Special Effects--Creating Movie Magic

Special Effects--creating movie magic
Scott Schonefeld
www.cpsb.org/presentations

flip video camera about $120
Digital flash camcorder about $300
Video editing software about $100
Carerra Express 3D program about $35

Special effects:
pan-zoom
picture-in-picture
chroma
Details:

Filter & Plug-in effects: (similar to phtotoshop effects)
Pan & Zoom (Ken Burns effect)
motion & visual interest
Picture-in-picture
picture inside a picture
such as popping up the country you're discussing
or as in the show "24"
His Special Effects Project
Starts with an idea: Tech Camp 2007: Movie Mania--Grades 3-9
1 week 4 groups and 1.5 hours per day.
71/2 hours total production time


Project Idea:
Create a movie trailer for a fictional movie (based on star trek)
Incorporates video editing software to combine individual piece to a final product
Look at movie trailers: Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Keep the final product under 5 minutes

Proof of Concept
Create a sample to aid in planning the activity and use as examples
Maybe a rough sample--not perfect

Cool 3D animation: used 3D Studio
Models & planets already created because the students do not have time to create them themsleves.

Zooming at a Z axis. Either towards the audience or away (good math skills if they have to figure out the angle)


ChromaKey / Virtual Sets

Green or blue background--makes the background invisisble.
Can put students in exotic or imaginary places.

Overlay track in move program is used for special effects


Final notes:
End project is the goal
Plan big, but be realistic
Design the project so that elements can be dropped if a time crunch
Give kids choices, but limit the number of choices
Break into phases that can be done in a larger span of time.
Make students stick to time tables: just like hollywood.
www.cpsb.org/presentations
Has a video tutorial