Effects from the movie 300. at DVinfo.net

Michael Vaden · July 14th, 2007, 02:59 PM

I know some of you guys have seen the hit movie 300. I loved how the effects were set up. Someone made a video implementing the slow-motion and fight effect. Here is the video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AAUIrk6RgP4

Here is another video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GLuVPfzwREA

The guys haven't made a tutorial. Does anyone know how recreate the style step by step?

By the way, I have Sony Vegas 7, Adobe Premiere Pro 2, and After effects.

Thanks in advance...

Jamie Varney · July 14th, 2007, 04:19 PM

These are just speed ramps done in AE. Check out the video tutorial titled "300-like Speed Ramps & More!" at www.videocopilot.net

Bennis Hahn · July 14th, 2007, 05:03 PM

While you can do it in AE pretty well, I think for the movie they used three cameras strapped together all running at different framerates and focal lengths. They made the cuts invisible with some CG.

I remember reading this somewhere...

Jamie Varney · July 14th, 2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bennis Hahn

While you can do it in AE pretty well, I think for the movie they used three cameras strapped together all running at different framerates and focal lengths. They made the cuts invisible with some CG.

I remember reading this somewhere...

I didn't mean to imply that the the effects in the movie were done in AE, just that I think the youtube videos he linked were.

Lalo Alvidrez · September 21st, 2007, 04:55 PM

Has anyone done the 300 effects just using vegas? If so, would you mind sharing? I'm working on some highlight vids for football and would love to use the effect. Been toying with it but not having much luck.

Rob Stoner · September 24th, 2007, 02:47 PM

i dont use vegas but i would imagine that you could do alot of speed changes such as speeding up and slowing down the speed dynamically and drastically in a very short ammount of time to create this effect.

Daniel Ross · September 24th, 2007, 03:00 PM

You will need a compositing program, I'd think, to get reasonable results.
If you slow footage down without a good interpolation algorithm, the results will just be choppy, not smooth like in the film.
AE has a built in algorithm that should do a good job (since v. 7) and there are plugins as well.
Not as easy as just using a slider.

I don't know about Vegas specifically but I don't think it would have such an algorithm. I could be wrong.

Final Cut Pro doesn't. I'd assume Vegas would be the same.

The best you can get with FCP or any program that doesn't have such an algorithm is frame blending which tries to smooth the motion by blending the frames before and after in the right ratio but it just ends up looking jittery/blurred.

James Henley · September 27th, 2007, 11:03 AM

Taken from the expanded description of the youtube video (in the box to the right)

'started out in Sony Vegas, set up a velocity envelope and rode it up during punch movements/spins and down during finishes. As you do this, the clip must be extended (since time is changing). Once all the velocities were right I bounced it down and moved to Adobe After Effects.

In AE, I started by setting up that crushed look utilizing several Level and Exposure adjustments (using curves really helps you get this fine tuned). Using a masked layer solid you can keep the edges of the film dark so you focus on the center.

Once the color feel was right, I key framed the camera to zoom in during punch movements and spins. In the movie, the effect alternated in and out for each person getting shanked/shielded/generally owned on. (motion blur makes this pretty too).

Finally, I took a picture of a rusty piece of metal and crushed the blacks so I could alpha blend in the grunge. I also animated how the grunge moves during the zoomed in parts (kinda like how the blood splattered in the movie).

and... I think thats it. Thanks for watchin! =]'

Brian Boyko · September 27th, 2007, 12:22 PM

I think what may be going on (just guessing) is recording in 60i, de-interlacing and showing the now 60p frames at 24p (going for a smooth slow-motion)

Phil Anderson · October 6th, 2007, 04:46 AM

300 was shot with three cameras (as noted) all running at different focal lengths, and all running at 120fps. From there, they were taken into a time-line, and speed ramped between 24fps and back to 120fps, and morphed between the three cameras for the effect.

AE in CS3 has a new Time-Stretch feature with improved frame blending that's pretty impressive (and long render times. Xeon class duo or quad processor, 4gb of RAM min).

If you've got the time/gear and wanted to do this, I'd shoot with a two (not 3, just two set to different focal lengths) HVX's cranked to 60p, or shoot 60i on other cameras (blend it to 60p in AE), then double that to 120 using the AE feature listed above giving you 120fps. Then on the time-line place one on top of the other, and have the time-line run at 24fps and try speed ramping each video track to see how it looks. Morph blending the two video tracks is a plug-in or technique I am not familiar with. But it looks like in these You Tube clips they simply scaled the frame they have quickly. You could try to do that on your "wide" angle track, and/or cut/fast dissolve on the end of the zoom to the video track with the tele angle track.

Phil Anderson · October 6th, 2007, 04:54 AM

I should have mentioned that the Sony V1u can overcrank to 120fps and 240fps (in short bursts, at low-res - near SD quality). If you could get two of these cameras, you could have some fun trying this technique.

July 14th, 2007, 02:59 PM	#1
Michael Vaden Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 43	Effects from the movie 300. I know some of you guys have seen the hit movie 300. I loved how the effects were set up. Someone made a video implementing the slow-motion and fight effect. Here is the video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=AAUIrk6RgP4 Here is another video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=GLuVPfzwREA The guys haven't made a tutorial. Does anyone know how recreate the style step by step? By the way, I have Sony Vegas 7, Adobe Premiere Pro 2, and After effects. Thanks in advance...

July 14th, 2007, 04:19 PM	#2
Jamie Varney Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 36	These are just speed ramps done in AE. Check out the video tutorial titled "300-like Speed Ramps & More!" at www.videocopilot.net

July 14th, 2007, 05:03 PM	#3
Bennis Hahn Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 221	While you can do it in AE pretty well, I think for the movie they used three cameras strapped together all running at different framerates and focal lengths. They made the cuts invisible with some CG. I remember reading this somewhere...

September 21st, 2007, 04:55 PM	#5
Lalo Alvidrez Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Longview, Tx. Posts: 227	Has anyone done the 300 effects just using vegas? If so, would you mind sharing? I'm working on some highlight vids for football and would love to use the effect. Been toying with it but not having much luck.

September 24th, 2007, 02:47 PM	#6
Rob Stoner Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 50	i dont use vegas but i would imagine that you could do alot of speed changes such as speeding up and slowing down the speed dynamically and drastically in a very short ammount of time to create this effect.

September 24th, 2007, 03:00 PM	#7
Daniel Ross Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Marin & Davis, CA, USA Posts: 418	You will need a compositing program, I'd think, to get reasonable results. If you slow footage down without a good interpolation algorithm, the results will just be choppy, not smooth like in the film. AE has a built in algorithm that should do a good job (since v. 7) and there are plugins as well. Not as easy as just using a slider. I don't know about Vegas specifically but I don't think it would have such an algorithm. I could be wrong. Final Cut Pro doesn't. I'd assume Vegas would be the same. The best you can get with FCP or any program that doesn't have such an algorithm is frame blending which tries to smooth the motion by blending the frames before and after in the right ratio but it just ends up looking jittery/blurred.

September 27th, 2007, 11:03 AM	#8
James Henley New Boot Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 23	Taken from the expanded description of the youtube video (in the box to the right) 'started out in Sony Vegas, set up a velocity envelope and rode it up during punch movements/spins and down during finishes. As you do this, the clip must be extended (since time is changing). Once all the velocities were right I bounced it down and moved to Adobe After Effects. In AE, I started by setting up that crushed look utilizing several Level and Exposure adjustments (using curves really helps you get this fine tuned). Using a masked layer solid you can keep the edges of the film dark so you focus on the center. Once the color feel was right, I key framed the camera to zoom in during punch movements and spins. In the movie, the effect alternated in and out for each person getting shanked/shielded/generally owned on. (motion blur makes this pretty too). Finally, I took a picture of a rusty piece of metal and crushed the blacks so I could alpha blend in the grunge. I also animated how the grunge moves during the zoomed in parts (kinda like how the blood splattered in the movie). and... I think thats it. Thanks for watchin! =]'

September 27th, 2007, 12:22 PM	#9
Brian Boyko Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 773	I think what may be going on (just guessing) is recording in 60i, de-interlacing and showing the now 60p frames at 24p (going for a smooth slow-motion)

October 6th, 2007, 04:46 AM	#10
Phil Anderson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 37	300 was shot with three cameras (as noted) all running at different focal lengths, and all running at 120fps. From there, they were taken into a time-line, and speed ramped between 24fps and back to 120fps, and morphed between the three cameras for the effect. AE in CS3 has a new Time-Stretch feature with improved frame blending that's pretty impressive (and long render times. Xeon class duo or quad processor, 4gb of RAM min). If you've got the time/gear and wanted to do this, I'd shoot with a two (not 3, just two set to different focal lengths) HVX's cranked to 60p, or shoot 60i on other cameras (blend it to 60p in AE), then double that to 120 using the AE feature listed above giving you 120fps. Then on the time-line place one on top of the other, and have the time-line run at 24fps and try speed ramping each video track to see how it looks. Morph blending the two video tracks is a plug-in or technique I am not familiar with. But it looks like in these You Tube clips they simply scaled the frame they have quickly. You could try to do that on your "wide" angle track, and/or cut/fast dissolve on the end of the zoom to the video track with the tele angle track.

October 6th, 2007, 04:54 AM	#11
Phil Anderson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 37	I should have mentioned that the Sony V1u can overcrank to 120fps and 240fps (in short bursts, at low-res - near SD quality). If you could get two of these cameras, you could have some fun trying this technique.