photos (using any type of film) you may have to digitally downgrade them. If you video tape the photos on a copy stand you probably won't have to, though.
I wouldn't suggest going for a 360 effect. That would take a few more cameras. But if you were going to, you'd have to paint an entire room blue. For the motion part, have one moble screen that can be moved with the camera to always be behind the actor.Actually since you have to do both, just go with the blue room. If you do a high angle shot you would only need a blue floor.
Check out the April 9th, '99 issue of Entertainment Weekly. They have a short article describing the basics of the effect. Also a really cool picture of Reeves and Weaving ("Smith") in mid-air on cables in front of a huge green screen. Good luck...-Doug |
Robotic Dream
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posted 04-25-1999 06:23 PM
I have a question:Since the Matrix went for the Flo-mo effect, and not the freeze frame effect (like Wing Commander), couldn't the shot have been pulled off with using just one high-speed film camera (like they use to capture bullets flying in the air) moving around a track layed out 360? I don't see why they used still cameras, or even how it was done...as still cameras snap one frame at a time (unless each one snapped away at 24 fps). Your input welcome! |
Anonymatt
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posted 04-25-1999 08:55 PM
i think the reason why they couldn't just use their camera going at a high fps is because you'd have to be able to get the camera around keanu in exactly the same amount of time it takes him to fall backwards (you know?). this is an "i think". i've never worked with film before, and grasp only the most elementary camera stuff. and if this answer is correct, i kind of understand what you're saying... they could just put the camera on a circle track, get keanu to do it so many times he'd do it the same way every time, then somehow get the camera to go fast enough around the track. sounds crazy.
this flo-mo/bullet time stuff is a whole lot more brain garbling to me than the wingcommander/gap commercial stuff. boy, blows my mind. and on the subject... you know, i suppose it's hard to find an excuse to do the flo-mo thing in a script, but i can see this as a new era in presenting films in a hyper-reality, where incredible events are slowed down and spun around (and such)-portrayed in a way that enables the audience to appreciate every slight movement of the subject. the part of the matrix where morpheus is jumping out of the building and is hit in the leg-i don't think we would have been able to appreciate the full flavor of what had happened in regular slow-motion. the way they did it, it was like, "oh my god! they hit his leg! neo, jump dammit! save obi wan's life!" heh! whatever.
matt. |
amittman
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posted 04-25-1999 09:12 PM
ok here is my question as stated above....i undersand hhow to do flow-mo, and i undersand all stuff about the blue or green screen, but i do not undersand what i can do to create a 360 degree background to replace for the blue screen. i do not want to create the background by computer. but how can i scan in a background that will move angles with the camera fluidlylater
amittman |
Doug
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posted 04-26-1999 04:27 AM
Anonymatt is correct about the high-speed cams. The real big reason for not doing this was because the effects guys had made Neo perform a super human act that Reeves, nor anybody else could accomplish. They made it appear that his entire body and the surroundings were all "frozen" and only his arms were waving about faster than 50 cals. Amittman,
I see what you're asking, now. As you probably know, The Matrix guys made the background virtually, and you don't wanna do that. My only suggestion would be to do the samething you do for the flow-mo, only on location. Setup your many still cams the angle you want and do it there with no subject. You won't need the motion cams. By the way, in The Matrix they only did a 180 if I remember correctly.....
that sounds like a good excuse for me to go see it again! Happy trails. -Doug |
Robotic Dream
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posted 04-26-1999 04:29 AM
I would suggest filming at and angle where you wouldn't see any of your other cameras...that way you could get the real background in the scene. Or else try to hide your cameras behind stuff (which would probably look repetitive).Good luck! |
Anonymatt
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posted 04-26-1999 06:43 AM
yeah... just looking for a good excuse to go see it again. i need some flow-cash first though.
matt. |
amittman
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posted 04-26-1999 09:05 AM
yes doug....thanx...that is exactly what i was asking. That does help and i was thinking about that method. however, is there a way i coud digitally erase the cameras. i know that couldfilm at angles where i could not see the cameras however, i think that it would be better if i could do it without having to work at hiding the cameras.....thanxlater...
mittman |
Jack
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posted 04-26-1999 09:43 AM
I have a question. What is "flow-mo"?------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the special effects! |
Brian
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posted 04-26-1999 04:24 PM
You were confusing me....I thought you were talking about the part at the beginning of the matrix, when they did the freeze frame type thing (...you know, she's in the air, about to kick that guy).------------------
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