Challenge

Remove filming equipment and unwanted objects from a number of shots, as well as some other creative VFX to aid the story – all within just two days!

Multi-talented indie filmmaker Shelby Eames approached me with a number of visual effects challenges in her latest project, and a very tight deadline. Luckily, I’m always up for a challenge. Since there wasn’t a lot of time and the job list was quite long, we chatted through what the priorities were for the shots, which ones were important for the story, which ones would affect the viewer’s immersion in the story (where film equipment was visible), and which ones were a “nice to have” situation if we still had time left.

Prioritising shots in this way allowed us to make sure the most crucial shots were complete within the two day schedule.

These underwater shots proved very tricky to remove filming equipment from. The water is changing, the light is changing, and everything is moving…

Combining two plates and performances to create a ghostly apparition:

Ethereal light beams: