Trailer from my action short film at DVinfo.net

Javier Gallen · July 26th, 2005, 04:38 AM

Here it is: "Contra".

Shoot with a crappy Digital 8 Sony 1CCD consumer camera.

But afterized to make it look like this:
http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra106.jpg
http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra103.jpg
http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra202.jpg
http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra101.jpg
http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra105.jpg

Trailer HQ
http://213.96.69.106/contra/trailer/CONTRAhigh.avi

Trailer low
http://213.96.69.106/contra/trailer/CONTRAlow.avi

Opinions are welcome.

John C. Lyons · July 26th, 2005, 07:10 AM

Javier Gallen,

The stills look pretty cool. Unfortunately couldn't get your trailer to play, it just hangs...nothing ever buffers up for me.

Javier Gallen · July 26th, 2005, 07:48 AM

John, you have to right click and choose "save as...".

It's just a simple DIVX avi.

Gilles Guerraz · July 26th, 2005, 08:07 AM

Ouch, the transfer rate is pretty slow : less than 2kbps for me :-\

Gilles Guerraz · July 26th, 2005, 09:03 AM

Hola Javier,

I've just watched the low quality trailer.
The first thing that comes to my mind is "wow ! What a look !". Your video looks actually pretty good.
I guess the lightning was efficient and there was a lot of work in post-production.

On the meantime, the 2nd thing that comes to my mind is : "one more short with two guys holding guns, aiming at each other in a John Woo - Quentin Tarantino style". Looks like something I've already seen before...

I hope you have a good script ;-)

P.S. Your trailer editing is very professional. Good work.

Javier Gallen · July 26th, 2005, 09:29 AM

This project started when a friend asked to me if I want to shoot him with a japanese dress, just for fun.

Then my intention was to make an experiment: Shoot with a cheap camera with no photography work, and make it shine in postproduction. So, the crew was usually just me (shooting) and the two main characters (sometimes one of them helping me).

So, the script is simple, and the result is full of mistakes... but I learned a lot. My next project it's gonna be a serious one, with a "real" script wrote by me, and shoot with a serious camera. With all the photography work done in the set, not in post... I hope. ^_^

Kin Kwan · July 27th, 2005, 10:24 AM

Wow, this looks really good for a "cheap camera with no photography work!" What kind of camera did you use? And what kind of post processing did you do?

The lighting/diffusion/grain and the color gave it a really impressive look! I especially liked the samurai scene with the rain and all. Very, very nice! Please share with us on what you did in post!

Evan Strobel · July 27th, 2005, 09:59 PM

you need a mirror...

Javier Gallen · July 28th, 2005, 05:00 AM

Here's some "making of".

The camera was borrowed to me by a friend. I can't remember the exact model it was, but look like this one:
http://www.mercadolibre.com.mx/org-i...45937_7527.jpg

As a consumer camera, there was some things I wasn't able to put on manual mode. Only to mention that sometimes the gain turned on even on sunlight shoots. At least, focus control and exposure could be put in manual mode, or at least, in "lock" mode.

The rain of the forest sequence was made droping water in front of the camera, and a digital one was added in post to fill areas. Also, the sunlight and his yellow tones have to be replaced in post in order to have a more rainy look.

Editing was done in Premiere 6. I was able to use Speed Razor or Incite, but cut is a simple thing, and I felt more confortable doing it in Premiere. I think people gives to much importance on the editing software...

Heres the original image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../making05a.jpg

The first step was deinterlace (50i to 25p). It was done in After Effects with Tinderbox plugin (this one gives the best quality of all I've tried).

Then a DV deartifacting process with the Magic Bullet plugin.

After that, color balances, some difusion and grain in the difusion layer.

Here is the result:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../making05b.jpg

Another example:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../making03a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../making03b.jpg

The main logo and the big explosion (not seen on trailer) were made in 3D Studio MAX.

I'm not a fan of the digital difusion in video, but it helps when the original footage is bad. For that, my technique is to duplicate the video layer and blur the upper. Then, only applying "Hard Light" on that layer, and adjusting opacity, you have a really good color difusion. ^_^U

Bill Porter · August 7th, 2005, 10:37 AM

Great job, Javier!

That looks terrific, especially considering it was shot on a 1-chip. I can't believe you haven't gotten more replies to this thread. You did a terrific job. Very nice editing, some very cool shots, and amazing work on retouching.

Question: You said "The rain of the forest sequence was made droping water in front of the camera, and a digital one was added in post to fill areas." What did you use add digital rain in post?

Thanks for the detailed tips on diffusion. I always like reading about how different people do things.

Keep it up! I can't wait to see your next work. If you have already done anything else you like, post it here as well!

Javier Gallen · August 28th, 2005, 04:40 AM

Thanks for your comments.

I'll started creating rain in 3DMAX simply using the particles tool and the result was good, but not enough (3D is not my area). Then I found a plugin for After Effects that let me create a more reallistic rain (sorry, I don't remember what plugin was, and is no longer in my computer. I'll post when I found). So, finally choosed that plugin for normal shots, and the crappy 3DMAX rain when I need a specific falling rain with perspective to match the shot.

The next short is going to be the first "serious one" I made. Just finish the script and waiting for a more gray days to match the story (horror with no effects).

Colin Blakeston · August 31st, 2005, 04:27 AM

Hey, i tried to watch your trailer but I get a 'file not found' for both quality versions and the stills you link to.

I'll try again on my computer at home later tonight. The firewall here at work is an ass sometimes :)

Neboysha Nenadich · September 6th, 2005, 10:00 AM

links are not working for me neither.
I am just very curious to see trailer, because I actually shot one 55 min movie with SONY digital8 this year... :) so, I am looking forward to what other people can do with that little camera... :)

Javier Gallen · September 9th, 2005, 04:42 AM

New server. All files back online.

Enjoy!

Eric Brown · September 9th, 2005, 05:37 PM

Javier. Still can't get these to play. But from what I can see of the stills I like the post work on the footage.
I'm not at all shocked at what someone can squeeze image wise out of these types of cameras and sweeten up in post.
Some of the 1 CCD units are producing better and better image quality.
All the post stuff is icing on the cake.
Nice job, man.

July 26th, 2005, 04:38 AM	#1
Javier Gallen Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Spain Posts: 67	Trailer from my action short film Here it is: "Contra". Shoot with a crappy Digital 8 Sony 1CCD consumer camera. But afterized to make it look like this: http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra106.jpg http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra103.jpg http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra202.jpg http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra101.jpg http://213.96.69.106/contra/photos/contra105.jpg Trailer HQ http://213.96.69.106/contra/trailer/CONTRAhigh.avi Trailer low http://213.96.69.106/contra/trailer/CONTRAlow.avi Opinions are welcome.

July 26th, 2005, 07:10 AM	#2
John C. Lyons Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Erie, PA USA Posts: 43	Javier Gallen, The stills look pretty cool. Unfortunately couldn't get your trailer to play, it just hangs...nothing ever buffers up for me. __________________ I will be in Sundance 18-30th - if you'll be there drop me a line and come see my movie HUNTING CAMP! (click below) http://www.the-Lyons-Den.com/special/forumbanner01.jpg

July 26th, 2005, 07:48 AM	#3
Javier Gallen Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Spain Posts: 67	John, you have to right click and choose "save as...". It's just a simple DIVX avi.

July 26th, 2005, 08:07 AM	#4
Gilles Guerraz Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Paris, France Posts: 53	Ouch, the transfer rate is pretty slow : less than 2kbps for me :-\

July 26th, 2005, 09:03 AM	#5
Gilles Guerraz Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Paris, France Posts: 53	Hola Javier, I've just watched the low quality trailer. The first thing that comes to my mind is "wow ! What a look !". Your video looks actually pretty good. I guess the lightning was efficient and there was a lot of work in post-production. On the meantime, the 2nd thing that comes to my mind is : "one more short with two guys holding guns, aiming at each other in a John Woo - Quentin Tarantino style". Looks like something I've already seen before... I hope you have a good script ;-) P.S. Your trailer editing is very professional. Good work.

July 26th, 2005, 09:29 AM	#6
Javier Gallen Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Spain Posts: 67	This project started when a friend asked to me if I want to shoot him with a japanese dress, just for fun. Then my intention was to make an experiment: Shoot with a cheap camera with no photography work, and make it shine in postproduction. So, the crew was usually just me (shooting) and the two main characters (sometimes one of them helping me). So, the script is simple, and the result is full of mistakes... but I learned a lot. My next project it's gonna be a serious one, with a "real" script wrote by me, and shoot with a serious camera. With all the photography work done in the set, not in post... I hope. ^_^

July 27th, 2005, 10:24 AM	#7
Kin Kwan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 120	Wow, this looks really good for a "cheap camera with no photography work!" What kind of camera did you use? And what kind of post processing did you do? The lighting/diffusion/grain and the color gave it a really impressive look! I especially liked the samurai scene with the rain and all. Very, very nice! Please share with us on what you did in post!

July 27th, 2005, 09:59 PM	#8
Evan Strobel Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 26	you need a mirror...

July 28th, 2005, 05:00 AM	#9
Javier Gallen Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Spain Posts: 67	Here's some "making of". The camera was borrowed to me by a friend. I can't remember the exact model it was, but look like this one: http://www.mercadolibre.com.mx/org-i...45937_7527.jpg As a consumer camera, there was some things I wasn't able to put on manual mode. Only to mention that sometimes the gain turned on even on sunlight shoots. At least, focus control and exposure could be put in manual mode, or at least, in "lock" mode. The rain of the forest sequence was made droping water in front of the camera, and a digital one was added in post to fill areas. Also, the sunlight and his yellow tones have to be replaced in post in order to have a more rainy look. Editing was done in Premiere 6. I was able to use Speed Razor or Incite, but cut is a simple thing, and I felt more confortable doing it in Premiere. I think people gives to much importance on the editing software... Heres the original image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../making05a.jpg The first step was deinterlace (50i to 25p). It was done in After Effects with Tinderbox plugin (this one gives the best quality of all I've tried). Then a DV deartifacting process with the Magic Bullet plugin. After that, color balances, some difusion and grain in the difusion layer. Here is the result: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../making05b.jpg Another example: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../making03a.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../making03b.jpg The main logo and the big explosion (not seen on trailer) were made in 3D Studio MAX. I'm not a fan of the digital difusion in video, but it helps when the original footage is bad. For that, my technique is to duplicate the video layer and blur the upper. Then, only applying "Hard Light" on that layer, and adjusting opacity, you have a really good color difusion. ^_^U

August 7th, 2005, 10:37 AM	#10
Bill Porter Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 751	Great job, Javier! That looks terrific, especially considering it was shot on a 1-chip. I can't believe you haven't gotten more replies to this thread. You did a terrific job. Very nice editing, some very cool shots, and amazing work on retouching. Question: You said "The rain of the forest sequence was made droping water in front of the camera, and a digital one was added in post to fill areas." What did you use add digital rain in post? Thanks for the detailed tips on diffusion. I always like reading about how different people do things. Keep it up! I can't wait to see your next work. If you have already done anything else you like, post it here as well!

August 28th, 2005, 04:40 AM	#11
Javier Gallen Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Spain Posts: 67	Thanks for your comments. I'll started creating rain in 3DMAX simply using the particles tool and the result was good, but not enough (3D is not my area). Then I found a plugin for After Effects that let me create a more reallistic rain (sorry, I don't remember what plugin was, and is no longer in my computer. I'll post when I found). So, finally choosed that plugin for normal shots, and the crappy 3DMAX rain when I need a specific falling rain with perspective to match the shot. The next short is going to be the first "serious one" I made. Just finish the script and waiting for a more gray days to match the story (horror with no effects).

August 31st, 2005, 04:27 AM	#12
Colin Blakeston Tourist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hull, England Posts: 3	Hey, i tried to watch your trailer but I get a 'file not found' for both quality versions and the stills you link to. I'll try again on my computer at home later tonight. The firewall here at work is an ass sometimes :)

September 6th, 2005, 10:00 AM	#13
Neboysha Nenadich Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: serbia Posts: 50	links are not working for me neither. I am just very curious to see trailer, because I actually shot one 55 min movie with SONY digital8 this year... :) so, I am looking forward to what other people can do with that little camera... :)

September 9th, 2005, 04:42 AM	#14
Javier Gallen Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Spain Posts: 67	New server. All files back online. Enjoy!

September 9th, 2005, 05:37 PM	#15
Eric Brown Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 427	Javier. Still can't get these to play. But from what I can see of the stills I like the post work on the footage. I'm not at all shocked at what someone can squeeze image wise out of these types of cameras and sweeten up in post. Some of the 1 CCD units are producing better and better image quality. All the post stuff is icing on the cake. Nice job, man.