Physics Simulations
 

Dear all,

I wanted to share some of my latest experiments, created in 3DS Max, mostly using the plug-in Rayfire, a physics simulator and destruction engine. The 5th and last shots were created using PFlow, Max's particle systems. In particular, I think the first shot in the vid is my best animation, thus far. The bow-wave of plastic particles is aided by a "cow-catcher", a small piece of invisible geometry I attached to the front of "MIND" in order to shape the spray of displaced beads.

That's one thing I've never been able to do in cinematography: play with invisible assistants: [e.g. the wind that blows away the word "Self", the ball that knocks over the towers of "story", or the invisible "pincers" that deformed the word "Consciousness" (the shot is played in reverse)]. And of course, it's nice being able to shoot lights directly into the camera lens, without worrying about having to flag the flares!

I think there is a lot of power in the "thereness" of 3D (even artificially created 3D), and so finding realistic-seeming physics can be very useful. Of course, it's nice being able to take advantage of non-naturalistic physics, as well, like words that float in space. All part of playing games with consciousness!