Some concepts for the alien probe that launches towards Earth and digs into Arctic terrain   

Quick coffee cup smash test using Houdini, the lighting is a little to bright and so some of the detail has been loss

Panels 4 -6 showing camera direction and audio cues

Complete storyboard sheet for first three shots (the first 20 seconds) including notes on camera direction and audio

Storyboard Image of opening shot and camera direction.

This week I have worked through a number of tutorials covering a range of topics including camera direction and lighting composition, Houdini fracture tools and fluid simulations and green screen keying and matting basics. I have also begin some simple testing of Boujou and After Effects.

Starting the Journey

This is the first post for my final year project at Teesside University. I'm a third student, studying Computer Games Art.

My project will be high quality short cinematic that could be the opening to either a game or film.

Working Title: From the Stars

The Project:

For my final year project, I will be producing an opening cinematic, between 1-2minutes in length that could be used as either an opening scene to a game or equally as well TV or film. The cinematic will be a atmospheric scientist in a remote arctic location monitoring radio waves from space, when a signal appears!  

Scope:

There will be a blend of live action camera work and 3d modelling with a heavy emphasis on visual particle effects and composition. From green screen work an environment will be added with the aim of making it as convincing as possible, the modelling and texturing will be made the main environment plus other various scene objects. Time will also be devoted to lighting to add atmospheric and an ominous feel. The audio track will also play an important part in conveying the mood and sense of foreboding, therefore time will be spent sourcing from music and sound libraries and creating appropriate sound effects as needed from scratch.

Assets made will be high polygon and use large and detailed textures as you cinematic will be pre-rendered, these will be done to ensure that it can be seen at a high resolution and will use the most up to date software tools to achieve this.

Story:

The cinematic will focus on the lone scientist in an Antarctic research station monitoring dials and screens as stream of radio data pour into an array of global satellites. As he watches them drinking a hot drink one of the scopes suddenly beeps and flashes a warning light. He drops the drink and it falls to the fall in slow motion as he stands, there is a distance buzz or hum and a slow rumble.

A view towards the earth reveals a giant craft slowly moving towards the planet and a probe is launched which races into the atmosphere and impacts snowy ground.

 
Back at the station lights start to flicker and buzz randomly, and the hum and rumble become louder. Objects begin to rattle and fall over, as the sound reaches a scream a shadow is cast across the window and the door handle starts to turn. Suddenly they is a glimpse of what may be have crashed to earth moving from shadow to shadow and becomes increasingly fearful.

At that moment a gust of icy air rushes into the room and the scene goes dark.

Objectives:

The objectives for this project are as follows:

Create a range of convincing VFX to blend with live camera work.
Model, texture and light an interior with a view to high resolution footage.

Create convincing and realistic cinematic, through the use of green screen, tracking, keying and composition.
Create an atmospheric scene with the use of lighting and sound.
Improve skills in high modelling using Zbrush and 3ds max, texturing with Photoshop.

Learn to green screen, track, key and composite using Nuke and After Effects. 
Ensure that time management and planning keep the project on track and completed within the twenty weeks.
Schedule Outline:

From Project start:-

Phase 1

Research and learning new software and techniques, this would include Nuke and Green screening process. Complete by Early January

Concepts and Storyboarding to help with modelling and camera shots so that time isn't wasted later in the project. Once the reference has been acquired designs for the environment and props will be drawn or blocked out as 3d models. From these it will be possible to create the schedule, along with a priority list of assets.

Storyboard will be done to plan camera shooting ready for composition and tracking data to be generated. Complete by Late December.

Phase 2 - January 2012

This part of production will include all modelling, texturing, animation and lighting, as well as preliminary sound work. Complete by Early March

Phase 3 - March 2012

Rendering of plates and the composition of all elements into the final cinematic. Complete by Early April.

Phase 4- April 2012

Evaluation and report writing. Complete for 30th April project deadline.