anyone ever do butterflies? at DVinfo.net

Stephen J. Williams · April 1st, 2009, 07:53 PM

I was trying to think of something unique for a save the date video. I was thinking of maybe releasing 24 butterflies. Anyone ever work with something like this??
I found a site for $124 for 24... If done right, it might make for a cool video.
Thoughts...
steve

Rob Morse · April 1st, 2009, 08:46 PM

At $124 a shot it would suck if Murphy stepped in. I'm sure you can find some butterflies with an alpha channel or create your own in After Effects. Once you make one, the rest will be simple.

Travis Cossel · April 1st, 2009, 10:59 PM

I've never used AE, so I don't know the time required to create butterflies for a shot ... but it might actually cost you more in time to create butterflies. If this was my couple, they would be purchasing the butterflies, not me.

I'm assuming "24" is the date of their wedding, so somehow you need to figure out a way to get across to the viewer that the couple is releasing 24 butterflies. Otherwise, you could just release 10 and get the same effect. I don't have any ideas for you just yet, but I'll think about it.

Kelii Grace · April 1st, 2009, 11:04 PM

I actually just shot a recent Wedding where about 20 or so butterflies were released and it didnt show up too well on video. I would think you would need 100+ for it too look decent. That would end up being pricey.

Travis Cossel · April 1st, 2009, 11:54 PM

For a save the date though you could do a close-up, and then it would show up pretty well I think.

SiuChung Leung · April 2nd, 2009, 01:16 AM

do a couple trial before you shot the thing, it was quite hard to capture butterflies actually...
You need to do a close up in order to for viewer to 'feel' the the release of butterflies.

Noel Lising · April 2nd, 2009, 07:06 AM

I have done one 2 years ago, there were 12 butterflies. I thought it would be cool but after coming out of their "coma", they just stood there, slowly opening their wings. So I have 12 sleepy butterflies as oppose to the magic of butterflies flying. It would be great for photography & close up shots.

Jawad Mir · April 2nd, 2009, 07:47 AM

what site is it..?

Michael Ojjeh · April 2nd, 2009, 10:38 AM

why not buy some butterflies put a green screen and do a chromakey (inside) and take as much takes as you want untill you get the right shot.

Jon Geddes · April 2nd, 2009, 11:33 AM

If you buy 24, its likely that you won't be able to count how many there are, or something will go wrong with the shot and you will have wasted the money.

If you are not familiar with after effects, then you probably wont be able to create them easily without reading tutorials.

You could actually get just 1 butterfly, shoot it on a green screen, and duplicate the footage until you have 24 of them flying around. This would be an easy task to do in after effects, as it can handle 24 layers without a problem.

Robert Bec · April 2nd, 2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen J. Williams

I was trying to think of something unique for a save the date video. I was thinking of maybe releasing 24 butterflies. Anyone ever work with something like this??
I found a site for $124 for 24... If done right, it might make for a cool video.
Thoughts...
steve

You never mentioned the site?

Rob Morse · April 2nd, 2009, 04:19 PM

It may take some time to create the butterflies in AE but when you're done you can use it over and over. In addition, you direct the flight of the butterfly. You could have it follow the bride if you wanted. It would be very difficult with a green screen to get a good key on a butterfly

Nice job on the menu Jon.

Stephen J. Williams · April 2nd, 2009, 04:30 PM

Thanks for all the input.... I dont have AE on my computer so thats not an option. I thought it would be something that might look nice for a save the date. There would be no limit to how close I would need to be to the couple. I was a little worried about them not showing up on camera though...
I just googled butterfly release and chose the one with the cheapest price. I dont remember the address.
If I end up going through with it I'll let you know how it turns out.

I like the idea of green screening them.... But I'm not sure I'm good enough to pull off what I have pictured in my head.

Steve

Dan Shallenberger · April 5th, 2009, 10:11 PM

Interesting. I've never seen a butterfly release for a wedding, but I like the idea. I did the google search and this is one of the many sites found: Butterfly Release Company, Inc. - Free Dozen with Spring Special

The homepage has a decent flash animation of the very thing some here are suggesting: animated butterflies. It's not half bad. Combined with some clever shots, that could look real.

Kind of funny that a sample for digital butterflies works so well on a site that sells real butterflies!

If you do the real butterflies, please post it here. I'd love to see what you come up with.

Lukas Siewior · April 6th, 2009, 11:59 AM

I've seen live butterflies released at the wedding after the ceremony - there was aprox. 4 dozens of them (two boxes). It was an amazing sight - just a shame that the B&G failed to give heads up to photog and videog ;-(

April 1st, 2009, 07:53 PM	#1
Stephen J. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 768	anyone ever do butterflies? I was trying to think of something unique for a save the date video. I was thinking of maybe releasing 24 butterflies. Anyone ever work with something like this?? I found a site for $124 for 24... If done right, it might make for a cool video. Thoughts... steve

April 1st, 2009, 10:59 PM	#3
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	I've never used AE, so I don't know the time required to create butterflies for a shot ... but it might actually cost you more in time to create butterflies. If this was my couple, they would be purchasing the butterflies, not me. I'm assuming "24" is the date of their wedding, so somehow you need to figure out a way to get across to the viewer that the couple is releasing 24 butterflies. Otherwise, you could just release 10 and get the same effect. I don't have any ideas for you just yet, but I'll think about it. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com

April 1st, 2009, 11:54 PM	#5
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	For a save the date though you could do a close-up, and then it would show up pretty well I think. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com

April 2nd, 2009, 01:16 AM	#6
SiuChung Leung Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 231	do a couple trial before you shot the thing, it was quite hard to capture butterflies actually... You need to do a close up in order to for viewer to 'feel' the the release of butterflies. __________________ S.O.D.E Wedding Video(NZ): www.sode.co.nz

April 2nd, 2009, 07:47 AM	#8
Jawad Mir Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 371	what site is it..? __________________ Jawad Mir / Cinematographer . Filmmaker Film Style Weddings http://www.filmstyleweddings.com Jawad Mir http://www.jawadmir.com

April 1st, 2009, 08:46 PM	#2
Rob Morse Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 427	At $124 a shot it would suck if Murphy stepped in. I'm sure you can find some butterflies with an alpha channel or create your own in After Effects. Once you make one, the rest will be simple.

April 1st, 2009, 11:04 PM	#4
Kelii Grace Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Honolulu Posts: 35	I actually just shot a recent Wedding where about 20 or so butterflies were released and it didnt show up too well on video. I would think you would need 100+ for it too look decent. That would end up being pricey.

April 2nd, 2009, 07:06 AM	#7
Noel Lising Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 789	I have done one 2 years ago, there were 12 butterflies. I thought it would be cool but after coming out of their "coma", they just stood there, slowly opening their wings. So I have 12 sleepy butterflies as oppose to the magic of butterflies flying. It would be great for photography & close up shots.

April 2nd, 2009, 10:38 AM	#9
Michael Ojjeh Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 338	why not buy some butterflies put a green screen and do a chromakey (inside) and take as much takes as you want untill you get the right shot. __________________ Dragonfly Production http://www.dragonflyproduction.net/ http://www.vimeo.com/user432181

April 2nd, 2009, 11:33 AM	#10
Jon Geddes Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seal Beach, California Posts: 68	See if you can green screen it. If you buy 24, its likely that you won't be able to count how many there are, or something will go wrong with the shot and you will have wasted the money. If you are not familiar with after effects, then you probably wont be able to create them easily without reading tutorials. You could actually get just 1 butterfly, shoot it on a green screen, and duplicate the footage until you have 24 of them flying around. This would be an easy task to do in after effects, as it can handle 24 layers without a problem.

April 2nd, 2009, 04:19 PM	#12
Rob Morse Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 427	It may take some time to create the butterflies in AE but when you're done you can use it over and over. In addition, you direct the flight of the butterfly. You could have it follow the bride if you wanted. It would be very difficult with a green screen to get a good key on a butterfly Nice job on the menu Jon.

April 2nd, 2009, 04:30 PM	#13
Stephen J. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 768	Thanks for all the input.... I dont have AE on my computer so thats not an option. I thought it would be something that might look nice for a save the date. There would be no limit to how close I would need to be to the couple. I was a little worried about them not showing up on camera though... I just googled butterfly release and chose the one with the cheapest price. I dont remember the address. If I end up going through with it I'll let you know how it turns out. I like the idea of green screening them.... But I'm not sure I'm good enough to pull off what I have pictured in my head. Steve

April 5th, 2009, 10:11 PM	#14
Dan Shallenberger Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 253	Interesting. I've never seen a butterfly release for a wedding, but I like the idea. I did the google search and this is one of the many sites found: Butterfly Release Company, Inc. - Free Dozen with Spring Special The homepage has a decent flash animation of the very thing some here are suggesting: animated butterflies. It's not half bad. Combined with some clever shots, that could look real. Kind of funny that a sample for digital butterflies works so well on a site that sells real butterflies! If you do the real butterflies, please post it here. I'd love to see what you come up with.

April 6th, 2009, 11:59 AM	#15
Lukas Siewior Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lyndhurst, NJ, USA Posts: 408	I've seen live butterflies released at the wedding after the ceremony - there was aprox. 4 dozens of them (two boxes). It was an amazing sight - just a shame that the B&G failed to give heads up to photog and videog ;-(