[Nick Tregenza]

It’s always a good idea filming as much pratically as you can – but I am well aware of the scene you mean, especially as I just watched that movie again (for the sixth time?) earlier this week! 🙂

Without having AE open at the moment (and without dabbling with 3D apps like 3ds max where it would work well but take time to set up), you might try painting the crack pattern in Photoshop as an alpha channel and using it as a displacement map, again using animated masks to reveal the effect.

If the camera is moving – but panning only, or hand held in place – you could then track this effect to the shot quite nicely and easily…(otherwise yer getting into 3D work again…)

Just a thought! Have a look into the superb displacement mapping tutorials on here, by Aharon Rabinowitz – that should give you everything you need to pull this effect off quickly and easily.

If you want to dabble with partciles afterwards (Particular if you have it), you could create some simple dust clouds as he lands…good luck!!

Regards,
Nick

[Nick Tregenza]

Thanks Greg! I appreciate that! 🙂

[Nick Tregenza]

Hi Derrick,

Sorry about the earlier mishap with the weblinks…if you are able to e-mail me on trig_fx@hotmail.co.uk, I’ll be happy to send you the project files if you think it will help.

Shame the links didn’t work on here – seems I have a few things to learn about posting links!

But all the info everyone has provided on here so far is pretty much it. I’ve been keying footage for over 2 years and I guess there’s a knack to it: I just soaked up EVERYTHING I could find – and not just on this site: Brian Maffitt’s tutorials on Total Training were invaluable too…

I tried everything and used what works best for me. I guess everyone has their own way of doing things – there’s no ONE correct way of doing things which is what makes visual FX so challenging and exciting! 🙂

[Nick Tregenza]

I mostly agree with everyone above – it IS hard shot and poorly lit – but not unsalvageable if you are prepared to put some work in.

A tighter junk matte is a MUST.

But here are two examples of your shot that I managed to do in about 20 minutes:

https://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z18/Trig_FX/?action=view¤t=Frame_no_CC.jpg

https://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z18/Trig_FX/?action=view¤t=frame_with_CC.jpg

The first one has basic curves and levels adjustments, and the second has 2 foreground layers and basic colour correction too – I used one of the sample pics that comes with Windows for the background, but I guess it depends on what background you want to use.

It also depends on what format you are ultimately rendering out to, whether it’s intended for broadcast or not.

But for 20 mins work, for a personal project I would say this is reasonably acceptable!

If you agree, and are happy with the result here, please do not hesitate to reply to this and I’ll see what I can do.

If it’s NOT acceptable, then I apologise for wasting everyone’s time – this is my first post on here, so I hope I haven’t upset anyone by doing this! But I hope that I’ve been able to help in some way… 🙂