Your VFX solution from script to screen.
This list of questions, in one form or another, came from conversations with our clients.
Are you considering shooting a film with some VFX in it? Then you are in the right place!
I. Take your project to the next level
When to use VFX?
Wikipedia defines VFX as following: Visual effects (sometimes abbreviated VFX) is the process by which imagery is created or manipulated outside the context of a live-action shot in filmmaking and video production. The integration of live-action footage and other live-action footage or Computer Generated Images (CGI) elements to create realistic imagery is called VFX. We just like to say that you use VFX when you need to add something to a shot, remove something from a shot, or when you cannot shoot what you want, for some reason. In filmmaking VFX can be used to create realistic and fantastical elements that cannot be achieved practically. This includes the creation and integration of otherworldly creatures, sophisticated robots and machinery, breathtaking landscapes, or intense action sequences that may pose safety risks, if attempted in reality. But VFX is not limited to the things that don’t exist in real life. When a location, that you imagine for your film, is not available or doesn’t look right, it can be enhanced in post production and will look absolutely real. For example, when your story calls mountains in the shot, but you can’t move the entire crew to another location. Another common example is adjusting time of the day in a shot. When something was miscalculated in the shooting schedule, you can use compositing to adjust the view from the window, rather than scheduling another take of the shot. Please note that there are some limitations for this workflow and so you should consult your VFX supervisor. Changing the road signs and car plates to match the location in the script. Removing unwanted props from the shot or adding them, when something was accidentally missed out during the shoot. All this is also VFX. Something that your audience will not even perceive as VFX, but will help you with continuity and getting the story right. Another common example is phone and TV screen replacements. You won’t need to worry about purchasing the copyright license to show your footage or social networks logos in your film, or getting the right things on the screen at exactly the right time. We will take care of that for you with the greatest pleasure. We are preparing a series of short videos that will highlight and explain the examples mentioned above.
What can Imagine Magic FX do for me?
We offer a full range of services, including compositing, concept art, personage and props modeling, animation, pyro and fluid effects like fire, smoke, explosions, floods and destructions. Depending on your project needs, you might need a VFX supervisor, on set, that the VFX company will provide. At Imagine Magic FX we offer all of the services mentioned above, but also we pride ourselves with following and supporting films we work on from the script stage. We review the script and help the filmmakers to understand the potential budget that will be required for VFX, as well as the potential challenges the production might meet and ways to avoid them, during the shoot. We will work with you to build your VFX budget and find ways to achieve the most within it. Our VFX supervisors will be with you on set for and during the VFX scenes being filmed. Alternatively, we can provide you with a list of data that must be obtained during the shoot in order to get the best results in preparation for the VFX, if the VFX supervisor cannot be on set for some reason. We will train a designated member of your crew on how to take 3D scans and HDRI maps when necessary, also when to take clean plates or animation references. It’s all about telling the story according to your vision and we will do our absolute best to help you do that.
How do I know what is possible to do and what is not?
The answer here is: everything is possible, it just depends on the budget and timeline restriction. Entire worlds and creatures that existed only in your imagination can be realistically created in CGI. We all have seen examples of those. So, technically, possibility is limited only by your imagination. Practically though, there are always some budget restrictions. Talk to us. Tell us what you have in mind and we will do our best to find a solution for you that will fit the budget. We will discuss different possibilities and workflows to find a way to put your vision on the screen.
II. Start working with VFX
When do you start talking to VFX company?
The answer is: as early as possible, but when you have a clear idea of what you would like to see on the screen. At the script stage it would make sense to get our VFX producer to read it and give you a ballpark budget estimate. This is to share how you are planning to shoot the VFX scenes (if you have some idea or experience with that) and get some advice from us on the best workflows. Do your research and find references of the similar effects you have in mind. The more references you have, the better it is. It will help your VFX team understand your wishes better and to plan the workflow accordingly. At the pre-production stage you can mark VFX shots on your shot-list and get information on what would be the best way to shoot them and what kind of additional equipment you will need for them (eg. green screen). Some shots might require clean plates (shots without actors in them) which need to be included in the shot list. Our VFX producer will point them out for you. When you have a shot-list you can start working on storyboarding them and creating concepts for the creatures and/or locations. We will happily assist you with both. During the production you might need a VFX supervisor on set who will make sure that the clean plates are taken, the green screen is lit properly, HDRI maps are taken and 3D scans are done when needed. If for some reason you will not have a VFX supervisor on set, please make sure to contact us and ask what they need to accomplish the job, since some VFX workflows have technical requirements that must be fulfilled during the shoot. This may include 3D scans, HDRI maps, tracking markers placement. Making sure that your VFX team has everything it needs from the shoot will save you a lot of grief and money in post production. If you have CGI added to your shots, then we can start working on the CGI personages since sophisticated, highly-detailed personages can take months to get ready for animation. After the film is shot and you have the locked cut, we will give you a final quote and will request the footage in full resolution. You will be provided with the project timeline. Some stages of VFX will need your approval before moving on. In cases when you need compositing, you will receive ready shots previews for approval.
Do I contract a VFX company or a VFX artist?
It depends on your needs, budget and time constraints. Some tasks like paint-outs or sign replacements can be accomplished by one artist. However, if you have multiple shots and need them finished fast, you will need several artists working at the same time. This is when the advantage of working with a team kicks in, since a VFX company will coordinate multiple artists. Most CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) workflows will require a team that might include a concept artist, 3D modeler, rigger, animator, grooming artist, VFX artist, lighting artist and compositing artist. Such a workflow can rarely be accomplished by a single person, since all of them are very specialized tasks, and the team must be properly coordinated to achieve great results. For our team, there are no projects too small. Whether you need only one shot, or a full scale fantasy creature integration, we will be happy to work on it.
What if I already have the footage and I didn’t contact Imagine Magic FX in the earlier stages
That is fine. No problem at all. In many cases, like with paint-outs, sign replacements and other compositing tasks, it will not make any difference in the workflow and the final result. In case you need CGI added to your shots, contracting Imagine Magic FX at an early stage might save time and money, but nothing is impossible. If you have footage ready and a clear idea of what you need done, your VFX will look great anyway. It just might take your VFX team more time and effort to achieve the result. Note: To create CGI properly and integrate it into the shot we need, clean plates, 3D scans from the set, HDRI maps to match the lighting and lens information. If you have all of those from the shooting, let your VFX producer know when you are asking for a quote.
What is the process of contracting a VFX company and what happens after that?
First, give us a call or send us an email. Tell us about your project. Let’s start a conversation. We want to know all about your vision so we can plan with you what we can do to make your film great. Depending where you are at, we will ask you to send us a script, a shot-list or a screener and your ideas about VFX you would like to have. We will come back with some questions to make sure that we are on the same page and we understand your wishes and requirements correctly. If you are in pre-production, we will offer you a ballpark budget idea and suggest next steps to consider, like developing concept designs, contracting a VFX supervisor or starting development of some 3D assets while you're shooting. If you have a screener, we will give you an official quote with the defined scope of work. If you accept the quote, we will ask you for the footage and will start working. Depending on the size of your project and VFX needs, there might be some stages that require your approval. We will provide a description of these stages with the timeline. In some cases, you can just wait for finished shots’ previews for approval. We want to make sure that you are happy with the results, so the corrections will be made, if necessary. It is important to remember that there are some cases when our clients change the direction or look of the shot. If there is a change of scope of work involved, we will notify you and will provide you with the adjusted price. So no surprises there! We are always happy to sign an NDA at any stage, but even without it, you can be sure that all our communication with you and your production is strictly confidential.
III. Get most out of your VFX budget
Why is VFX expensive?
The cost directly depends on the requirements. While compositing different shots, keying and painting out can be accomplished even with modest budgets, if you need complex set extensions that require CGI or sophisticated CGI characters, costs grow. Creating a CGI sequence is a complex workflow that requires multiple artists working together on the same element (like character or environment) at different stages. All of them are usually highly specialized to enable excellent results. It takes weeks to create and rig a production-ready character or simulation, and then comes animation, lighting and integration into live-action footage. Thus the timelines for CGI VFX are longer and costs are higher. Another parameter to consider when planning costs is level of detail. The most common example is close ups: the closer you put CGI to the camera, more time, effort and money and it will cost, since more details will need to be elaborated on, and thus more time will have to be spent. Stylization vs. Photorealism is another factor. It is actually easier and faster to create stylized, a bit cartoonish or like video game characters and animations. They usually require less details and can be accomplished with a smaller budget.
What can be done to reduce VFX cost?
Start talking to your VFX company as early as you possibly can. Make them aware of your budget restrictions and together look for solutions that will fit in both your vision of the project and budget. Ask about the best ways to shoot for the VFX shots. Discussion and preparation is crucial here. Prepare storyboards and concept designs. This will reduce the amount of expensive VFX time and amount of re-dos that might be needed. Get a VFX supervisor on set. While this might look like additional cost, it will pay off greatly in post-production. Decide which shots are crucial for the story and which are just nice to have. Concentrate on the first category while allowing some compromise for the other. Allowing a longer timeline for VFX production can help. Remember that triangle with: Good, Fast and Cheap on it? Reality usually proves that you can only have 2 at a time.
What does a VFX supervisor do on set?
The VFX supervisor makes sure that your VFX team has everything they need to accomplish your project successfully. That will include making sure that clean plates were taken, that green screen was lit well, that tracking markers are placed properly. Some VFX workflows will require 3D scans and HDRI maps of the set to be taken - each of the steps that will enable CGI to be integrated into your shots seamlessly. The VFX supervisor being on set will also be able to warn you where the shots might meet difficulties in post-production, which might affect budget. The VFX supervisor will also suggest solutions. In cases when a VFX supervisor cannot be on set for any reason, we can work with a member of your team and guide them through the technical steps that are required by the project. We also have experience with following the camera monitor online and consulting you through the process remotely.
IV. After the shoot
How do I know that the quality of VFX will be according to my expectations?
We always do our best to meet your expectations, but for that we need to understand them well. We will ask you for references and examples of what you are looking for. If you have trouble finding examples, please explain to us your idea and we will come back with visual suggestions. Be clear if you are expecting photorealism and whether you have close ups in your mind. If we see that something might not fit in the budget, we will warn you about it and we will look for the solution together.
What is considered a change of scope of work?
Scope of work is based on the shot assignment and describes all the necessary tasks (steps) required to complete the assignment. Steps examples: rotoscoping of N amount of elements, green screen keying, tracking, 3D tracking and camera solving, match-moving of N amount of elements, integrating N amounts of elements, etc. Corrections will include fixing of any quality issues found on the shot. For example, jittery match-moving, some issues or edges on the rotoscoping and keying, integration issues, simulation shape or speed. Shot quality issues will always be corrected free of charge. Change of scope is adding extra steps or amount of elements to the original scope of work. This can include creating the artwork which was supposed to be provided (ie. videos for screen replacement, adding extra elements to paint-outs, adding amounts of elements to match-move). Change of scope also includes increasing the amount of frames on the shot and replacing the original shot with a similar one. We are preparing a series of short videos covering these and many other topics. If there is anything you would like to ask, please send us an email or leave it in the comments below.
V. Some definitions that are good to know
What is the difference between concept design and storyboarding?
Both concept design and storyboarding are highly creative processes that are used for project pre-visualization and focus on different aspects of a project. Concept design is a process of creating the unique look and feel of the character, location or even entire world. It takes time and at the beginning the job of the concept designer is to generate ideas (based on your references and description) that you can choose from. Then the design is elaborated and narrowed down until “that’s it!” moment. This might be a lengthy process, but it’s worth time and effort because a unique and well developed concept will make your film stand out. We always recommend spending time on concept creation and will be happy to help you with it. Storyboarding is used for both animation and film projects and is a basically drawing of the frame. It is a pre-visualization tool that helps to plan and organize the complex shots or sequences that will eventually involve CGI. Storyboarding is a vital part in creating animated projects, and it also helps you to visualize the frame or shot before you start shooting, thus it facilitates both on set time and budget planning.
What are 2D and 3D VFX?
2D VFX usually include live-action footage manipulation. The most common examples are: paintouts green/blue screen keying, simple matte painting and set extensions (for example, when you need to add some mountains in the background) 3D VFX involves\ creation of 3D environments to allow realism. The examples of 3D VFX are: CGI creatures creation and animation 3D set extensions, when CGI objects have to added to shot Effects like fire, water, smoke, explosions Destruction of the buildings or objects Some effects can be achieved both through 2D and 3D workflows. The best practice is to decide on which workflow will work better for the effect before you go into production, since they have different set requirements. 2D effects might require tracking markers placement, distortion grid shots, green screens on set. 3D effects will require all of the above, plus references or examples of what you want created, HDRI (High Dynamic Range Image) map and 3D scans will have to be taken on set. Some additional tracking markers might be also required. A VFX supervisor will be able to help you with the technical requirements and also will point out on how to adjust a shot to avoid extra cost in post-production, whenever possible.
Technical terms that we use.
CGI - Computer-generated imagery. HDRI map - High Dynamic Range Image map that is used in 3D workflows that allow us to match the lighting of CGI creatures and objects to the light in the shot. Rotoscoping - is a process of separating (cutting out) some parts, objects or people in the shot that allows us to bring them to another shot or put other things behind them. Matte painting - is the process of digital creation of environments or some parts of it that were not present in the shot. Compositing or digital compositing is a process of assembling multiple images or sequences in order to create the one final desired result. Keying or green/blue screen keying is a technique that allows to separate actors or objects from the green screen environment, so that they can be composited to the other shots.