Video Copilot Blog

sam VS sam

Andrew Kramer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:28:16 +0000

Watch Sam VS Sam, a video we featured in our last Blog Show. The show also included behind the scenes footage and some added commentary.

Watch sam VS sam

Video Notes for the gear-junkies: We shot this scene using the canon 7D and a 50mm 1.4 lens. For the close POV style shots we shot with the standard 18-55mm lens. To avoid jitter we shot on a tripod for most of the scene and then added some wiggle inside AE. The scene was shot with 2 350 Arri lights.

The end scene was created using a blood element from Action Essentials 2. You may also be interested in this video from a while ago.

NEW TUTORIAL: Lightning Explosion Part-02

Andrew Kramer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:48:49 +0000

In part 02 of this electrifying series we will create a human explosion using clever compositing techniques and blood elements from Action Essentials 2.

Watch Tutorial

Be sure to watch behind the scenes in our latest blog show.

You can also follow us on Twitter for updates and info @videocopilot

NEW TUTORIAL: Lightning Strike Part-01

Andrew Kramer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:54:25 +0000

In Part 1 of this exciting tutorial series, we will build a lightning strike with rain effects using built-in After Effects plug-ins and then composite stock footage from Action Essentials 2.

Watch Tutorial

BLOG SHOW: Go behind the scenes to see some on location preparation in our newest Blog Show episode.
Watch Show

BLOG SHOW: Mystery of Violence

Andrew Kramer — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:21:16 +0000

Warning: Simulated Violence

Topics Covered:
Upcoming Tutorial with Sam Loya
Behind the Scenes
Sam VS Sam
Will Sam get payback?
Video Copilot Hats!

UPDATE: The tutorial with Sam Loya will actually be online tomorrow so that our site doesn’t explode!

Video Copilot Gear: Will be available from our store at the end of NOV.

Special Blog Show on Halloween

Andrew Kramer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:44:11 +0000

Sam Loya joins us for an electrifying Halloween blog show and simultaneous tutorial launch. The excitement will begin tomorrow evening Mu ha ha ha.

AE CS5 64 bit only

Andrew Kramer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:45:36 +0000

Not fresh news but After Effects CS5 will be shipping as a 64-bit only application which requires a 64 bit operating system. There are very important advantages that I’ll let you read about from the Adobe Product Manager but the main benefits are speed and the ability to utilize more RAM for rendering and previewing. Hopefully this will put an end of “Out of memory errors” for good!

Adobe needed to finally step up and take on this monster task of supporting 64 bit to finally take advantage of modern hardware. As a note, the requirements for running 64 bit are not very steep, but if you do build out your machine, it will be able to take advantage of the extra power. No word on Adobe System requirements yet…

So if you’re upgrading to Windows 7, you might want to reach for the 64 bit version, if you’re on Mac you are already 64 bit since the last few versions. Please share your productive thoughts and ring-in at the survey on the right.

NOTE: You can count on all Video Copilot products and presets to be compatible when the time comes.

2012 Scene Building

Andrew Kramer — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:13:11 +0000

Who doesn’t love a good disaster movie? Guilty pleasures Here is an interesting behind the scenes look at some of the special effects for the movie 2012.

Check it out

Retro Lens Flares

Andrew Kramer — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:49:10 +0000

Showing the true power of our Optical Flares Plug-in, we were able to push it to the limits and recreate AE’s built-in lens flare from scratch! AAA-MMMAZING! Think of the possibilities…

We’re still polishing the plug-in features but expect a big release sometime in November. Aside from working on this plug-in, I’m also planning a Halloween tutorial and blog show that might be frighteningly fun. Stay Tuned! or should I say “stay ghouled!!!”. -No that doesn’t work, scratch that.