Creating a Short Film: 10 VFX Effects

Get a practical look at the world of visual effects (VFX). In this installment of the 13-part Creating a Short Film series, filmmaker Chad Perkins focuses on how to tackle the effects in the VFX portion of the post-production workflow. Throughout the course, Chad demonstrates how to create the visual effects seen in The Assurance, the short film featured throughout the series. Chad goes over a variety of common VFX tools and how to really sell effects shots. He digs into how to create magical effects with Trapcode Particular, Trapcode Form, and with native After Effects tools, as well as how to create a cool explosion shot by compositing live action fire footage, create swirling particles in Cinema 4D, build a custom lens flare using Optical Flares, and much more.

Topics include:
Selling effects shots with sound design and practical lights
Making magical effects with Trapcode Particular and Form
Building a custom lens flare with Optical Flares
Making a 3D magic ball from 2D Fractal Noise textures
Rebuilding shots digitally
Creating an explosion shot
Using dust footage to make fiery embers
Creating swirling 3D particles in Cinema 4D