Monday
Oct272008
Scarlet Specs Countdown, OpenCut 3
Monday, October 27, 2008 at 8:43AM RED will release the revised specs for Scarlet and Epic on November 13th.
OpenCut 3 is a VFX challenge, create and composite backgrounds for a scene shot against a vaguely greenish screen. Doesn’t seem quite the creative win-win of previous OpenCut contests (although you can win Adobe Creative Suite 4: Master Collection and one week’s free rental of a RED One), but I encourage you to enter if only to learn why I recommend in The Guide that you stay away from virtual backgrounds if at all possible!
OpenCut 3 - Sensored REDVFX Challenge from Silverado on Vimeo.
Reader Comments (11)
well, i have to give it to the film makers, it's a clever way to try and get some vfx work gratis.
Nov 13 will be a VERY interesting day.
No green screen tracking markers!
I'm stoked about the Nov 13 news though--should be good.
thedorm took the words right out of my mouth. The partial set creates enough info to maybe get some decent tracks in wider shots, but when the close-ups are handheld...oy.
I will say that this looks like the camera's raw, flat output. Crank up the saturation a bit in the processing and I bet the screen is plenty green and keys no problem. The challenge is the background design, and like we said the tracking.
Tim,
We wouldn't expect people to do this "gratis." There is a pretty good prize attached:
1. Named as one of the members of the "Sensored" visual effects team, plus...
2. A copy of the new Adobe Creative Suite 4: Master Collection ($2499 value) plus...
3. One week free rental of RED ONE #21 on a production of your choice ($8000 value)
Torrey
----------------------
Torrey Loomis
Project Director - OpenCut
2600 East Bidwell Street, Suite 280
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 760-0032 • FAX (916) 404-5258
opencut@silverado.cc
http://www.OpenCut.org
more like an aquamarine screen!
dangit! I'm not a major VFX guy. Editing and color correction are my strong suit. I was really looking forward to another competition... I guess they can't make every OpenCut simply an editing challenge, though. I'll see what the next one brings... or maybe I'll enter to push my boundaries and go ahead and get my hands on some red footage...
Torrey,
I guess most peoples first reaction will be based on that short Vimeo clip and in there only the 'you receive a credit' part is mentioned. The other prices are not. So I guess that's where the initial backlash comes from.
Wow. This post should have been titled 'how not to shoot greenscreen'. Exposure is all over the map and no tracking markers. Not good at all. I've worked on worse, but not much.
I just don't know about these "contests". The claim that you are getting paid feels like a false notion considering how many will receive no compensation. It reminds me of the "logo contests" which prey on the graphic design students dangling a $200 check in front of their noses.
Since this is really about promoting the film, why not hold release raw footage and have people submit their attempts and leave the "contest" aspect of it out. Feels more upfront to me and would give a budding VFX artist something to challenge them (Really challenge them based on the footage I've seen) based strictly on the idea of education instead of a lottery.
-gl
The SciFi channel has an ongoing documentary on why virtual backgrounds are a bad idea and showing examples of how not to do virtual backgrounds, called "Sanctuary". (my Tivo thought I wanted to see it, it was wrong)