TECH & TOOLS
THE SECRETS BEHIND STOCK EFFECTS ELEMENTS By IAN FAILES
These days, whenever we see a raging fire, or a plume of smoke, or a muzzle flash on the screen, there’s a high chance this has been added to the scene with visual effects. And, of course, it might be something added to the shot care of a particular stock effects element. Effects elements have long formed part of visual effects studio libraries, and can now be purchased as pre-filmed and pre-canned elements from various providers. But how are those particular elements typically captured? Here, two visual effects studios – Rodeo FX and Mavericks VFX – and two stock effects companies – ActionVFX and The Light Shop VFX – explain how they shoot and utilize effects elements. RAIN, HAIL OR SAND
TOP: Bullet-hit elements shot and provided as stock effects by ActionVFX. (Image courtesy of ActionVFX) OPPOSITE TOP: The Light Shop VFX flame stock effects elements. (Image courtesy of Tyler Kindred) OPPOSITE MIDDLE AND BOTTOM: The original plate for a scene from Don’t Breathe 2, in which VFX Legion would add fire elements from ActionVFX. And then the final shot by VFX Legion. (Images courtesy of Sony Pictures)
In the time of analog and optical effects, many VFX studios had their own ‘space’ to film effects elements. Generally, those days are long gone, but Rodeo FX is one studio that has retained a dedicated 4,000-square-foot stage in which element shoots can take place. The space in Montreal, which is also set up for bluescreen/greenscreen, motion capture and LED screen filming, enables crews to shoot elements in a controlled lighting environment. One element shoot conducted at Rodeo’s stage was for helicopter rotor wash and rain for the film Pacific Rim. “We created cut-outs of silhouettes and propelled vapor stream against them to simulate the blade wash of the helicopter on people, melted lead with a blowtorch, and filmed it macro and high speed on greenscreen to mimic melting metal in the cockpit,” recalls Robert Bock, Visual Effects Supervisor and Director of VFX Photography at Rodeo FX. “We also built a small tabletop pool and put a vibrator underneath to create ‘fractal’ waves/textures. For water drops on the helicopters, we filmed milk and water on black screen sliding down glass. In our parking lot, we set up rain towers with sprinklers we
84 • VFXVOICE.COM SPRING 2022
PG 84-87 EFFECTS ELEMENTS.indd 84
2/28/22 2:35 PM
