Matrix- How Do You Do That?

Ken Tanaka · March 25th, 2002, 11:06 AM

Adam,

http://www.revisionfx.com/rstwixtor.htm

Daniel Carrico · July 1st, 2002, 01:17 AM

Hey guys,

I decided to play around with the "bullet-time" idea and came up with a method of creating it without a ton of cameras. In fact, I only used one. The idea is similar to some of the earlier posts on this thread.

First I filmed my subject with my steadicam, creating a 180 degree pan in about 5 seconds. I filmed him falling, so he was connected to ropes to help slow his movement.

I imported the footage into Commotion Pro 4 and removed all of the wires.

I then imported the 5 second footage into After Effects 5.5 and used Twixtor Pro 2.1 to slow it down to about 15 seconds.

Although I did everything very quick, it turned out VERY nice. There are also a few good reasons of doing the effect this way:

1. Less time to plan and execute than a 100 camera rig.
2. No green screening required... can be filmed on the location needed.

However, the downside is that filming very quick actions and slowing them down is very difficult. Let me know what you guys think.

Rob Lohman · July 1st, 2002, 08:17 AM

That sounds very nice! Do you have any before and after footage
online? 5 and 15 seconds should produce nice small file sizes.
I'd love to see your footage!

Thanks for sharing!

Daniel Carrico · July 1st, 2002, 09:22 AM

Hey Rob

I will not be home for about a week, so I do not have the footage I described. However, when I return home, I will try and post it.

Ben Stineman · July 1st, 2002, 01:51 PM

YES, definitely watch the extra material on the DVD where Visual Effects Supervisor John Gaeta (NOT AUSSIE) explains bullet time and frame interpolation. VERY COOL.

BDOG

Daniel Carrico · July 11th, 2002, 07:19 PM

Hey,

I finally got my first test footage ready... If you would like to see it, just let me know and I will email it to you. Right now it is 1.8 M in the windows media format and about 20 seconds long. It started at 4.5 seconds with ropes. I am also working on another test that will start at normal speed and go into "bullet-time" using Realviz Retimer, however I am a little unsure on some settings in it right now.

Rob Lohman · July 12th, 2002, 04:44 AM

I'd love to see some results. My e-mail is below. Thanks!

Daniel Carrico · July 12th, 2002, 10:34 AM

Hey,

Here is think link:

http://www.fat-dog.net/Bullet-Time_Test_1.wmv

Casey (kc@fat-dog.net) was nice enough to host it for me on his site!

Please excuse the music... I had to have something in the track to use the Windows Media compression, and it was the best song I had on my computer. Thanks!

Rob Lohman · July 14th, 2002, 11:48 AM

Hi Daniel! I was quite impressed... looked really nice! Now if you
can fold a story around it where it adds to the story your set to
go!

Daniel Carrico · July 14th, 2002, 12:12 PM

Yeah, I could use a good story to put it into... There are a lot of ideas I have tested, such as Bullet-Time, but never used in anything. Maybe script writing will be my next challenge... hmmm. I am also going to play with the bullet ripples... I need some more to do this summer... woohoo.

Casey Visco · July 14th, 2002, 12:35 PM

well you could always do a matrix spoof ;]

Daniel Carrico · July 14th, 2002, 05:10 PM

There we go... I can see it now... "The Matrix Reloaded" by Daniel. Dang it, the big companies always take the good names! lol.

Daniel Carrico · July 15th, 2002, 05:35 PM

Hey guys,

I've got another test I would like to try. Instead of a steadicam, I am thinking of using 10 or so still cameras - plain, simple re-usable cameras. However, there are two problems I am running into:

1. Aligning all of the cameras
2. Triggering them all at the same time

Do you guys have any ideas? I am working on some of my own, however any helpw ould be greatly appreciated. This will give me something else to dot his summer :)

Casey Visco · July 15th, 2002, 05:54 PM

I think you'd find it difficult to trigger disposable cameras in this fashion, you'll need cameras that can accept a remote shutter release at a minimum. How you sync them i dont know, but now you've got me intrigued, i may look into this further.

BTW is that quote from the Usual Suspects?

c

Paul Sedillo · July 15th, 2002, 07:28 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by daniel1113 : Hey guys,

I've got another test I would like to try. Instead of a steadicam, I am thinking of using 10 or so still cameras - plain, simple re-usable cameras. However, there are two problems I am running into:

1. Aligning all of the cameras
2. Triggering them all at the same time

Do you guys have any ideas? I am working on some of my own, however any helpw ould be greatly appreciated. This will give me something else to dot his summer :) -->>>

Regarding the camera trigger problem. Why not just run tape on all cameras, with a clapboard to initatet the scene, from here you could just edit in the tape from each respective camera. Now I am very new to all of this, so please take this with a grain of salt. But thinking about it, the idea works (at least in my wacky mind).

As for the alignment, you could use a string across the set that acts as a marker. In looking through your viewfinder, you would want to make sure that the string was in the same area in each camera. It may take some experimenting, but I think it is something to consider.

I hope that these ideas spur better ideas in your head. Good luck with the project!

March 25th, 2002, 11:06 AM	#16
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Adam, http://www.revisionfx.com/rstwixtor.htm __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

July 1st, 2002, 01:17 AM	#17
Daniel Carrico New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 19	Hey guys, I decided to play around with the "bullet-time" idea and came up with a method of creating it without a ton of cameras. In fact, I only used one. The idea is similar to some of the earlier posts on this thread. First I filmed my subject with my steadicam, creating a 180 degree pan in about 5 seconds. I filmed him falling, so he was connected to ropes to help slow his movement. I imported the footage into Commotion Pro 4 and removed all of the wires. I then imported the 5 second footage into After Effects 5.5 and used Twixtor Pro 2.1 to slow it down to about 15 seconds. Although I did everything very quick, it turned out VERY nice. There are also a few good reasons of doing the effect this way: 1. Less time to plan and execute than a 100 camera rig. 2. No green screening required... can be filmed on the location needed. However, the downside is that filming very quick actions and slowing them down is very difficult. Let me know what you guys think. __________________ Daniel M. Carrico www.danielcarrico.com daniel1113[at]comcast[dot]net "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice." - Joseph Dunninger (Mentalist/Magician)

July 1st, 2002, 08:17 AM	#18
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	That sounds very nice! Do you have any before and after footage online? 5 and 15 seconds should produce nice small file sizes. I'd love to see your footage! Thanks for sharing! __________________ 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

July 1st, 2002, 09:22 AM	#19
Daniel Carrico New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 19	Hey Rob I will not be home for about a week, so I do not have the footage I described. However, when I return home, I will try and post it. __________________ Daniel M. Carrico www.danielcarrico.com daniel1113[at]comcast[dot]net "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice." - Joseph Dunninger (Mentalist/Magician)

July 11th, 2002, 07:19 PM	#21
Daniel Carrico New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 19	Hey, I finally got my first test footage ready... If you would like to see it, just let me know and I will email it to you. Right now it is 1.8 M in the windows media format and about 20 seconds long. It started at 4.5 seconds with ropes. I am also working on another test that will start at normal speed and go into "bullet-time" using Realviz Retimer, however I am a little unsure on some settings in it right now. __________________ Daniel M. Carrico www.danielcarrico.com daniel1113[at]comcast[dot]net "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice." - Joseph Dunninger (Mentalist/Magician)

July 1st, 2002, 01:51 PM	#20
Ben Stineman New Boot Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: IOWA, USA Posts: 10	YES, definitely watch the extra material on the DVD where Visual Effects Supervisor John Gaeta (NOT AUSSIE) explains bullet time and frame interpolation. VERY COOL. BDOG

July 12th, 2002, 04:44 AM	#22
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I'd love to see some results. My e-mail is below. Thanks! __________________ 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

July 12th, 2002, 10:34 AM	#23
Daniel Carrico New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 19	Hey, Here is think link: http://www.fat-dog.net/Bullet-Time_Test_1.wmv Casey (kc@fat-dog.net) was nice enough to host it for me on his site! Please excuse the music... I had to have something in the track to use the Windows Media compression, and it was the best song I had on my computer. Thanks! __________________ Daniel M. Carrico www.danielcarrico.com daniel1113[at]comcast[dot]net "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice." - Joseph Dunninger (Mentalist/Magician)

July 14th, 2002, 11:48 AM	#24
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Hi Daniel! I was quite impressed... looked really nice! Now if you can fold a story around it where it adds to the story your set to go! __________________ 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

July 14th, 2002, 12:12 PM	#25
Daniel Carrico New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 19	Yeah, I could use a good story to put it into... There are a lot of ideas I have tested, such as Bullet-Time, but never used in anything. Maybe script writing will be my next challenge... hmmm. I am also going to play with the bullet ripples... I need some more to do this summer... woohoo. __________________ Daniel M. Carrico www.danielcarrico.com daniel1113[at]comcast[dot]net "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice." - Joseph Dunninger (Mentalist/Magician)

July 14th, 2002, 12:35 PM	#26
Casey Visco Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 280	well you could always do a matrix spoof ;] __________________ Casey Visco Glidecam Industries, Inc.

July 14th, 2002, 05:10 PM	#27
Daniel Carrico New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 19	There we go... I can see it now... "The Matrix Reloaded" by Daniel. Dang it, the big companies always take the good names! lol. __________________ Daniel M. Carrico www.danielcarrico.com daniel1113[at]comcast[dot]net "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice." - Joseph Dunninger (Mentalist/Magician)

July 15th, 2002, 05:35 PM	#28
Daniel Carrico New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 19	Hey guys, I've got another test I would like to try. Instead of a steadicam, I am thinking of using 10 or so still cameras - plain, simple re-usable cameras. However, there are two problems I am running into: 1. Aligning all of the cameras 2. Triggering them all at the same time Do you guys have any ideas? I am working on some of my own, however any helpw ould be greatly appreciated. This will give me something else to dot his summer :) __________________ Daniel M. Carrico www.danielcarrico.com daniel1113[at]comcast[dot]net "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice." - Joseph Dunninger (Mentalist/Magician)

July 15th, 2002, 05:54 PM	#29
Casey Visco Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 280	I think you'd find it difficult to trigger disposable cameras in this fashion, you'll need cameras that can accept a remote shutter release at a minimum. How you sync them i dont know, but now you've got me intrigued, i may look into this further. BTW is that quote from the Usual Suspects? c __________________ Casey Visco Glidecam Industries, Inc.

July 15th, 2002, 07:28 PM	#30
Paul Sedillo Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 607	<<<-- Originally posted by daniel1113 : Hey guys, I've got another test I would like to try. Instead of a steadicam, I am thinking of using 10 or so still cameras - plain, simple re-usable cameras. However, there are two problems I am running into: 1. Aligning all of the cameras 2. Triggering them all at the same time Do you guys have any ideas? I am working on some of my own, however any helpw ould be greatly appreciated. This will give me something else to dot his summer :) -->>> Regarding the camera trigger problem. Why not just run tape on all cameras, with a clapboard to initatet the scene, from here you could just edit in the tape from each respective camera. Now I am very new to all of this, so please take this with a grain of salt. But thinking about it, the idea works (at least in my wacky mind). As for the alignment, you could use a string across the set that acts as a marker. In looking through your viewfinder, you would want to make sure that the string was in the same area in each camera. It may take some experimenting, but I think it is something to consider. I hope that these ideas spur better ideas in your head. Good luck with the project! __________________ Paul Sedillo Image::Studio http://www.image-studio.com Houston, Texas