Live Action VFX short film: The Curse of Eleanor Crabtree

[mrego]

Hi, this is my first post here. Nice to see a place devoted to VFX.

This is the opening shot from the short film "The Curse of Eleanor Crabtree" a fusion of live action and animation. I'll post a movie soon after we complet the shot.

http://www.egotripp.com/crabtree/images/opening.jpg

And this is a shot where the lead character blows her head off.
Quicktime Movie (800kb) (http://www.crabtreethemovie.com/video/shotgun.mov)

http://www.egotripp.com/crabtree/images/13a_gunshot.jpg

Would love to hear your thoughts, any feedback and criticisms welcomed.
Cheers

[Juha_Kinnunen]

well,what else can I say..?..IT LOOKS GREAT!!

Based on these stills and clip,it reminds me about that Tim Burton's Nightmare before Christmas.I really like the look of this!

Can't wait to see the finished movie!

good work mrego!!


- Juha :cyclops: :cyclops:

[stevenbray1]

Looks great! Very TB. Good luck and keep us up to date on the progress.

[Paul Moran]

yeah...love the stylized look to the images...very nice!!!

Would love to see it all when its done ... BTW ...where are you working up in brissie ?

[mrego]

Thanks for the feedback. Yes I am an admirer of TB, especially Nightmare Before Christmas, a very fine film. Can't wait for The Corpse Bride and Willy Wonka remake.

I work for myself from home, freelance animator, based in sunny New Farm.

Here's a little more, the hallway in the house.
http://www.egotripp.com/crabtree/images/11a_renders.jpg

I shall certainly keep you posted. Film will be finished in Feb 2005. Lots of shots to do between then.

Cheers

[Oxide]

I love the look on those images! Looking forward to see the finished film.

[Paul Moran]

nice one...looking very good...is it self funded or is it work for someone ?

[mrego]

The film is privately funded by myself and my two co-producers. I wrote, directed, edited and am leading the vfx. We are currently applying for post production funding through the Australian Film Commission. Fingers crossed! If we get some extra funds we can hire some help to finish the fx and get some great sound and music done. If we do we'll certainly advertise here. We hope to enter it into many many festivals big and small. I'm also hoping to put together a 30 minute in-depth making of which will go on the DVD with the film and all the usual extras. We shot on mini DV and shot for about $8K and had a blast.

There are images from the shoot, as well as an animatic, script and test renders at our site www.crabtreethemovie.com

Thanks again for the support.

[Juha_Kinnunen]

hi again,mrego!

I just visited your site,and its easy to say that you have made great things!When you started this project,did you know how long time its going to take to get it ready?What kind of things have you been doing before this?

I ask these questions because I have been doing my own shortfilm (with quite similar technique as you?)for four years now(I think?)..When I started, I estimated,that it would take about a year to finish it. :)

- Juha

[Paul Moran]

The film is privately funded by myself and my two co-producers. I wrote, directed, edited and am leading the vfx. We are currently applying for post production funding through the Australian Film Commission. Fingers crossed! If we get some extra funds we can hire some help to finish the fx and get some great sound and music done. If we do we'll certainly advertise here. We hope to enter it into many many festivals big and small. I'm also hoping to put together a 30 minute in-depth making of which will go on the DVD with the film and all the usual extras. We shot on mini DV and shot for about $8K and had a blast.

There are images from the shoot, as well as an animatic, script and test renders at our site www.crabtreethemovie.com

Thanks again for the support.

well, best of luck with the AFC!!! :D

Ill take a good look at your site tonight ...but keep up the good work...looking forward to seeing it all come together!

[mrego]

Hey Juha

I started writing in April 2003 and if we do meet our Feb 2005 deadline it will be nearly 2 years in the making. I have always been a bit too ambitious and unrealistic when it comes to how long things will really take. :) I didnt stop and think how long things will take but I knew we'd be in post for a while.

I started in web design and taught myself 3D in between studying film at university. made some short films and didnt finish several more. worked in corporate videos for ages doing flying logos and all that. am now working on a long animation project for a local company, studying a masters degree in scriptwriting and writing a feature which is the goal to make in a few years time!

I reuploaded my old site www.egotripp.com which doesnt work in mac browsers too well (damn style sheets) - it's all a bit old but shows some of my other work.

Where can I see some of your film Juha? All the best to you and thanks again for your support.

And thanks Paul, I'd love to post some making of stuff here eventually.

[dreggsy]

That's some very impressive stuff you have happening there mate.
Love the overall style,one of my favorite types of style cant wait to see the
finished version.
I use Combustion so if you get stuck and need some help
feel free to contact me
im in sydney
cheers mate.

[rodc]

Glad to see things still progressing, the updates look great. :thumbsup:
I look forward to the finished movie as well as the making-of part of the DVD.


Rod

[Paul Moran]

some making off would be very good indeed :) ...but i imagine thats some way off yet ...

Cheers

Paul

[Juha_Kinnunen]

mrego wrote : Where can I see some of your film Juha?

Here you can find few stills about my shortfilm-Sumu.Some are more ready than others.. http://www.saunalahti.fi/killi78/

It should be ready by this fall..(yeah sure :) )

Juha

[mrego]

Hey Juha

Sorry for the late reply, I've been away. Finally had a look at your Sumu pictures. They look fantastic. Nice style and colours although I would prefer a little more contrast but I assume you're aiming for a monochromatic film. The locations look great as do the costumes and hair styling. Great to see another fantasy short film. I'll keep a close eye on your site. All the best with the project.

Cheers

[tank2002]

I love the style of it good work!!!

One question, I use Maya, AE and i was wondering how did you do the blood effect piece I'm need to do exactly that!, I'm using particles but it doesn't look good.

Hope to hear from you soon

Thanks in advance

[mrego]

thanks tank

the blood is real, well a real liquid (make-up blood). nothing is better than the real thing. we had someone off screen with a small cup of blood throw it at the window blind, which along with the inner window frame is also real. we shot the actress seperatly against bluescreen and i composited her behind the window blind. the gun was a piece of cardboard she held and threw.

particles are awesome but so darn hard to get them looking right, especially doing blood. my advice - go shoot it. our whole film was shot on miniDV - not the highest quality in the world but it works.

all the best with your project and thanks again.

http://www.firechild.com.au/crabtree/prod_photos/daytwo/bloodonscreen.jpg

[tank2002]

THanks for the tip!!!, Like you say particles are good but hard to master....

Good luck with your project! Hope to see it when finish!!

talk to you soon!