Video and Sound Production / Bachelors of Design (Honors) in
Creative Media / Taylor's University
Samantha Kristalyn / 0373905
CONTENT
INSTRUCTIONS
FINAL PROJECT PROGRESS
VFX Video (Final Project)
For our final project, we were tasked with creating a
one-minute visual effects (VFX) video based on a randomly selected
tarot card from a set of five. Our group drew the fifth card:
The Lovers. While this
card often symbolizes relationships, harmony, or choices, we were
challenged to interpret it through the given theme:
“What is going against you?”
This twist pushed us to explore the darker or more conflicting aspects
of the card’s meaning. Instead of focusing on romantic unity, we
explored themes such as
emotional imbalance and inner conflict. This conceptual direction shaped our narrative, leading us to write our
story "The Higher Choice."
I. Ideation
Story
At the beginning of the ideation phase, we developed three initial story
concepts—The Coin,
The Higher Choice, and
The Choice Code; all of which
explored the central theme of
choice and internal conflict, as inspired by
The Lovers tarot card. Each
story approached the idea from a different perspective.
After presenting our ideas to Mr. Martin for feedback, we decided to
move forward with The Higher Choice, as it resonated most strongly with our theme and offered the
clearest potential for visual storytelling using VFX. This concept
gave us room to explore symbolic elements, emotional tension, and
stylized effects to support the narrative arc.
Storyboard
To help us visualize our concept clearly before production, I
created a four-scene storyboard layout. Each panel includes a rough
sketch, camera angle notes, and a short description of the scene’s
action and emotion.
I divided the story into key shots; starting from the introduction,
conflict, climax, and ending so our team could follow the visual flow
while shooting. This made our planning more organized and ensured we
captured the essential frames needed for editing, even if adjustments were
made later due to practical or creative changes.
Main character: Lim Cai Wei (0349292)
Main cameraman: Samantha Kristalyn (0373905)
(Do take note that the final outcome may differ from the storyboard due
to physical & editing limitations)
Proposal
II. Editing
After dividing our parts, I was tasked with editing
Scene 2 and Scene 4.
Roto Brush & Scaling
To remove the background and isolate the main character in my scene,
I used the
Roto Brush Tool in
Adobe After Effects. This tool allowed me to quickly create a matte
around the subject by painting directly over the figure in the video
layer. I started by selecting a base frame where the subject was
clearly visible and used the Roto Brush to define the foreground
(the character) and refine the edges for better accuracy.
To improve the quality of the selection, I also adjusted the
Feather,
Contrast, and
Shift Edge
properties in the
Roto Brush & Refine Edge
settings. This helped smooth out harsh lines and eliminate any
remaining background artifacts.
Once the subject was successfully isolated from the background, I used
the Scale property
under the
Transform options to
resize the figure. By reducing the scale percentage, I made the
character appear much smaller; consistent with the narrative that the
girl is tiny and smaller than the tablet. Scaling helped convey the
illusion of miniaturization effectively. I also ensured the anchor
point was adjusted correctly to keep the character's feet aligned with
the surface of the tablet, enhancing the realism of the scene.
Creating a shadow
To create a realistic shadow for the character, I duplicated the
isolated figure layer and used it as the base for the shadow. On the
duplicated layer, I applied the
CC Slant effect to
distort the shape and angle it in the opposite direction of the light
source, simulating the natural fall of a shadow. I then changed the layer’s
Fill color to black to
give it the appearance of a silhouette.
To soften the edges and make the shadow blend more naturally with the
environment, I applied a
Feather to the mask or used
the Mask Feather tool,
depending on the setup. Finally, I reduced the
Opacity of the shadow layer
to make it appear more subtle and realistic within the scene. This technique
allowed me to match the lighting direction and make the character’s
placement on the tablet feel more grounded and believable.
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