Effects Animation

Effects Animation is a phrase that covers a multitude of different animated effects. Anything from lightning bolts to flames to streaking images or glowing eyes, diaphanous gas, shattering glass, etc. You name it. I can do it.

Most animation effects are done using CGI, so I've made it a career objective to fully understand and selectively exploit all the various software platforms in use - and in developement - to get the very best from each of them.

Needless to say, it's an exciting time in the development of 3D technology. I enjoy pushing the limits, going for the next-to-impossible.
Hydro-dynamic and atmosperic simulations with volumetric renders are attainable, but you have to know your resources well.
Not all these effects can be done well at just anyplace with a computer......

Image #1 :From the Motion Picture "GI Joe"- This was one of the hardest shots I did on Batman Forever. Where do I begin? The miniature was built under the supervision of Mike Joyce. 1/24th in scale, this model featured over 400 miniature bulbs, working as practical lights. There were more than two dozen motion controlled moving searchlights. I can't remember the number of film passes we shot, but they included beauty lighting on the miniature, practical light passes (for all those little bulbs), searchlight smoke passes (exposed at 24 seconds per frame!), several steam projection passes( and the steam had to be photographed first), many, many, many refracted laser beam passes (with motion controlled refraction drums), mattes....lots of mattes, High-intensity UV passes for the white spiral, etc. Electrical beams and most excellent composites by CIS.

Image #2 :From the Motion Picture "Gone in 60 Seconds"- One of the tougher challenges of my career was this CGI gas. A valve has broken off this high pressure LPG tank and the escaping pressurized gas propels the tank around like a missile. The tank, sans gas, was launched at 40 mph over 65 feet through the air (and through the wall of the shed) by the practical effects crew of Mike Meinardus. This was then 'split screened' in with a take of the live action people and cars. The gas is the result of several months of research and development at The Secret Lab. Particles animated in houdini (with custom software controls) and rendered in Steamboat Software's Jig volumetric renderer gave us a great simulation of semi-transluscent gas escaping, expanding and dissipating at seemingly very high pressure and high volume. Some of the shots in this sequence benefited from additional live gas elements layered on top of the 3D gas and a few even had the tank itself rendered in 3D. Very fine work by The Secret Lab.

Image #3 :From the Mini-series "GI Joe"- Another fine example of the beautiful work done by my good friends at Digital Domain. It's a multi -layered, 2.5D shimmering beacon of blazing light, which fully interacts photographically with the live action background. Note the finesse in the rolloff of the light flares. The wrap of the light around foreground subjects. Even the blending of grain into the light effect....Simply phenomenal! Pin Registered Film Transfers and Composites by CIS