VFX Breakdown

In order to get this done I need to declare what VFX shots are to be created and how I would achieve them.

VFX shots:

Computer generated Sword

• Collectively there are a variety of shots to be taken for the CG swords. My plan is to use wooden poles with strips of coloured tape in sections to record the movement of the pole. This will then be used as a reference for the motion capture sword fight. 
• Particles will be emitting from the sword. This may be done in compositing or in Maya. I need to create some tests to see which is the most time efficient and with the best quality.
• Sparks from sword will be done in Compositing. It will be easier to use stock footage for this effect.
• I will need to create a HDRI dome for any reflections in the swords for the scene.
• Some roto will need to be done to mask off hands above sword hilts.
• Of course the shots will all need to be 3D tracked to declare the ground plane in a 3D world.

 Ground Runes

• This will be created in compositing by a graphic, animated and various effects applied to make it more appealing. a small amount of roto* will be needed for this.
• This shot will need a crane at achieve a overhead shot. Because of the lack of access to the crane though the evening (5pm onwards), my plan is to use the green screen for the overhead shot and then hoist a camera on location to get the image. If this becomes problematic, I can create the scene in 3D space with texture projection and use this as a backplate to my green screen footage. 

Assassins Smoke

• This effect is the smoke the assassin uses to escape the scene.
• In this effect there are three choices.
1. Is to use fluid effects and use a proxy scene and then composite it into the footage.
2. To use stock footage and comp it in (this will be quicker and easier but I don't feel that it would create a realistic effect).
3. Is to use practical effects and use smoke machines to create the smoke. This will create the most realistic effect but my worries would be health and safety and access to smoke machines.

This is a brief breakdown of my effects in the short and a few of my thoughts on how to create them with efficiency and quality.

*: Rotoscope - Roto

Sword Developments

The swords are going to be one of the focal points of the short and I need to design them for practicality (not to seem to heavy or unrealistic). Because of this my design research has spanned over many different types. I don't want a particular style of sword fighting but any specific type of sword would imply that instantly. Due to this I have come to the conclusion that I will create a hybrid of sword types.

 

These are a few I have been looking though but there are a couple of swords that have really caught my eye for larger symbols to show more detail from afar. The viewers will not see any close up detail so I would rather opt towards larger details on the sword.

And of course I have a huge temptation to use a design that would loosely follow The Legend of Zelda Master Sword.

This was a little insight towards my thoughts on the VFX and what Sword designs im looking at. Next up will be a few ideas I have thought of to make this video a little more unique to a normal video. I have plans for its own stylised feel.