animating a massive truck bumper

[Malcolm Desoto]

Animating a buper that will interact with these physical characters (swinging and hitting people) Seems extremely hard to do if not impossible in AE. I mean, I’d at least look into compositing in a 3D app. Even then, this sounds like alot of work (depending on the realism that you’re going for).

At any rate, I’d suggest making a bumper prop out of foam core or fiber glass. I think that would really be the easiest solution.

I’d use that for the fight scene, and then maybe animate the spinning bumper in the last scene.

“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” –Albert Einstein

[Arun Siva]

hello malcolm man

thanks for the reply.

THanks for the useful tips. I was wondering do you know where I could possibly find foam core or fiber glass?

Thanks

[Malcolm Desoto]

Um, I guess it depends on where you live. Home Depot? Lowes?

If ya have a budget that allows for it, you may want to higher a prop guy to build you one.

“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” –Albert Einstein

[Arun Siva]

sounds good.

it is going to be quite a large bumper; i can then animate it in AE for it to be able to spin?

thanks

Arun Siva
Student

[Steve Roberts]

Foamcore (foam board) can be found at art stores or Staples.
As for fiberglass, you’d have to hire someone to build a bumper-shaped form, then lay up the fiberglass, molding it to the shape of the form. Maybe an auto-body shop could do it, using the real bumper as a form. Then you’d have to chrome it (talk to the auto-body guys) or wrap it in chrome mylar.

But AE is not the way to go.

[Malcolm Desoto]

Steve knows his Stuff.

and just to be clear. The spinning bumper is going to be graphic that you animate right?

If not, you may want to figure out a way to this on-set as well.
Maybe some kind of time warp thing.
It might help with a cohesive look as far as the effects in that scene go.

“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” –Albert Einstein

[Malcolm Desoto]

It might not even have to be a chrome bumper. Depending on the make, model, year of the truck. I have a Ford F-250 and it just has a grey bumper. May want to consider just a solid color.

Like I said, a prop guy would be able to make you something that looked nice.

“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” –Albert Einstein

[Steve Roberts]

[malcolm man] “It might not even have to be a chrome bumper.”

Indeed. Why make extra work by having to chrome it? The lesson being: make this kind of decision in pre-production, before you shoot or source the truck.

Oh, and a fiberglass bumper is not very light, and it’s also rather brittle. Consider having it molded from high-impact plastic or something if weight and durability are issues.

[Arun Siva]

hey

just wondering malcolm man, what do you mean by time warp exactly

thanks again Malcolm man and thanks to steve roberts!

Arun Siva
Student

[Arun Siva]

hey

I really want to make one out of foamboard. Is it feasible? What would make foamboard or foamcore pretty realistic?

its because money is a bit tight since i am a student and i have been lucky enough to use equipment from a nearby studio that has let me use some of their equipment…

thanks