Grand Space Opera 3D Entry: Ben Allington

[Nikus]

Hello Ben, welcome to the challenge, I wish you good luck and hope to see some sketches soon!

[jammin]

thanks nikus -i need to get crankin :D i'm already a month behind!

[mmoir]

Hey Ben,
Good luck with the challenge, think of it as "I have 2 months left" then get crackin.
Mike
My GSO entry
http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=180886&page=6&pp=15

[adel3d]

Welcome to the challenge. And good luck!:thumbsup:

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1100937755_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1100937755_large.jpg)

thanks Mike, thanks Leda…

here’s a little reference I’ve been looking at from my sketchbook –possibilities for an alien life form…

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1100991575_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1100991575_large.jpg)

some basic concepts… -besides just checking out different points of view, I’m playing with the idea of using the tentacles to kinda divide the frame into sections where I can incorporate different scenes

[mmoir]

Hey Ben,

I like the alien creature sketches, I like all of the series of 4 sketches but the first and fourth sketch I like the best. I am assuming this alien will be attacking the humanlike creatures which I think the 1st and 4th sketches represent this the best. Anyways good start:thumbsup:
Mike

My GSO entry
http://www.cgtalk.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=1747832

[jammin]

i like those the best too, Mike -they seem to be more action-oriented

from a design aspect though (at least for right now), the other two (the 2nd and 3rd ones -they are more side-viewish) seem to be fitting some of the ideas i have in my head right now...

thanks, i sure appreciate your input

ben

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1101007208_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1101007208_large.jpg)

more concept sketches/working on basic layout

[jammin]

so while most of you are out rippin’ it up on a Saturday night, :buttrock: I’ve begun to develop a little of the story behind my grand space opera



Humans have recently discovered cracks in our universe; temporary anomalies that merge time and space. These wormholes have allowed us to experiment with traveling great distances in relatively little time. If only we had known what our tentative outreaching would awaken …

These worm-like creatures, a type of virus really, have perceived us as a threat and are using the shortcuts through space and time to swarm and destroy earth. With the ability to horribly infect and consume human hosts, the worms possess regenerative capabilities that not only help them survive reentry through our atmosphere, but also allow them to rapidly grow large enough to destroy entire cities; with no way to defend ourselves, it seems to be only a matter of time before they destroy every living thing on earth.



ben

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1101015670_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1101015670_large.jpg)

i like to get things pretty well hammered out while still in the sketch phase so i'm using photoshop cutnpaste to get a basic feel for my layout. i'm kinda burned but will try to get a more finished sketch up tonight or tomorrow...

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1101092312_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1101092312_large.jpg)

here’s a more finished concept sketch… –not sure if I’m feeling the whole ‘epic’ thing though; it seems a little passive maybe?

I’ll make some more changes, see if I can bring more of an ‘in your face’ feel to it

[lehmi]

I like the idea, sounds really fresh!



maybe you can add some more skyscrapers into the left upper part of that big worm thing... so it looks as if they'd really destroy cities, and you can see all the mayhem... floating cars, tree's ruins from houses etc.

I'd probably change the directions of the flying stuff... maybe it's better for the image if it rains in from the left instead of the right...

just some thoughts!

keep it up!

[jammin]

you're right Lehmi, it does need more skyscrapers and carnage -maybe closer to the camera too?


i was hoping the stuff coming in from the top right might bring a viewers eye back into the image from that top right corner. i hope it doesn't have the opposite effect (???)


thanks for the help
ben

[mmoir]

Ben,
I like the new sketches, I too think more emphasis on the city to the left . I think it is epic or iconic enough but I would like to see the crack in the universe that caused this problem somehow shown in the background. I see the result of the rupture in the universe. Dont know how you would show the rupture though.
Looking good.

Mike
My GSO entry
http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=180886

[patina]

Nice drawing, Very leonardo da vinci like, look forward to seeing the final scene.

all the best !

check my link, Paul. P




http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=188090

[jammin]

thanks Mike: i think the crack is not going to look like an actual crack but more like an area where what is coming through the wormhole is materializing on this side (with clouds / lightning, etc. -hope it's not too cliche). i'll work on the city, and try to spice it up

thanks Paul (Da Vinci, huh? -i'm flattered)

i appreciate you guys taking the time to give me some feedback.

i haven't posted anything in a while. i'm outta town most weeks, with no access to a workstation but hope to have some time here and there to get some modeling going and will be posting some 3d as soon as i can...

Ben

[nuclearman]

Hi, Ben, it looks like you've got your work cut out for you for the next two months. Took a look at your portfolio site and was relieved to see you can at least fall back on Combustion for some of the cloud and particle fx you'll need for this scene, as it looks like your best bet will be to combine a background plate with foreground components modeled in Max. If you really want to make life a little easier for yourself, I'd consider getting ahold of the Trapcode "Shine" plugin (if you don't already have it), as it can certainly produce some nice effects that to put across the notion of "things pouring forth from the other side."

The basic composition of your scene reminds me a bit of one of the key shots in the recent HELLBOY film -- Rasputin's vision of the release of the Old Ones and the end of the world --so I'd recommend renting the DVD just to check out how good this kind of thing can look when you've got a sufficient budget. The art direction in the film is of surprisingly high quality -- great use of a limited color palette -- so it's worth the time even if the "demonic superhero" stuff isn't your cup of tea.

Other potentially useful visual references: the cloud fx in the film DONNIE DARKO (really ominous swirling stuff), ENEMY AT THE GATES (for great shots of ruins -- done in Max, if I remember correctly), and possibly even a couple of shots in POLTERGEIST (first-rate tentacles).
Anyway, best of luck on your entry!

[patina]

[QUOTE=nuclearman]

I dont think your allowed to use plugins, for the challenge, at least thats what it says in the guidelines,

You may need to keep this in mind,



Patina!

[jammin]

nuclearman:

thanks for stoppin' by and yup, i'm gonna be lovin' combustion

thanks for the input -the background plate is an interesting idea (i was going to render out the individual shots/scenes seperately, trying to get them to match as good as i could, and then blend them in post) i may still use this approach but doing it on top of a plate will even be better

good refs too! -i'm gonna order hellboy right now...




patina:

now you're scaring me Paul! -i thought that whole plugin deal was refering to 'automatic' terrain and foliage generators like bryce n stuff because i did a search on the qna thread and didn't see where a moderator stated that 3rd party plugs weren't allowed...

i did see where we were encouraged to use our best judgement so for now, i'm just gonna do what i gotta do...

thanks for the heads up; i will have to look into this further.

thanks you guys
Ben

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1102915601_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1102915601_large.jpg)

been spending too much time on the road lately –nothing to do but sketch…

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1102917510_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1102917510_large.jpg)

Time to make some changes…

This last month has been a busy one –but not in a good way; my work schedule has taken me on the road much more than I had expected it would; with no way to do 3d while I’m on the road, I’ve decided to look at this project more realistically and focus my efforts on just one specific scene in my collage. i’ve always liked this scene the best –from the beginning, it has been the ‘framework’ which my whole concept has been built around. this shows the first alien arriving in our dimension, beginning the confrontation between our two species…

i hope that by doing this I will be able to produce a more focused, detailed, and finished piece a month from now.

Ben

[mmoir]

Ben,
Like the new sketches,looks good. Too bad you don't have a laptop on the road .
Look forward to more .
Mike

[Jyksta]

Ben~

Looking good dude! I like the whole concept and your attention to the small details will definitley pay off in the end. I think focusing on one point in the story is a smart move because I know how you like to re-work things a lot. You'll have to show me some more of this when you get back into town. And if you need to borrow any of those movies Nuclearman mentioned just let me know. Peace out bro!

~Jacob :D

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1104612983_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1104612983_large.jpg)

nothing like posting your first modeling image with 16 days, 3 hours, 8 minutes, 31 seconds to go! :)

[mmoir]

Hey Ben,

Interesting model you have started.You have lots of time left,good luck with this .
Mike

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1105347535_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1105347535_large.jpg)

just about satisfied with the tenacles; a little more tweaking perhaps but for the most part i'll start texturing these tomorrow.

not too sure about making that old deadline though; i'll give it my best shot but i may have to finish this in my 'spare' time

[jammin]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1105483044_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5272/5272_1105483044_large.jpg)

not giving up yet!

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