Back to School

I was commissioned to work on these spots for Godwin through Key of Blue. All of the talent was shot on greenscreen and keyed over colored themes. You can check the raw timelines, these spots came a long way. All compositing done in combustion.

Plinko!

Continuing in our 'desktop' spots, I created this short commercial for Island View Casino through CAVU.

I created the plinko board in 3dsMAX by referencing this web page. I used MAX's Reactor dynamics to actually animate the puck: I just dropped it at the top and it fell naturally. After about twelve drops, I got it to fall exactly where it needed to. I locked that animation down, rendered it from several camera angles (including one where the camera is locked on the puck), and composited in combustion.

Fly

Eaton Aerospace commissioned me to create an animation to open their 2007 Customer Support Conference.

This was a fun project! The animation needed to match the print theme, which was three yellow lines and the red text 'Together We Fly'. We decided to have the plane from their logo zip around leaving the three yellow lines as a trail, eventually creating the Eaton logo. Once it was pointed out by several engineers that a passenger jet couldn't do those amazing aerobatics, we replaced it with a jet fighter that later pulls away to reveal the passenger jet.

X-Lobs

I was asked to create two 15 second spots for Island View Casino through CAVU.



In a short turnaround I cranked out these spots based on a VO and script. X-Points was created completely in 3dsMax and composited in combustion. The kiosk was created from a picture reference. In Lobster Lagniappe, the lobster platter is also 3D (obviously) and composited in combustion. Originally the client only provided a picture of a lobster to use as the main element of the commercial. It was clear this would be rather static, so we decided to push ahead with something a little more eye-catching.

Homeland Security

A commercial for the Mississippi Citizens Corps through a grant from the US Homeland Security, this spot reminds us to be ready in case an emergency happens again (Katrina is still fresh in our minds).



This was a fun project! I was provided conceptual reference pics in which to create the elements. I created everything in 3dsMAX using a toon shader (finaltoon). I rendered to 12fps and made the strokes noisy to give it a cartoon-y feel.

Political

Last year I worked on a political for the Court of Appeals Judge candidate Virginia Carlton. It was shot and edited by Lathe Productions.



It is a simple spot, but we tried to enhance it as much as we could. In addition to creating the 3D flag background, I composited the text into their environment adding shadows and reflections where necessary. Timing '..stands out..' with the people walking through the text worked well. The ultimate was when the dog runs in front of the text and the family is behind it. If you look closely, the little girl actually steps over the font! Unfortunately, the shot was canned by the client, so all of that rotoscoping of motion-blurred dog legs will only be seen here. The final shot was originally a dolly shot of the Veterans Memorial in Jackson landing on her looking into the camera. I tracked in a nice logo with flag that really felt like it was in the scene. In the end, the client decided not to use that shot, so we ended on a nice 3D logo.

Recent work: Touch and Vote

A somewhat controversial subject, the new Diebold touch-screen voting machines are now setup to be used in almost all the counties in our state. We created this spot in just a few days, quicker than expected.


Here is a great example of a "before" and "after" in the post production workflow. This is a final locked timeline from the Avid. This is usually what I start with. Click the picture for a movie. You'll need the Quicktime player to view it.


Once I get the footage, the client sits with me for an online-type session. I take direction from the client and either get them exactly the look they are going for, or experiment with some ideas to show them what is possible.


Here is the final spot. Click the picture for a movie. You'll need the Quicktime player to view it. Although simple, it came a long way from the original cut. The client wanted the viewer to feel like they were looking through the LCD touch screen itself. We gave the whole spot an overall blue tint and added scanlines (although LCD monitors don't actually have scanlines). We also added an old-tv type turn on/off effect for the beginning and end. The touch screen icon needed to be simple, but clear. The X in a box matched the real Diebold icon, except for color. I added an outline as thier finger presses the screen. We also worked hard to retain the feel of the finger actually pressing against a screen. If you look closely, I added a LCD swirly/watery/displacement effect where their fingers touch the screen. We kept the scanline feel with our transitions as they scanline out/in from voter to voter. Lastly, I tracked a smiley face on the voter finger and had it press the screen for one last vote at the end.

From here, the video goes back to the avid and final audio is edited to match the effects. Final music is chosen. Then we make an approval dub for the client.

I was on set as visual effects supervisor, and happened to snap a few pics with my phone.

Here, Philip watches the 24" HD LCD to check focus on our talent. He is using the follow focus on the camera to keep the focus from her face to exactly where her finger touches, then back to her face. Later in post, I would match this change in focus for the elements I would add.





Another shot of our talent performing. You can see the 24" LCD in the background showing what the camera viewing.













Philip approves!










Our "screen" was comprised of plexiglass being held by c-stands.

Recent work: Abner's Chicken

I recently worked on four spots for a regional restaurant called "Abner's". I was approached with the idea of making a chicken talk, and after several trial-and-error tests we proceeded. Here are two of the finished spots. Everything is computer generated 3D except the chicken itself (actually, herself. The chicken playing 'Roy' is a female chicken named Bridgette). We shot the chicken against greenscreen on HD and composited her into the scene. You'll need Quicktime to view the movies.

Fun on the set

Depending on what film set I am working on, I always like to have fun and keep things light and happy. Here, I am pretending to be shot by a laser from behind the camera. Props to crafts services for the delicious Seattle Drip hot chocolate.







On another set we were simulating a chemical spill from a train wreck. The setting was perfect for a Terminator re-enactment (music by Sam and Philip) . Click for a movie!



I'll post other stuff as I can add it.. :)

-Matthew

What do I do?

I am primarily a "visual effects" artist. What does that mean? Well, it means I enhance, correct, change, add, remove, replace, or create elements in video and film using a computer and software. For instance, I may need to pull people's teeth together when there is a gap in their teeth. I also remove tattoo's, moles, whiten teeth, and remove wrinkles on actors and actresses. I also take out boom mics, replace skies, electrocute people, make grass greener, change shirt colors, add headlight beams, add fireworks smoke trails, or even add seatbelts where there were no seatbelts before.

This is different than "special effects" which are physical effects done on set while you are shooting.

I also am a 3D animator.

Knowing the relationship between how shooting in the field will effect the post production workflow is valuable, and I am also frequently asked to be on set as video assist or even effects supervisor.

-Matthew