Senior Project - Metamorphosis

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Oct. 19th

Updated Light Test.

I started to see what colors looked best in this environment. I also found out that the fog really helps with the creepy factor.

Now I was talking to others and I think the next thing I need to focus on is figuring out compositing and researching more ways to intergrate the LED stage/Unreal with green screen shots.

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Oct. 15th

Test Shoot

On October 4th, we had a test shoot day. We rented a greenscreen, camera, lights, etc. Filming shots that we knew we could get on a simple green screen. This was we could test our pipeline and get our toes in the water a bit more. This test shoot helped us realize what we needed to change; what we need to film on greenscreen or XR stage, as well as shots we need to adjust.

Here is some of the BTS from that day. On the day, I was the grip/gaffer, setting up the lights, making sure they properly lit the subject. We also ran into the problem of the lights not being able to change hue, so we couldn't get the right color of the moon that we needed. The 2 lights that did change were not enough. In the future, we need to have one big heavy light to properly light the subject as it would be lit in the environment.

After getting the shots we needed. Sydney and I split up the shots, doing a very quick comp of each to see how it might look in the environment.

Shot 2A

COMP WORK

If I am being honest, it has been a hot minute since I have touched Nuke. So I followed a very basic Nuke setup for keying that I could use to refresh my memory.

Using Core Key and Edge Key techniques.

For Core Key, set up a Key light, getting rid of the green screen. Then, using an Erode node on the alpha chanel to get rid of any holes that might be in the middle of the actor. Then using a blur node to make the edges of the silhouette blended. Then merge the keylight with what you have created with the Erode and Blur nodes.

Next is Edge Key.

For this, I used IBKGizmo and IBKColour. Setting the IBKGizmo's screen type to C-green and colors set to 0,0,1. Then, for the IBKColour, again set the screen type to green and the size to 1. And adjusting the dark and light values. Then copy and pasting the same node, but each time you paste, adjusting the patch black by doubling the last number so for example, 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, etc. So by the end, there is no more actor on the screen.

Then merge the Core and Edge key. I also went ahead and rotod out tracking points. Then, after I copied that to the original read in clip (after denoise), then putting down a premult and color correct to fix green. The final thing is to merge that over the background.

Here is what the final alpha looks like:

Shot 2A - Alpha

Now I know this isn't a good composite; it was done to just get a concept of what the scene might look like.

I am trying to learn more ways to key a green screen, so look out for my progress on that :)

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Sept. 23rd

NEED TO DO:

• Continue Previs/Lighting test

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Previsualization Tests

As a help to start the process of creating this amazing project, I wanted to create some of the previs of the lighting in Unreal. Again, I am no usual user of Unreal Engine, so I am trying my best to learn the program and the lighting in the software.

I started with all the things I previously learned: Fog, directional light, BP_sky_sphere, and fog height. I want to go with a dark blue light to emanate a scary, dark ambiance.

Shot 1F

I do kind of want the forest to be darker and definitely have more trees for a denser forest.

Shot 1B (Cool light)

Shot 1B (Warm Light)

For the lighting in shot 1B I wasn't sure if I wanted to go with a warm or cool light. Warm light would help warm the cocoon for the fairy to pop out of.

I want to figure out the lighting on the cocoon. Maybe the light comes from inside of it right before the fairy comes out.

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Sept. 14th

NEED TO DO:

• make foliage resemble our project

• test practical lights

• Add fog in just the tree line/denser fog

• Help create models

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LIGHTING TESTS

I am one of the compositors on this project, but since we are in the early stages of development, I wanted to learn more Unreal Engine and do some lighting tests in Unreal.

I have very little experience in Unreal Engine, so getting a deeper understanding of how to control and use Unreal is important.

I started out by researching "Moonlight in Unreal", gathering tutorials and examples of lighting in Unreal. I also went ahead and gathered information on how to light a night scene in general. I found lots of helpful articles and video explanations. One specific tutorial caught my eye. "Lighting a NIGHT-TIME exterior in Unreal" by William Faucher.

Following his tutorial/explanation I learned that typically when shooting a night scene, the crew uses a big directional light and color corrects the scene in post making it look more blue.

Back to Unreal learning with help of the tutorial.

1 step was to have a scene that I could look at the light correctly. I opened an already created landscape, and I added some cubes and spheres. But I thought that wouldn't show the shadows that the tutorial had. I got some content from FAB which is epic game's "online store", downloading free foliage which would give me better shadows.

SKY SPHERE ^

Once I had my "scene", I added a BP_sky_sphere. In the details section on the right, change the sun height in the negative direction to create a night sky. You can also change the star brightness in that detail section as well. Then adding a directional light, clicking ctrl+L you can easily change the light direction.

Starting "Scene"

I was digging through the files of the foliage I had downloaded taking notice that the creator of the foliage had already had a scene roughly put together. I opened that and deleted all the lights to start from scratch. Once you put the BP_Sky_Sphere and directional light, I added the Exponential height fog, and in the detail section turn on Volumetric Fog.

Here is what the fog looks like in a scene with foliage.

Without fog With fog

From there I experimented with all the different fog settings; from density, height falloff, scattering distribution, etc. You can also change the settings in the directional light; the intensity, light color, indirect lighting intensity, volumetric scattering intensity (effects fog), etc.

Without fog With Fog

Then I started to mess around with color of the actual light.

Purple, Blue, Teal, White.

I really like how the blue and teal colors turned out. I also added in cubes in the far back to block light. William in the tutorial explained how you can shape the light and the fog in a particular way that the rays look exactly how you want them. The cubes just cut out the light creating more shadow in the back for a better look.

I think in the next time I experiment I would add better foliage that resembles more of what our project will look like. I also would love to add practical lights to see how that effects the scene. But for a start on lighting test. I really enjoyed this and want to dive in deeper to see what else I can create with the light.

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Sept. 2nd

NEED TO DO:

Wait for feedback from class.

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Gracie has a great blog that shows what the creating of the story has been like:

Story Development and Ideation

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I have helped the team with voting what script we wanted to use. Landing on the final version: calling it Metamorphosis.

Here is the Script we have so far:

Script Final_v02.pdf

Download PDF • 46KB

Short Summary: 

Through the thick of Winter, a lone fairy cautiously traverses her ghostly environment in hopes of uncovering her true role in this dark world.

Story: 

Set in the center of the midnight sky sits the moon, its powerful glow illuminating the eerie forest below. A soft snow powders the ground, covering the brittle forest floor. The sound of the night isn’t something to reminisce on in these woods. Distant howls and ravaging banter stalks in the shadows. Nothing about this place, these woods, is eager of anything kind. Nothing good comes from the Winter.

In the cold depths of old thickets and rigid branches lies a small field. The field, holding something so rare, comforts the soft green glow of a cocoon. Its human size shouldn’t deceive the eye, for something unhuman sleeps peacefully inside its temporary home. 

A slow, but steady, rumble shakes the cocoon gently. With an eager push from within, a hand emerges. Soon after, the cocoon’s inhabitant sits quietly on the chilly snow below. A girl. The girl sheepishly rubs the sleep from her eyes, extending her arms above her to stretch out. In doing so, a large set of bright glowing butterfly wings follows her arms upwards, reflecting a warm pink hue against her colorless surroundings. The girl is a fairy and she’s awake and she’s ready to live.

Excited to challenge this new life she was gifted, the fairy rose to her feet. With a remarkable swiftness in each step, the fairy made her way out of the field. The silhouette of the girl slowly disappeared into the shadows of the woods ahead.

Her feet danced through the forest. She was unbothered by the cold. Her gaze laid straight ahead as she explored the daunting forest around her. The landscape was quiet, interrupted by the rhythmic crunch of snow as the fairy lurked further on. Distant, muffled howls bounced off of the trees. The more she walked on, the more her curiosity turned cautious. Nothing about this place was welcoming as she quickly figured out. Visibly shaken from the eerie silence, a comforting hug tugged at her mind. The invisible pull of something unknown wanted her to keep walking. The fairy was alarmed, but curious. Whatever this mental connection was didn’t seem harmful. Something so warm and welcoming couldn’t be anything but kind in this desolate place. It seemed like it wanted to help her. This was the only lead she had to follow. Her feet swiveled in the direction the pull led her and walked on, ignorant of the large claw marks scratched against the tree trunks surrounding her new trail.

The fairy comes to a halt at the edge of a much larger clearing. Prominent beams of angelic moonlight encased the center of the field, a glowing circle sat in the middle. Even though every other inch of the forest was covered in snow, this spot strangely was untouched by the frost. She can feel the mental tether the strongest here. Something about the moon called to her. She takes one step forward, softly placing her foot into the open snow. The moment she adjusted her weight against this new posture, a large pair of glowing icy blue eyes flickered open from the shadows in front of her. She froze in fear. 

More and more pairs of eyes started to appear. Whatever drew her here must've known about these creatures. Was the mental connection a hoax? The fairy’s fear made her retract her step. The tether hugged her mind harder, comforting her worries and doubts. She stood still in debate. What was the moonlight telling her? Will everything be alright?

She took in a deep breath and shook the anxiety off her shoulders. She had to trust whatever was guiding her here. Deep down, she knew she was meant to see this… as if it’s happened before. 

She slowly made her way to the center of the field. The eyes glowed brighter with every step she took, low growls gurgled behind hidden faces. Whatever laid in the shadows out there held a heavy distaste for the lone fairy. 

Moonlight encapsulated her body. Although still scared of the monsters that waited outside the light, something about this felt… right. The presence of the moon was relaxing. It melted away her worries and gave her this new confidence she’s never felt. The moon’s glow began to grow in intensity. 

Louder howls screamed inside the shadows furiously as the light intensified. The more the moon took over the field, the wilder the eyes glared back at the fairy. Observant of the glow around her, the fairy’s skin began to sparkle. Its warmth felt good on her skin. She wrapped her arms around her torso with content. She had noticed the monster’s rage outside. She was too focused on the good, not the bad. This felt good. This was what she was meant to experience. 

Happily following the moon’s guidance, the fairy seated herself back on the ground. She laid out on the snow-littered field with her knees tucked into her stomach. It just felt right to do. It felt familiar. She gave a gentle smile before closing her eyes. The moonlight was soothing, she could feel it dance inside her skin. Her veins tingled with a magic so rare, something so ancient, it only felt right to accept it. The fairy completely embraced the moon. 

With one last sigh, the fairy herself grew brighter and began to disappear into a beautiful array of glowing warm pink particles. The sight was as breathtaking as her last. The cloud of magic melted away the snow where the fairy formerly laid, revealing the lush, green field of grass and flowers. It didn’t stop there. The snow continued to melt from its origin with swift speed. More and more Spring greenery began to shine through. Snow dripped from now lush, healthy trees, stems perked up to sprout new flowers. Winter is ending. 

The beasts inside the shadows shrieked in outrage and distraught. Their home had melted away. The glowing blue eyes left one by one as they ran away, trying to outrun Spring. The monsters frantically disappeared into the shadows to wait again for their time to come. Their howls were the last thing to haunt the forest before Spring came into full bloom. A new season had begun.

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Compositor and Editor.

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