composition testing still
Grand Space Opera 3D Entry: Rob Chapman
nuclearman
#32
Rob, in order to convey the importance of the events in your scene I think you need to pull your shot in close, right in amongst the astro-archaeologists (or whatever they’re called), and focus on a key moment of discovery – something that perhaps has indicated “this is a trap,” so you can feature the horrified look of dawning recognition on the faces of the scientists. In film script terms, this would be “plot point one” – a moment that changes the direction of the film. I haven’t read the particular work you’re referencing, so I’m not sure how closely you plan to stick to the novel in what you portray, but let’s presume there’s something about the artifacts (or the arrangement of key items in the scene) that gives a strong sense of “there’s something not quite right about this” – the precursor to that “OH … MY … GOD” moment.
The visuals that popped into my head when I read your synopsis about the planet being essentially a “lure” for other species was of this vast dig that has turned up skeleton after skeleton … and all of these skeletons turn out to be arranged radially … pointing in towards this weird alien artifact that the scientists have just uncovered … and, in uncovering it, activated it, sending off some visible signal to the older Borg-like species. And the dawning look of horror on the faces of the scientists is that the alien skeletons they’ve uncovered are actually evidence of an assault on this signal device, trying to turn it off!
Anyway, the point of this bit of “imaginative apocrypha” being: I think the key to excavating an iconic image from the storyline you’re working from is to key in on that image – a “reaction shot,” or whatever – that best represents a plot-point in the novel. What you seem to have at the moment are a lot of nice sketches for some promising “space art,” but your source material begs to have a dramatic moment brought to life … and, in doing so, I think you’ll stand apart from all the bits of eye candy the rest of us are feverishly working on.
However you decide to approach it, I can’t wait to see how you manage some of the fx in XSI. Should be a real treat!
Tekano
#34
Nuclearman,
thanks for the pertinant advice, I have had the feeling that the ‘eureka’ moment for the archeologists does need to be potrayed. what im wrestling with is capturing an image of ‘everything’ in the scene. Yes in the book there is an artefact that is like a large black stone block with anient text that points to and describes the neutron star and there were alien skeletons found around, although not so dramatic as all pointing to the artefact 
good points you have made and was planning something in this direction already. my difficulty iis trying to portray this ‘moment’ alongside a growing space colony, on a devastated planet with near light speed ships docked overhead and the original threat above that! perhaps ive picked too complicated a scene and trying to capture this in one go is too hard for me. - although i havent given up yet or so easy. I also should concentrate on the foreground depiction to get that right then perhaps the rest will fall into place. its hard to get the perspective right for an underground hole whilst also trying to show a larger section of the planet and ships overhead.
vrhead - im not sure what im making yet, thats why im still ‘conceptering’
cheers
Tekano
#35
ok cracked out the 3d program, trying to work out composition with default humans and simple shapes
Dirtmap render
Tekano
#38
more tweaking. at least I can experiment with placements and camera angles a lot easier in this dimension
young_927
#40
cool~ this is a cool way to play around with composition plus u will get perfect perspective~!
nuclearman
#42
Rob, I’m a bit confused as to what the light sources are in the scene. I assume there would be a need for artificial lighting in the excavation area – ala the uncovering of the monolith on the moon in 2001 – but other than that, you’ve got the neutron star and its companion, and what else? Maybe the key thing to doing the 3D prelims is to work out the lighting, as that may really dictate the composition.
Tekano
#44
ive had terrible deadlines the last month, thanfully they are all dealt with, I have been thinking about this CG challenge though and trying composition sketches out, basically my problem is that I am trying to capture a foreground group of people who are essentially underground with their associated ships / machinery above ground, whilst portraying a vast city and huge spaceship in the distance !! ive reached the conclusion that I have bitten off way more than I can chew with this and didnt even get past the composition stage! :sad: so in the vain hope I might reach a submittal in the next 10 days or so I am going to concentrate soley on the foreground aspect in the composition and simplify everything down, this way it might reach a conclusion all the best to all !
arturro
#45
Hi there! Great concept. and nice colors on the last one. It looks very promising, so please hurry up! I would like to see this one finished:)
Tekano
#46
an idea I was toying with, since I had such difficulty with the overall composition of an underground dig. this one was an open mine dig on another planet where the artefacts were unearthed or ‘discovered’
vrhead
#47
running out of time man but you can do it… GOGOGO!
looks like a perfict image for a book cover