Special FX Tutorials

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Flying Objects

Description:

You want your an object to fly around, perhaps becouse of telekenesis or an invisible person.

Production:

This is a very complex effect requiring a lot of planning for an effective sequence. There are a variety of techniques you can use to do this as well.

The simplest is to attach a wire to the object and move it like a puppet (for example moving an apple). For larger objects such as a chair you will need thicker wire which might show up in shot. Either hide the wire or shoot it so it is out of shot.

Using a computer is another option, so film a background plate with and without the object, (try to avoid shadows though).

Digital Editing:

Using the computer you can cut out the object from the background and make it fly by animating it in Premiere's 'S' tracks. You can also do 'Wire-Removal' in a program like Photoshop where you paint out the wires used for moving objects. This is very common in film/TV.

Computerless Editing:

If you have access to Chroma-Key you can move the object in front of a blue screen and it will be superimposed over the background image. You can use blue wires or even a person dressed in blue to move the object so that they will not be seen.

Misc. Notes:

Wire removal is very common, in "Twister" the flying objects like the tractors were on heavy duty wires and a computer was used to remove the wires.

Internet links:

Back to Index	Flying Objects
	Description: You want your an object to fly around, perhaps becouse of telekenesis or an invisible person.
	Production: This is a very complex effect requiring a lot of planning for an effective sequence. There are a variety of techniques you can use to do this as well. The simplest is to attach a wire to the object and move it like a puppet (for example moving an apple). For larger objects such as a chair you will need thicker wire which might show up in shot. Either hide the wire or shoot it so it is out of shot. Using a computer is another option, so film a background plate with and without the object, (try to avoid shadows though).
	Digital Editing: Using the computer you can cut out the object from the background and make it fly by animating it in Premiere's 'S' tracks. You can also do 'Wire-Removal' in a program like Photoshop where you paint out the wires used for moving objects. This is very common in film/TV.
	Computerless Editing: If you have access to Chroma-Key you can move the object in front of a blue screen and it will be superimposed over the background image. You can use blue wires or even a person dressed in blue to move the object so that they will not be seen.
	Misc. Notes: Wire removal is very common, in "Twister" the flying objects like the tractors were on heavy duty wires and a computer was used to remove the wires.
	Internet links: