VFX Time Lapse: The "Lots of Cards" shot from Gamers: Hands of Fate

During post-production of Gamers: Hands of Fate, one of the scenes called for an homage to The Matrix. Check out the breakdown of how the effect was re-created with cards replacing rows and rows of guns. While creating the effect in After Effects, a series of particle systems were used with just standard playing cards until the custom card art from the game itself arrived.

Watch the extended version of Gamers: Hands of Fate over on the Zombie Orpheus channel.

Music used in this video is directly from the Gamers: Hands of Fate OST which you can (and should) purchase here. It is pretty epic to listen to.

What exactly is a GRIP on a film set and what do they do?

If a film set were the army, the grips would be the infantry. They push and pull production along behind the camera and are the main reason why a lot of movie magic is able to happen.

If you've ever wondered what the job of a grip is and what is so fascinating about it, then watch this 11-minute short doc and it will explain all to you.

Grip It Good is voiced by cinematographer Mark Vargo (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 3:10 to Yuma, Poseidon). He has a small handful of other helpful videos on his Vimeo channel for those who are interested in learning more about camera and lighting tricks.

Film_Crew

Motion Graphics Time Lapse: Cupid's Arrows

This was a piece that a filmmaker in town had asked me to put together for a short film called Cupid's Arrows. It was meant to act as a chapter marker for each stage of the story, but the director ended up cutting it so it remains as a conceptual work only. But I was pretty happy with it and recorded a time lapse screencapture showing how it was assembled. So at the very least you can see how this kind of motion graphic gets pieced together. Watch that time lapse video above.

Not that I'm one to celebrate Valentine's Day, but on this faux holiday go ahead and treat yourself. Do something that will be good for you. That could be hitting the gym and getting some endorphins flowing in your body, or reading a solid book that's been sitting on your shelf just begging to be read, or cook a killer dinner with a bit more flash and flavour than you normally allow yourself, or even do something nice for somebody else and spread the love around.

So in that sense, have a Happy Valentine's Day, folks!

Take care of yourself and each other.

- Jerry Springer

Watch the short film Cupid's Arrows here and give yourself a chuckle.