Latest Effect

I've been working loads recently (I'm a projectionist) and a family friend is over so I've not had much time to get on the PC but tonight I've been on for about 5 hours and I've got a new effect/experiment.

A few days ago I recorded a short clip in my back garden and finally imported it tonight.

With this clip I wanted to make a meteor (or something along those lines) crash into my pool.

So I booted up AE, loaded the footage and realised I didn't have any meteor or smoke...so I started to create it.

About 3 hours later I had something I was fairly happy with that I created with the AE add on "particular 2".

Its looking OK for now, when I get chance I'll go over it again and get it better but I'll upload what I have at the moment...once its finished rendering!

Check it out on my YouTube or the links above.

Like usual its now 5am, I'm tired so I'm off to sleep.

LB

First Job

I was working on a film a little while back, i wont go into any detail but it was a great experience...middle of nowhere, stayed overnight, lots of cool stuff happened...and while talking to the producers/directors they asked if I would be interested in doing the gunshots for the film.

Obviously I jumped at the opportunity.

So now I'm looking over loads of actual gun shot footage, figuring out how different guns look/work and just practising basically.

So, things I need to research/practice...

1) muzzle flashes,
2) how bullets react to different surfaces,
3) how the surface reacts to different bullets,
4) how to light the surrounding areas that would be lit by the muzzle flash,

I think that's most things.

I'll upload the practice stuff once I'm happy with them.

Anyway, its 5am, I'm tired, I'm going to bed.

LB

Im back

Got on After Effects on our other computer...works surprisingly well!

I've just uploaded a new clip, its just a video copilot tutorial but it looks alright.

Learnt some great tips for tracking, rotoscoping and colour correction so hopefully I can apply them to my own work soon.

LB

Back online...possibly.

So as I said recently, my laptop is not with us any more.

After some time with it, I managed to salvage the hdd, ram,wlan card and graphics card. I have no use for them but you never know.

I'm glad to have the hdd as I can pretty easily get the stuff off it.

And now some fairly good news, our other PC isn't as bad as I thought. Its a bit low on gpu power but it should be able to cope with some light after effects use.

I have installed ae onto it and will give it a tryout over the next couple of days.

Here's hoping it works OK.

LB

No more computer

I was on my laptop last night, which is where I do all vfx etc., and it suddenly turn off.

After all last night and today trying to fix it, I've now given up!

I have no after effects, no footage, nothing.

Its been on its way out for over a year so was expecting this day to come.

I can't afford one any time soon so for now, I will be doing no more vfx.

This blows!

One vfx trial down

Today on my first day off work I got the camera, film a short back plate of my house and put it on my computer.

I took some pre keyed explosions, graded it, shook it a bit and ended up with a semi decent explosion.

I'll put it up on YouTube soon (link to my channel is above) and you can all tell me how to improve it.

Its nothing great but that's what the foundation degree will be for!

While I'm on the topic, I called the university today and my application was received, hopefully they will call me soon for an interview to determine if I'm to be accepted.

LB

(Edit - The new video is now on YouTube and is linked above in the thumbnails)

Vfx and Post Production foundation Degree

I faxed through my application for the course a few days ago and the closing date was yesterday...gotta wait now to see if I got a place.
If I do, I've then got to figure out how I'm going to get 13200 pounds for the course...that's not even with flights there and living/accom expenses.
I should really get a full time job!!

LB

More AE practice

The best thing about only having a casual position at your workplace...lots of time off between shifts! I'm not working until Sunday (one week from today!)

So I think it's time to dust off my camera, get a few things shot and start practicing different things in AE.

Some of the things I want to improve on are tracking, stabalising, green screen and colour correction. Pretty big range I know!

This week some of the things I'm going to attempt are...

1- Improve the footage of my sister driving (clip is linked in my video box above),

2- Stabalise footage I'll take when walking along a street,

3- Add something into the footage I just stabalised...not sure what yet,

4- Blow up my house,

And 5- Make an unlit cigarette appear to be lit using pre keyed flames and inbuilt particle add-on in AE for the smoke.

That's all for now, I'll keep updating this as I go with these 5 throughout the week.

LB.

Introduction

So who am I?

I'm Louis Byrne. I moved from a small town in Cheshire, England called Macclesfield to Perth, Western Australia in late 2005. Studied year 12 here, worked for a couple of years then began studying the Diploma of Film and Television in early 2009.

Now I've finished all my studies (for now!) and I'm working as a projectionist for a local cinema.

I've never really known what draws me to films. I studied directing (It's fun, but it's not for me just yet), I've watched hundreds of films and enjoy lots of different styles, genres, directors etc. and I've only just figured out what it is that makes me love a film...

Visual Effects!

Matrix, Avatar, LOTR, Xmen, Silent Hill, Inception, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, ...Dr Parnassus...It's a massive list and the one thing each of my favourite films have in common is amazing vfx (among other things).

Just yesterday I applied for a course in Manchester, England at the Futureworks Media School. It's a foundation degree in VFX and Post Production.

My long term goal is to work for the VFX powerhouse that is Industrial Light and Magic. It's THE VFX company to work for. My aim is (at the moment) to become a compositor there within the next ten years.

(The most VFX I have done so far is some small After Effects projects...check them out on my YouTube channel...there are previews/links on the home screen).

So that's me. Louis, 23, Projectionist, VFX wannabe.

This is the first post of many that will follow me on my journey to become a compositor at ILM.

LB