Vita's Back!

Hard at work, there is a mere week left in the production of our film Vita Magus. This means the film is nearing completion and we have moved into the final rendering/post production phase. Below are some screen captures of the film 80% composited with the hard work of the entire team.

Act 1 3D Layout and Food Truck

Version one of the 3D layout for Act1 has been uploaded to vimeo. There are some minor timing adjustments during the establishing shot to take advantage of the incredibly detailed cityscape Andy mocked up in Maya. I have also combined 22:1-23:1 when Vita is packing up her gear in the rain to help reduce the amount of rapid dissolves during that scene and take advantage of our environment with a camera move.


Lay_Animatic_Act1_Ver001_MacDonald from Vita Magus on Vimeo.

I was also able to finish the model for the food truck. Below is a turn around of version one.


Props_FoodTruck_Turntable_Ver001_MacDonald from Vita Magus on Vimeo.

Background Rough Moodboards

These are some moodboards Jenna and I are working on in terms of how different parts of the environment can be open spaces or narrow spaces. The bottom board in particular was looking at different colors and textures we could use. For the narrow passage ways, we liked the idea of going under arches or just lots of items that hang from one building to the next (see top moodboard, bottom left image).

MacDonald Environment Concepts

2:35 Theater Widescreen

 2:35 Theater Widescreen

Above are speed paintings to capture an idea I had of restricting our magician character using light. So while people coming through the square are in the light, our magician character will be separated standing in shadow to screen left. I see it as a subtle conflict adding one more metaphor for this character's detachment from the perceived world. I have also tinted the grey slightly cool so it reads unwelcoming as opposed to say sepia tone.

2:35 Theater Widescreen

This second concept I have moved down south! I was thinking the city could be a New Orleans/Savannah/Charleston inspired. First and foremost these cities have amazing architecture to design from, but secondly they also have a strong presence of life long street performers. I played around again with light. This time showing contrast between the neighbors while the magician heads towards an empty house.