[XtremeFX]

Hello,

Damn, long time that I haven't been here
So my questions :

I'm really getting into all those FX you see in the movies these days, now, as always I'm thinking I WANT TO DO THAT TOO But I know that's impossible, so I just wanted to ask you guys, I have to make a video project for school, we're making a movie about the book "Lord of the Rings" (just a small scene) But a lot of magic is involved in this book, and I wanted to know this :

-Which programs are extremely good for editing movies, adding effects etc..
-I also need a program that lets me do the scrolling thingy on which you see the cast and the crew etc.. (the black screen with the white text scrolling down)
-I have seen this question asked like about one year ago, and there was this extremely cool person who actually made tutorials for programs like Poser animations etc.. if you know that site, or any tutorials about this subject (video editing)(btw poser is only for my own pleasure not for school ) PLEASE reply here !

And don't forget, if you know any good program (don't mind the price, it simply has to be doable for normal people without having to take lessons for a whole year before being able to do simple stuff with the program, the money is no issue since the school will buy it cause other students will use it afterwards and the years that will follow, they liked our initiative, we have an extremely cool school when it comes to these things)


THANKS !

[William H. Daniels]

I think a lot of people use Adobe AfterEffects. I'm not sure about that, though.

I've used Strata Videoshop, but just because it came free with my machine.

[Loukus]

I've been thinking about doing a star wars fan film. You wouldn't believe the tight nit film community they have.

Goto

theforce.net/theater

There's quite a bit of tutorial stuff there.

Joel Loukus

[Vgta]

There are many programs used out there for video editing. After effects is used big time by just about everyone, with it you can add tons of effects and neat tricks to everything from video, to still images, to gifs,etc....however the special effects are ussually created on a 3d package or photoshop or whatever you like to use and then composited in to the actual video using After Effects.
If you want straight video editing software, then you can use Adobe Premier, really easy to use and powerful or the school can go and get a full blown Avid system. Oh and don't forget, you will need some audio software for the sounds....I've only used Soundforge so that's my only experience with sound editing software.
Hope that helped.

[A.Buttle]

Ok, this is something I know about.

You can't edit in After Effects; it's for adding special effects and composites only. I'll get back to it in a moment. To edit, you'll need something like Adobe Premiere, which, as far as I know, is currently the best consumer-level editing system available on the Windows side. It alone can perform all the editing you'll need and some rudimentary effects. Scrolling titles is very basic and almost any editing program you use will be able to do it.

If you're on the Mac side (woo hoo!), then you might want to check out Apple's Final Cut Pro. The newest version has added a lot of features and is becoming more dominant in the professional world. It's a bit pricey though, in which case Premiere is an excellent alternative.

As far as special effects go, you'll be hard pressed to find a program as flexible and affordable as After Effects. It's complicated, yes, but once you get the hang of it you can do a tremendous amount of effects work.

Along with After Effects is Commotion by Puffin Designs. Commotion is a heavy duty compositor and special effects program. It is not as flexible as After Effects and serves best along its side rather than as a replacement.

If you really want to get into some serious effects work, you should check out discreet's Combustion. It's hardcore.

You can get all of this software at student prices from a number of places. I like Creation Engine.

Now, for some links. All prices are from Creation Engine.

Adobe
- After Effects 5.0 $289 (Standard) $719 (Production)
- Premiere 6.0 $249
- Digital Video Collection (Premiere 6.0, After Effect 5.0, Illutrator 9.0, Photoshop 6.0) $499

Puffin Designs

[Loukus]

I would just like to add that Commotion and Electric Image kick all holy ass and that The fan film Duality it frickin awesome. get it at theforce.net/theater If you have a dial up you should get it anyway.

They are three actors, 2 props, and 1 blue screen. All the effects were made by two people on macs with electric image and commotion (which you can only get for macs, pc port coming soon...)

Right.

Joel Loukus

[ambient-whisper]

for actual effects youll probably need some 3d application for particle effects. or...a program called illusion..which is a 2d particle program. dont remember who makes it tho.

[XtremeFX]

OMG ! Thank you so very much !! Instead of giving me a push in the back you simply gave me the whole shit THANK YOU SO MUCH ! Ow and Buttle thanks for going all the trouble to find those prices !

THANKS

[A.Buttle]

No problem. These are the only sorts of posts I can help in. I'm no artist, but video technology is my fort�.

[Matt Elder]

there is a fantastic section in a book called:

"Photoshop Channel Chops"

about blue and greenscreen effects. It explains it really well.