I need to destroy a city... at DVinfo.net

Brian Keith Moody · November 17th, 2007, 05:10 PM

I’m shooting a feature in the spring, a disaster flick complete with a city in ruins, smoke, fires, gutted buildings, streets clogged with abandoned cars, blah, blah, blah. Can anyone recommend a visual effects software? I’m editing with Final Cut Pro on a Power Mac G5. Right now I’m looking at Shake and After Effects. Any preference for one of these? Can you recommend another? Thanks!

Bennis Hahn · November 17th, 2007, 05:22 PM

Depending on what you need the camera to do, this can be done in photoshop and AE. Read up on some PS tutorials for gutted building (there are lots) and just export your layers to a composition inside AE. Then you can position them for a 3D effect with some small camera moves. Use something like Particular for some smoke and haze.

Brian Keith Moody · November 17th, 2007, 05:42 PM

Thanks, Bennis. So your vote is for AE. AE would be easier to learn. As a freelance graphic designer and photographer, I've used Photoshop for more than 10 years. I'll look up those tutorials.

Cole McDonald · November 17th, 2007, 07:57 PM

Both shake and AE will do the job...Shake has better integration with final cut studio...AE has waaaaaaay more free online tutorials.

Robert Ducon · November 18th, 2007, 01:26 AM

With your background in graphic design, AE would be your best bet! I come from the same background you do - and AE is the easiest to transition to.

Justin Mosley · November 19th, 2007, 09:40 AM

Check out videocopilot.net
It's one of the greatest AE tutorial sites on the planet!! Andrew Kramer offers tons of valuable info\tutorials on his site for free! He also has a TON of awesome DVD's you can buy. I own everything he's ever sold! Andrew has a tutorial posted on his site that deals with the gutted\destroyed environments too!

I know this will help you :)

Cole McDonald · November 19th, 2007, 10:52 AM

yeah, video copilot makes me wish he was a shake guru :(

Russ Holland · November 19th, 2007, 12:50 PM

I seem to recall there was once a free project on videocopilot of a missile hitting a city and sending shockwaves the screen. had a mushroom cloud in the centre, then the city jpg turns orange as if on fire, spreading out from the centre, lasted about 6 seconds. Not sure whether he has it on his site now he's revamped it, maybe worth checking out. The project is free to use but can't use the city picture he includes.

Brian Keith Moody · November 19th, 2007, 11:48 PM

Thanks for all the info. I'll certainly check out AE and the tutorials.

Greg Girardin · November 24th, 2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Mosley

Check out videocopilot.net
It's one of the greatest AE tutorial sites on the planet!! Andrew Kramer offers tons of valuable info\tutorials on his site for free! He also has a TON of awesome DVD's you can buy. I own everything he's ever sold! Andrew has a tutorial posted on his site that deals with the gutted\destroyed environments too!

I know this will help you :)

You weren't kidding. Those AE tutorials are great. It's always satisfying and inspirational to watch any given tool in the hands of a professional.

Frank Hardie · November 30th, 2007, 05:38 AM

Andrew Kramer (videocopilot.net) gets my vote, as well.

I'll be buying his latest DVD (Evolution) soon, then I'll have the full set.

Aharon Rabinowitz also does some great tutorials, available as podcasts.

November 17th, 2007, 05:10 PM	#1
Brian Keith Moody Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 56	I need to destroy a city... I’m shooting a feature in the spring, a disaster flick complete with a city in ruins, smoke, fires, gutted buildings, streets clogged with abandoned cars, blah, blah, blah. Can anyone recommend a visual effects software? I’m editing with Final Cut Pro on a Power Mac G5. Right now I’m looking at Shake and After Effects. Any preference for one of these? Can you recommend another? Thanks! __________________ Brian Keith Moody, Writer / Director Canon XH-A1 - PowerMac G5 - Final Cut Pro - Shake

November 17th, 2007, 05:42 PM	#3
Brian Keith Moody Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 56	Thanks! Thanks, Bennis. So your vote is for AE. AE would be easier to learn. As a freelance graphic designer and photographer, I've used Photoshop for more than 10 years. I'll look up those tutorials. __________________ Brian Keith Moody, Writer / Director Canon XH-A1 - PowerMac G5 - Final Cut Pro - Shake

November 17th, 2007, 07:57 PM	#4
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	Both shake and AE will do the job...Shake has better integration with final cut studio...AE has waaaaaaay more free online tutorials. __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

November 18th, 2007, 01:26 AM	#5
Robert Ducon Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Victoria BC Posts: 400	With your background in graphic design, AE would be your best bet! I come from the same background you do - and AE is the easiest to transition to. __________________ Mac + Canon HV20

November 19th, 2007, 09:40 AM	#6
Justin Mosley Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tyler, Tx Posts: 33	Dude.. you gotta check this out Check out videocopilot.net It's one of the greatest AE tutorial sites on the planet!! Andrew Kramer offers tons of valuable info\tutorials on his site for free! He also has a TON of awesome DVD's you can buy. I own everything he's ever sold! Andrew has a tutorial posted on his site that deals with the gutted\destroyed environments too! I know this will help you :)

November 17th, 2007, 05:22 PM	#2
Bennis Hahn Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 221	Depending on what you need the camera to do, this can be done in photoshop and AE. Read up on some PS tutorials for gutted building (there are lots) and just export your layers to a composition inside AE. Then you can position them for a 3D effect with some small camera moves. Use something like Particular for some smoke and haze.

November 19th, 2007, 10:52 AM	#7
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	yeah, video copilot makes me wish he was a shake guru :( __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

November 19th, 2007, 12:50 PM	#8
Russ Holland Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Burton on Trent, UK Posts: 193	I seem to recall there was once a free project on videocopilot of a missile hitting a city and sending shockwaves the screen. had a mushroom cloud in the centre, then the city jpg turns orange as if on fire, spreading out from the centre, lasted about 6 seconds. Not sure whether he has it on his site now he's revamped it, maybe worth checking out. The project is free to use but can't use the city picture he includes. __________________ Sony Alpha a57 \| RODE VideoMic \| Adobe Premiere CS5 Manfrotto 785b \| Manfrotto 718b

November 19th, 2007, 11:48 PM	#9
Brian Keith Moody Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 56	Thanks for all the info. I'll certainly check out AE and the tutorials. __________________ Brian Keith Moody, Writer / Director Canon XH-A1 - PowerMac G5 - Final Cut Pro - Shake

November 30th, 2007, 05:38 AM	#11
Frank Hardie New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 18	Andrew Kramer (videocopilot.net) gets my vote, as well. I'll be buying his latest DVD (Evolution) soon, then I'll have the full set. Aharon Rabinowitz also does some great tutorials, available as podcasts.