How to visual effects at DVinfo.net

Alex Daudiffret · February 14th, 2004, 07:08 PM

A few months back I remenber watching a commercial showing a motorcyclist riding off a cliff, falling to the ground, and walking away. This take consisted of a single continuous long shot. Assume some CGI. Any idea on the technique.

Thanks

Tyler Sand · February 15th, 2004, 02:51 PM

How about the new truck commercials (I think Toyota) that have the truck rolling down the hill and there being no damage. The other one I've seen has the truck getting hit by a monster truck and actually stopping and flipping over the monster truck. They're both funny commercials, as well as very interesting. How might that sort of thing be done? Again, they all “appear” to be a single shot with no cuts/edits. Obviously that isn’t the case, but I love how seamless it appears.

Jaime Valles · February 16th, 2004, 09:28 PM

It's true FX in TV commercials is getting a lot more sophisticated. I still can't believe some of the Mountain Dew commercials (the one with the cheetah is insane!). I have no idea how they do them, but can only assume a lot of CG, a lot of man-hours, and a LOT of money.

Rob Lohman · February 17th, 2004, 04:59 AM

It is usually a combination of a LOT of things. Including models,
blue/green screen work, CGI, lots and lots of compositing etc.

For example, see these 3D models:

http://www.lewis.tomsoft.hr/portfolio_subaru.htm
http://www.lewis.tomsoft.hr/portfolio_Viper_4.htm

Yes, those car's aren't real:

http://www.lewis.tomsoft.hr/portfolio_2003.htm
http://www.lewis.tomsoft.hr/portfolio_maserati_4.htm

More info from the company that did the mountain dew cheetah
commercial is here.

It is very often the case that they morph or go from one footage
into the next seamlessly without you ever noticing it!

Rob Lohman · February 18th, 2004, 07:35 PM

If you follow my last link to where you can download the
commercial there are also links to two articles that explain how
it was all done!

Should be an interesting read for anybody and especially for
the people who earlier on wanted to know how it was done.

Alex Taylor · February 18th, 2004, 08:11 PM

Cars are generally very easy to look convincing in CG, since they're mostly reflective, metallic surfaces. Even if the commercial just consists of the car driving down a road they often CG it.

Thanks for the link, Rob, this should prove to be an interesting watch!

Alex Daudiffret · February 21st, 2004, 04:03 PM

Thanks for all your input and the great links that Rob posted

February 14th, 2004, 07:08 PM	#1
Alex Daudiffret Tourist Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: White Pine TN Posts: 2	How to visual effects A few months back I remenber watching a commercial showing a motorcyclist riding off a cliff, falling to the ground, and walking away. This take consisted of a single continuous long shot. Assume some CGI. Any idea on the technique. Thanks

February 15th, 2004, 02:51 PM	#2
Tyler Sand Tourist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Laramie, WY Posts: 3	How about the new truck commercials (I think Toyota) that have the truck rolling down the hill and there being no damage. The other one I've seen has the truck getting hit by a monster truck and actually stopping and flipping over the monster truck. They're both funny commercials, as well as very interesting. How might that sort of thing be done? Again, they all “appear” to be a single shot with no cuts/edits. Obviously that isn’t the case, but I love how seamless it appears. __________________ ~VD~ "None of us are as dumb as all of us."

February 17th, 2004, 04:59 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	It is usually a combination of a LOT of things. Including models, blue/green screen work, CGI, lots and lots of compositing etc. For example, see these 3D models: http://www.lewis.tomsoft.hr/portfolio_subaru.htm http://www.lewis.tomsoft.hr/portfolio_Viper_4.htm Yes, those car's aren't real: http://www.lewis.tomsoft.hr/portfolio_2003.htm http://www.lewis.tomsoft.hr/portfolio_maserati_4.htm More info from the company that did the mountain dew cheetah commercial is here. It is very often the case that they morph or go from one footage into the next seamlessly without you ever noticing it! __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 18th, 2004, 07:35 PM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	If you follow my last link to where you can download the commercial there are also links to two articles that explain how it was all done! Should be an interesting read for anybody and especially for the people who earlier on wanted to know how it was done. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 18th, 2004, 08:11 PM	#6
Alex Taylor Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 390	Cars are generally very easy to look convincing in CG, since they're mostly reflective, metallic surfaces. Even if the commercial just consists of the car driving down a road they often CG it. Thanks for the link, Rob, this should prove to be an interesting watch! __________________ alextaylor.org

February 16th, 2004, 09:28 PM	#3
Jaime Valles Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 316	It's true FX in TV commercials is getting a lot more sophisticated. I still can't believe some of the Mountain Dew commercials (the one with the cheetah is insane!). I have no idea how they do them, but can only assume a lot of CG, a lot of man-hours, and a LOT of money.

February 21st, 2004, 04:03 PM	#7
Alex Daudiffret Tourist Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: White Pine TN Posts: 2	Thanks for all your input and the great links that Rob posted