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CgTalk:FXWars! CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
COMPOSITE/LIGHTING/ANIMATION WAR
BY Roberto Ortiz
Close Encounters:
From Wikipedia.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Encounters
"
[ul]
[li]A close encounter of the first kind is a sighting of an unidentified flying object or objects. Reports of “flying saucers,” odd lights, or aerial objects unattributable to human technology, can all be considered close encounters of the first kind.[/li][li]A close encounter of the second kind is an observation of physical evidence of extra-terrestrial visitation. Footprints, heat or radiation damage to terrain, and crop circles found in the vicinity of a UFO sighting could be considered examples of close encounters of the second kind.[/li][li]A close encounter of the third kind is an observation of one or more occupants associated with one or more crafts.[/li][/ul]More recently, some groups have referred to alien abductions as close encounters of the fourth kind, and encounters in which humans and aliens communicate as close encounters of the fifth kind. Still other groups include a sixth type of close encounter, involving the death of a human or animal during a witnessed encounter:
[ul]
[li]A close encounter of the fourth kind is abduction by an extraterrestrial intelligence. There are two types of CE4 encounters, the first type involving forcible abduction by an extraterrestrial intelligence by an unwilling abductee. The second type of CE4 contact involves willful agreement to be taken.[/li][/ul]"
THE CHALLENGE:
Simulate a realistic Alien Encounter. Think of the challenge this way, you have been tasked to do ne new scenes for either the 1977 movie “Close Encounters” OR the TV show “The X-Files”.
OR
If you have a cool idea, just drop me a PM.
THIS MEANS…
There are two directions the challenge can take
You have to pick EITHER The “SPIELBERG” or the “X-FILES” Route.
[ul]
[li]On the Spielberg route, you would be tasked of do on the Movie Close encounters of the Third Kind. [/li]
Imagine a kid in a farm playing with a puppy on a yard and suddenly see lights on the sky. (1st kind). Then he runs to the corn Crop and suddenly he realizes there is a pattern. The camera pans up at it shows a CROP CIRCLE (2nd Kind). The key of this kind of entry is a feeling of WONDER.
[/ul]
[ul]
[li]On the X-Files Route. This means that the encounter has to be terrifying as heck[/li]Imagine later that night, as the kid sleeps, he is visited by GREY aliens who have not seen the Spielberg film.(3rd kind). Suddenly the aliens decide that they have not traumatized enought the kid, so they decide to take him on a field trip to their Flying Saucer (4th kind).The key of this kind of entry is a feeling of FEAR.
[/ul]The mood and ambiance of the encounter is VERY critical for the challenge. It has to be either the most wonderful experience in the world (like the end of Close Encounters) or the most terrifying event of your life (The kid adbuction in Close Encounters, or any alien episode of the X-Files.)
Since the topic is so broad, we have limited the scope to FOUR mayor categories based on the alien encounter scale:
[ul]
[li]CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE 1st KIND (Difficulty Level MODERATE)[/li]Watching an UFO from the ground
[li]CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE 2nd KIND (Difficulty Level MODERATE)There is fisical evidence of them , for example crop circles or burned marks on the ground.[/li][li]CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE 3rd KIND (Difficulty Level HIGH)There is an Alien Encounter, with the occupants of the crafts.[/li][li]CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE 4th KIND (Difficulty Level HIGH)[/li]It is either an alien abduction or the a person voluntarily entering into a flying saucer
[li]CLOSE ENCOUNTER HYBRID ENTRY: (Difficulty Level VERY HIGH) [/li]It combines encounter types.
[/ul]One of the key of the challenge, for all entry types, is to do believable shots, and that there needs to be some live action footage to at least one sequence (but the live action can be a photograph). Multiple techniques should be used to produce the shots (3D models, miniatures, matte paintings, live action, photographs etc) so good integration of composite elements is key. This is an excellent opportunity for compositors to try their skills.
Because of the high level of dificulty of this challenge, it is STRONGLY encouraged that this challenge be done in teams.
At the end of the challenge a finished entry that looks EXACTLY like either a FX scene we might see on a movie like “Close Encounters” (Spielberg Route) OR the TV show “The X-Files” (X- Files Route). Since the contest of high difficulty you will have A MONTH and a HALF to do the challenge.
The best animation/short will be selected by an open vote
for these categories:
[ul]
[li]Best Composite Work[/li][li]Best Animation[/li][li]Best Editing[/li][li]Best Visual Effects[/li][li]Best Cinematography[/li][li]Best Overall Entry[/li][/ul]The winner will get bragging rights and a small banner
designed by me.
DATELINE: Monday December 20th 12:00 PM
YOU HAVE a month and a half to do the challenge.
CHALLENGE SPECIFIC RULES:
[ul]
[li]No work taken DIRECTLY from an existing tutorial. You may use an existing tutorial only for reference.[/li][li]You may use a pre exiting models and filmed footage, as long as you have the rights to use them.[/li][li]You may provide a heavily edited animation with all the trimmings, as long a you provide a written shot sequence OR a storyboard of your work.[/li][li]Remember the key of the challenge if for you guys to brush up on your composite skills.[/li][/ul]
GENERAL RULES:
[ul]
[li]The animation and simulations (if any) must have been done AFTER the topic has been[/li]announced.
[li]WIP are encouraged if they are posted in ANOTHER[/li]thread. Please provide a link to them on this thread.
[li]WIP thread should be posted on the FXWARS Forum forum and should follow[/li]the following naming convention: FXWars! CLOSE ENCOUNTERS!: MY NAME, TYPE OF ENTRY (Note: Group entries are allowed)ROUTE (Spielberg Route or X-Files Route)
[li]It is Recommended that Final movies should be rendered at 320 x 240 or 640 x 480 in QuickTime* format (Sorenson Compression), but other resolutions and formats are allowed. * The animation format is open for discussion.[/li][li]The animation should follow the following naming convention:[/li]MYNAME_FXWARS(RESOLUTION).mov. And please add your name at the beginning and end of the animation, and if you can, also add a small non disruptive watermark during the animation.
[li]If for some reason, you can’t host movies, sequential images (Thumbnails size 160 x 120 ) are accepted.[/li][li]Please add a brief text description about your piece.[/li][li]The artist also has to post total length of time it took and program used.[/li][li]Collaborative pieces are accepted and encouraged, but Teams entries must have a identifying banner and a name. Shot lists should be included with the entry.[/li]Individuals participating in a team CAN have their own individual entries.
[li]The topics will be picked at random from the list on[/li]this >>thread << (The author will be given credit). So
guys keep them coming.
[li]Post on this thread your link to your WIP thread and your FINAL piece.[/li]You can add multiple entries, as long as they have different WIP threads.
[li]Only participants who follow the rules and submit a final entry will be elegible for the voting process.[/li][li]Any piece caught breaking the rules will be taken[/li]off the thread.
[/ul]REQUIREMENTS THE VOTING THREAD POST
[ul]
[li]After the dateline, a Voting Thread will be posted. It is the obligation of the contestant to post his entry on the voting thread. More instructions will be forthcoming on how to post your entry.[/li][li]For you entry you will need: [/li]* A short paragraph describing your piece
- A Still of the entry. It should heave a shot of your piece and the following
information:
-THE TITLE of the piece,
-Challenge Name (FXWARS; CLOSE ENCOUNTERS)
- Team Members names
- You can submit A VOLUNTARY CLIP of your entry, that can be posted a day or two AFTER the dateline. The clip is for the Voting Thread TRAILER and it has to be 4x3 aspect ratio (http://www.pbs.org/opb/crashcourse/aspect_ratio/).
NOTE: The aspect ration rule is ONLY for this clip, the final entry can be at ANY aspect ratio.
[/ul]_______________________________________________________________
FOOTAGE:
Plain City Photos Plates
REFERENCE:
Movies
Alien Encounters:
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Independence Day (1996)
The Day the Earth Stood Still(1951)
Signs (2002)
Alien Abductions:
“Taken” (2002/I)
[b]The UFO Incident /b
Fire in the Sky (1993)
“The X Files” (1993)
Communion (1989)
Good Luck
-R
[/li][/ul]
