Goals: Learning Adobe After Effects

Adobe After effects is an amazing program. As its name implies, it lets you add visual effects to a project, ranging anywhere from stabilizing footage to a complete 3D render of a car or a building. The potential of this program is almost literally endless, and that is why it is an essential skills to possess in the field of media production. 

I've been wanting to learn Adobe After Effects since high school. I've been working with Premiere for a few years now, and I feel moderately proficient at it. After Effects is a different story. On multiple occasions I've tried to tackle this intense program, and each time I've turned away frustrated and discouraged. I was convinced that organized instruction in a classroom was the way to go. My high school didn't have any advanced production classes to expose me to this software, so I was basically on my own.  I have been trying to take Motion Graphics and Animation with Arturo for the past 4 semesters, but I've never been able to get a seat in the class (Thanks, Ithaca). On to of that, Arturo won't be teaching when I return from LA next fall, which has me extremely worried. I've heard great things about the class as it is, but I'm nervous that I might have missed my chance for quality AE instruction. 

Like I said, I've tried several times to teach myself. Most of the tutorials I've found online are either 3 hours of a monotone voice spouting out instructions, or some pre-pubescent 12 year-old filming his computer screen. Both are equally frustrating and discouraging. 

However, today in class Arturo showed me a tutorial website, video copilot.net, that may be the answer to my After Effects woes. This comprehensive website has over 150 video tutorials on everything After Effects; from the basic layout to tools to effects, this website looks like it is everything I've been looking for in one place. Oh, and did I mention it is free? The videos are funny and entertaining, its not just commands and data be dumped into your ears. On the other hand, the videos are actually helpful, its not just someone trying to boost their Youtube subscribers.  I haven't had a chance to really dig into it yet (you know, because school), but I imagine "After Effects 101" is the perfect place for me to start. The website also provides you with project files for EACH VIDEO so that you can follow along and literally practice on the same files showcased in the video. There is also a tab to download various plugins and 3D packages, some for free and some at cost. 

After Effects has sort of intimidated me up to this point, but it really is the next weapon I want to add to my arsenal as I get closer to joining the *shudders* adult, professional world. It is an incredibly powerful program that allows for an immense amount of creativity. It is going to take time to learn just the basics, and I don't see myself doing an full 3D renders of cars anytime soon, but my plan is to slowly work my way through videocopilot.net and try to gain an understanding of the program and its nuances. You gotta start somewhere. 

Simple Wire Removal

Hey guys,
So we talked about Wire Removal today in class so I figured I would dig some stuff up to show you. It is really quite simple and is nothing to worry about. the only thing that would make it an issue is if the camera is moving and not locked down.

So if you dont know how something like this is done it is done in Adobe After Effects. In the Effects side panel you can find what is called a simple wire removal. It is a little tricky when you get into the key framing however the entire process can be completed in about a half hour if the shots aren't super long.

Here is a link to a video tutorial on how to use the tool. 

Simple Wire Removal  

Warp Stabilizer

     With many film makers consistently pushing the limit and trying to find a better shot, this weeks post can aid with faults along the way. Additionally as the world isn't a perfect place and there are usually multiple challenges when shooting (especially on extreme terrain) a powerful video filter such as warp stabilizer in Adobe After Effects may be the solution. This handy post-production effect can take shaky footage and transform it too a smooth shot. While warp stabilizer is a good tool in a crunch or for footage like the kayak video below, it will not save dreadful footage. Some challenges for the warp stabilizer consist of motion blur and rolling shutter speed (try to shoot at a higher shutter speed). Also the effect crops your footage so you might like to shoot at a wider angle to compensate for that. Lastly warp stabilizer can be used for other shots such as footage on a camera like a steadicam or jib.

Here is a how to video on the warp stabilizer...

A good example of the warp stabilizer with kayak footage...

JOHN AND KYLE DO EVERYTHING! Including a movie!

                                                 

                                               John and Kyle Do Everything



John and Kyle Do Everything is a web series created by John Horan and Kyle Vorbach and directed by Erich Westfield. Both are Ithaca students and I have worked with them directly. They are creative, professional, and both are hilarious. For John's thesis project he is making this web series into a movie and I am excited to see how it turns out.

If you have not seen the show, you should. It is about two guys, John and Kyle, who have a bucket list and plan to complete all the ridiculous things before they die. The show has great lighting, picture quality, and sound. They use Premiere to edit their shows, along with Adobe after effects. In my opinion, these episodes look so professional and really entertaining to watch.

In this specific episode, I am featured in it! The objective of the episode is for John and Kyle to go to a "rager". The party scene of this episode is fantastic, they used gels to have different spectrums of lighting and created a visually stimulating montage. I think there work is fantastic and I would gladly work with them again. In this episode I am a "sexy terrorist" and it is a little risqué(my dad didn't like it that much)

For a student production, John and Kyle Do Everything is very well made and enjoyable to watch.


Watch episode three, along with the other four episodes!