Beteckning:________________ Department of Industrial Development, IT and Land Management Methods for Freezing Time with Computer Graphics Imagery Martin Andersson MartinMarcus Andersson Olofsson Marcus Olofsson June 2010 Bachelor Thesis, 15 hp, C Computer Science Creative Computer Graphics Examiner: Sharon Lazenby Co-examiner: Ann-Sofie Östberg Methods for Freezing Time with Computer Graphics Imagery By Martin Andersson Marcus Olofsson Akademin för teknik och miljö Högskolan i Gävle S-801 76 Gävle, Sweden Email: [email protected] [email protected] Abstract The most effective method to create an illusion of frozen time in film media was explored for this research. Starting with a description and evaluation of different methods of achieving the effect, this document describes the implementation of a specific technique for a particular project to test freezing time. It was also established to aid students in their understanding of the process in both pre- and post-production. After testing and researching, the method of filming still-posing actors with a high speed camera was chosen. However, the testing and pre- production phase demanded a large amount of time, therefore for the remainder of the project only one scene was established. For budget and time consuming purposes the two recommended techniques are; camera projection and filming still-posing actors with a high speed camera. The choice between these two methods mainly depends on the amount of camera movement. Keywords: Time freeze, film production, pre-production, post-production, CGI, 3D, camera projection, motion tracking, time freezing, Table of Contents 1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose..............................................................................................................................1 1.2 Questions...........................................................................................................................1 1.3 Method ..............................................................................................................................1 1.4 Limitations ........................................................................................................................2 2 Related Work............................................................................................................ 2 2.1 History...............................................................................................................................2 2.2 Motion perception.............................................................................................................6 2.3 Techniques and their properties........................................................................................7 2.3.1 Filming and standing still ......................................................................................7 2.3.2 Camera Projection.................................................................................................8 2.3.3 Time-slice .............................................................................................................11 2.3.4 Compositing freeze frames...................................................................................13 3 Theoretical Framework......................................................................................... 13 3.1 Development...................................................................................................................13 3.2 Pre-production.................................................................................................................14 3.2.1 Turning a script into a film ..................................................................................14 3.2.2 Scheduling............................................................................................................15 3.2.3 Meetings and communication ..............................................................................16 3.2.4 Recruiting Actors .................................................................................................17 3.3 Production.......................................................................................................................17 3.3.1 Studio....................................................................................................................17 3.3.2 Lighting ................................................................................................................17 3.3.3 Special Effects ......................................................................................................18 3.3.4 Cameras ...............................................................................................................19 3.4 Post-Production...............................................................................................................19 3.4.1 Footage ................................................................................................................19 3.4.2 Editing..................................................................................................................20 4 Computer Generated Images................................................................................ 20 4.1 Meshes ............................................................................................................................20 4.2 Simulation.......................................................................................................................21 4.3 Shading and Lighting......................................................................................................21 4.4 Rendering........................................................................................................................22 4.5 Set extension ...................................................................................................................22 4.6 Keying.............................................................................................................................22 4.7 Match moving .................................................................................................................23 4.8 Plate matching.................................................................................................................24 4.9 Sound and Music.............................................................................................................25 5 Choice of Method ................................................................................................... 25 6 Result....................................................................................................................... 26 6.1 Development...................................................................................................................26 6.1.1 Developing an idea ..............................................................................................26 6.1.2 Story and scenes...................................................................................................26 6.2 Pre-production.................................................................................................................27 6.2.1 Effect research and reference clips......................................................................27 6.2.2 Filming for visual effects......................................................................................29 6.2.3 Test shootings and pre-visualizations ..................................................................30 6.2.4 Camera and photography ....................................................................................32 6.2.5 Props and equipment............................................................................................32 6.3 Production.......................................................................................................................33 6.3.1 Working with actors .............................................................................................33 6.3.2 Filming .................................................................................................................33 6.3.3 VFX and SFX in production.................................................................................33 6.4 Post-production...............................................................................................................34 6.4.1 Editing..................................................................................................................34 6.4.2 Match moving.......................................................................................................34 6.4.3 Three dimension...................................................................................................35 6.4.4 Compositing .........................................................................................................35 7 Discussion................................................................................................................ 36 7.1 Pre-production.................................................................................................................36 7.2 Post-production...............................................................................................................37 8 Conclusion............................................................................................................... 38 8.1