Motion Graphics and Compositing Case Study
- 1. Motion Graphics and Compositing: Case Study Natalie Lynch 1
- 3. Motion Graphics • Motion graphics are video animations which are used to create a video sequence. They consist of moving design, illustration and images. They are created in either illustrator or Photoshop, and then exported to after effects in order to be animated. Here, motion graphics can be made in order to convey and show important information. These should be animated smoothly, as well as being informative and eye catching for the viewers. • Examples of recent use could be seen from businesses, who hugely rely on motion graphics for informational videos or adverts to help sell a service product. Some YouTube channels also utilise motion graphics either in an opening sequence / introduction video or even factual videos to deliver information or a certain message. Some films seen in cinemas still use motion graphics similar to the ones seen with letter cards however are a lot more technologically advanced that what they used to be. Some contemporary films don’t use them at all and present the key information (names of actors, producers, etc.) simply over the live action. • Historical use was predominantly seen in film titling sequences. Edwin S. Porter’s ‘The Great Train Robbery’ (1903) was the first film to use motion graphics. These featured no sound and the use of letter cards. The lettering was generally white text on a black background, which would look best when projected with live action black and white film. These would provide the viewer with the context and important information of the film. In 1916, D. W. Griffith’s ‘Intolerance’ was considered the greatest film of The Silent Era by reviewers and historians. This also featured the letter cards at the beginning. All of the motion graphics used still imagery as animation wasn’t invented until 1908 by Émile Cohl. In 1927, recorded sound was introduced and made a huge impact on film. This was part of the evolution of the movie titles as films grew more popular. The directors of the film would aim to convey the tone of the film through the letter cards by using small features to indicate.
- 4. Motion Graphics Psycho (1960) Motion Graphics by Saul Bass Keeping the the style and colour scheme similar to those that featured on the letter cards, Bass uses parallel lines that enter the screen from different areas. The lines all move across the screen either horizontally or vertically, never intercepting with one another. They then move across further in order to reveal the information such as the director’s / actor’s names. Seven (1995) Motion Graphics by Kyle Cooper This is a more contemporary example than ‘Psycho’. It features short clips that give evidence or ideas of what the film is about. These all either cut out quickly onto a simple black screen which presents the titles or fade from one to another. They’re all played in a sequence with a track over the top, which sets the feel and atmosphere for the film.
- 5. Visual Effects • Visual effects are used by directors as it gives them the ability to tell a story but in a fictional setting. This was one of the biggest problems faced by directors initially when setting the scene for their characters. • Before computer graphic imagery (CGI) was created, matte paintings was the way that directors showed actors in a different setting, creating an illusion for the audience. This was the earliest use of illusion in film. The word ‘matte’ means to block and then change part of an image, usually in the background. The set builders would generally build the lower half of a set / building if they couldn’t afford to build the upper set due to budget. A static camera would then be set up to shoot both the matte paintings as well as the original scene / set simultaneously. • Matte paintings have evolved from huge paintings and painted glass panels, to digital 3D worlds, originally being used in photography but now used massively in film. • The historical problem with matte paintings was that the camera had to remain stationary and no action could cross the line between the action and the matte painting. • The method to try and improve this was to record actors against a black background and create high contrast negatives. As a result of this a black and white silhouette would be created and this would create a ‘travelling matte’ as the action would move throughout the frame. • Digital matting techniques became the norm during the early 1990s and artists now use a wide range of 2D and 3D software in order to create different worlds that will intentionally be placed onto pre-recorded footage. The programmes include things such as Photoshop, After Effects and Maya.
- 6. Visual Effects • In the 1930s, the blue screen method was developed at RKO Radio Pictures. It works by removing a colour range in the foreground footage and allows it to be composited into the background. Blue was originally used because it was the farthest away from skin tones. After this, Hollywood continued to experiment with other colours and variations, which included UV matte and yellow matte. • From experimentation, the Chroma key was created and was a massive breakthrough. This involved a keyer taking a range of colours from a video signal and making them transparent, which was a mathematical process. Blue was the most common colour until the late 1990s where green became the most popular colour to be used. Green was used more as it requires less light, it works well outside, it’s brighter in electronics and it’s less common in costume design. • The first use of CGI in films came about in 1973. Michael Crichton's “Gunslinger’s Vision” was one of the first to show this. Each frame of footage was colour separated, scanned and converted into blocks for individual colouring. • More examples of early films that use CGI are Tron (1982) and Jurassic Park.
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- 8. Motion Graphics Sequence • In the 1999 film ‘Fight Club’, the motion graphics sequence shows and allows the viewer to follow a path out of the protagonist’s brain. It is meant to represent ‘the immediate relationship between cause and effect, where the source of fear is linked directly to the chemistry behind that emotion’, therefore why the journey in the title sequence begins in the ’fear center’ of the brain and ends showing an extreme close up of the main character with a gun pointing into his mouth. • The title was designed by P. Scott Makela and the whole film was directed by David Fincher, who was well known for his other films, such as ‘Gone Girl’, ‘Panic Room’ and ‘Se7en’. • The camera work gives the impression that it is one long shot, especially as it appears to pull back continually through the brain with a shallow depth of field. • In terms of the text used, it is presented over the top of the video, so that it appears as the one continuous long shot, rather than cutting off to show the titles. The text is bold and is in a bright colour, which matches the colour scheme of the title clip in general but also contrasts with the darker colours and shadows that are featured. The text appears only for a short amount of time and then seems to burn away. This really stands out for the viewers and creates quite a dramatic effect, especially alongside the music and the dramatic colour contrast, as the text remains in the viewers mind for longer. • The music within the motion sequence is fast paced and matches with the action that is shown. It also could be used to represent the action that happens within the movie as a whole.
- 9. Motion Graphics Sequence • Deadpool (2016) is an example of a far more modern title sequence. It begins by a close up of flicking through a comic and revealing the ’Marvel’ logo, continuing the classic theme of the franchise before fading into the main titles. It continues by revealing a scene that is frozen in time and moving through different aspects of it, showing close up details throughout. As it is a scene that is frozen, different aspects of it appear to be closer up to the screen, giving a clear 3D effect. Right at the end, a very small aspect of the scene is brought to life, before everything disappears from the screen. It helps to establish how the rest of the film is going to roll out – full of action, violence and comedy. • The title sequence has been designed and produced by Blur Studio. • Just like Fight Club, the camera pans its way through the scene in one continual long shot, revealing more details as it continues, creating more tension and anticipation for the viewer about what’s coming next. • The text once more is bold and is white in colour, contrasting with whatever is behind it but also matches the colour scheme of the whole film in general. This is used to introduce the characters in their own unique way, which can be seen as quite comical for some characters. • The music used over the top is called ‘Angel of the Morning’ which is usually a romantic song. This matches with the pace of the opening sequence only because it’s still. If the action was live, this would show a huge contrast, however it has been done to make the film more light hearted and add the comedy effect to it overall.
- 10. Visual Effects • The use of Chroma key has become a lot more common in modern film making. It is used to replace / add in / alter certain aspects of a scene. For example in ‘Game of Thrones’ a green screen is used to add a realistic location to the back of the scene. • Here is is shown to make the actors appear they’re on a boat in the middle of the sea. Chroma key is a way of layering two different videos together based on the colour hues (chroma range). The actors and the scene physically being shot needs to contrast with the colour of the screen behind otherwise they’ll be replaced with the background too during editing. Once the main edit has taken place, other smaller edits are under taken to ensure the scene is as realistic as possible. This includes colour alterations, so that the scene fits together perfectly and takes into consideration the type of lighting that would’ve been used. As well as this example, during filming they would also combine a section of green screen with a real life location. • In Game of Thrones, CGI is also used massively to create new worlds. This is done by creating 3D models (as seen below) and then the computer generated images are created and placed into the shot. This allows for the editors to be creative as they want and create the perfect world for their programme. After this, further editing is done so that all the lighting flows throughout the scenes and comes across as seamless.
- 11. Screen Ratios For Film – 1.88:1 and 2.40:1 (most anamorphic) Television – 1.77:1 (16:9) For Web – 16:9 (primarily used for YouTube and Vimeo) – If videos are uploaded online and not exported as 16:9, then pillar boxes will automatically be added to the sides of the video. Resolution 4K – 3840 x 2160 Full HD – 1920 x 1080 HD – 1280 x 720 SD – 720 x 576 The resolution can be affected by the screen ratios – the higher the resolution, the better the image quality. This is due to the number of pixels that are present. Frame Rate For Film – 24fps TV in the UK – 25fps Internet and Web use – up to 60fps The frame rate completely depends upon the usage of the final product. Video Format MPEG 4 is a way to define the compression of audio and visual (AV) digital data. It came about in late 1998 and its uses include compression of data for use of the web (streaming media), CD distribution, voice and broadcast television applications. MPEG 2 is a standard for the "the generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information”. To reduce file sizes, the video is often compressed. Compression If the film is going to be used in theatre, then the favoured code and wrapper will need to be found out. At college, YouTube will be primarily used which involves using the format H.264 and the present YouTube or Vimeo at 1080p 24 or 25p. When compressing a file, the consideration needs to be taken that the higher the bitrate, the higher the quality but also larger the file size.
Editor's Notes
- #5: Critically discuss motion graphics and their uses Write about the historical use Write about contemporary uses Evaluate and debate any quotes or discussion made about the subject Don’t forget the following: 5W1H (who, when, what, why, where and how) Advantages and disadvantages to create arguments Include illustrations and examples (please reference these!)
- #6: Critically discuss Visual Effects and their uses Write about the historical use Write about contemporary uses Evaluate and debate any quotes or discussion made about the subject Visual effects can comprise of: matte, compositing, keying, CGI Don’t forget the following: 5W1H (who, when, what, why, where and how) Advantages and disadvantages to create arguments Include illustrations and examples (please reference these!)