[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

You can easily create multiple instances using the Generator in FreeForm Pro or ShapeShifter AE

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

OBJ can be weird – most likely the internal data structure is messed up. Try downloading Blender (free) import the OBJ and then save it back from there as OBJ. This should fix that issue. Hope this is not too late.
You could also try to do the same using C4D.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

It looks like all of it can be done by animating individual elements and masks. The trick for the line elements that are “branching out” is to have the Anchor point in the center of the circle.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

The lines with the flares can be built using Videocopilot’s Optical Flare. Then you can animate the layers to bring in the lines as in the example you provided.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

This is weird- did not sign out or re-start, I worked in CS 55, then opened CC again and even if this happened several times before (could not import mpeg files that were rendered from PPro CC in AME CC) this time it worked… So I suggest as a fix these steps:
Post on the COW
Get Kevin to answer you
Re-start Premiere CC and voila, it works 😀

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

What does “squishy” refer to? Is it the size/aspect of the font or are you talking about compression artifacts (jagged edges)?
YouTube will re-compress any footage you upload, so the best is not to use the YouTube presets in any compression software you use for your final render, but to upload a high quality file- CBR instead of VBR, 30-50Mbps or even higher, at least 720 but best 1080.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

You can also use Unmult, it’s free.

https://www.redgiant.com/products/all/knoll-unmult-free/

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

For a all AE morph technique read this post:
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/2/992175
Your morph is more complex but the idea is the same.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

There’s several ways of achieving that result.
You could use Motion Tile for one if you just need a grid.
If you have any of the Mettle plugins use Generator.
Any Particle System with custom particles can be used.
You could also try AEscripts – they have several scripts there that can help you achieve your desired result.
Trapcode Echospace can help you control layers in complex ways.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

A reflection should show the back of the actors, so unless you have shot that with a second camera, there’s really no way of doing it right.
You could try to fake some shadow like reflections, barely visible, by using the elements you have comped in the foreground, darkening them (Levels) and positioning them on the window plane with a high transparency. You’ll have to account for elements behind the camera (wall, door, pictures on the wall and so on). I for one would create some light elements (lamps, tv screens) that will reflect in the window and sort of provide a reason for the actors to be darker forms.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist