VIDEO AND SOUND PRODUCTION (FINAL PROJECT / VISUAL EFFECTS VIDEO)

 April 21,2025

21/06/2025 - 19/07/2024(Week 10  - Week 14 )

ZHANG TIANYAO/0376838

Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University 

Final Project

LIST

1. Lectures

2. Instructions

3. Final Project

4. Reflections

Lectures

Week 9

1. Objective
This week’s lesson introduced us to the basics of VFX editing using Adobe After Effects. The focus was on compositing action sequences—such as flicking, jumping, and hitting a wall—into a seamless short video.

2. Trial Shoot Reflection
During the trial shoot, we faced challenges due to similar color tones between the subject and background, which made it hard to use the Rotobrush tool effectively. This highlighted the importance of planning shot locations carefully when preparing for VFX work.

3. Post-Production Steps

• Import and arrange all shots in After Effects

• Pre-compose the “Flick” and “Jump” clips

• Use only key frames (e.g. mid-air jump) for clean timing

• Apply Time Stretching and Puppet Tool for movement control

• Use Adjustment Layers for consistent color correction across shots

4. Key Tools Used

• Rotobrush – to isolate the subject in the jumping shot

• Keylight – to remove green screen or solid background in the flick shot

• Puppet Tool – to manipulate and animate body movement

• Adjustment Layer – for overall visual consistency and color grading

Physical Class Summary

In our physical class, Mr. Martin guided us through a hands-on tutorial using After Effects. We practiced how to composite basic VFX shots and explored tools like Rotobrush, Keylight, Puppet Tool, and Adjustment Layers. These techniques helped us understand how to align timing, movement, and visual style. We also discussed possible themes for our final VFX project, although we haven’t started working on actual footage yet.

Instructions

Final Project

Process

Our team randomly drew Card 2 – The Moon from the tarot deck at the start of the project. Intrigued by its layered symbolism, we conducted research to explore its deeper meanings. We found that this card represents illusion, confusion, and hidden truths, often pointing to internal struggles like fear, anxiety, and uncertainty about one’s path or identity. These themes became the foundation for the concept and direction of our visual storytelling.

Fig 1.1 Tarot Card"Moon"

Synopsis:

On the sunlit rooftop of her school, a girl sits alone, gently brushing the edge of a Moon tarot card. The world is quiet—the breeze stirs her hair—but in her silence lies an unspoken weight. Closing her eyes, she escapes into a surreal dreamscape made of paper and shadows, drenched in pale moonlight. Towering structures made of paper rise around her, fragile and strange. Led by the Moon card, she walks cautiously through this subconscious world where whispers echo her name. Suddenly, the ground splits open, revealing a glowing letter—one she never sent. As she reads it, waves of regret, fear, and guilt crash down on her. The paper world collapses—towers fall, paths tear. She runs, clutching the letter, chasing a fading silhouette of someone she longs to reach. But the figure turns to paper and disappears. Jolted awake on the rooftop, everything seems unchanged—except for her notebook, where one glowing line now appears: “You must tell her, or you’ll remain trapped.” With this realization, she rises. Letter in hand, her eyes no longer filled with doubt—this time, she’s ready to face the truth.

Fig 1.2 Storyboard 

We then began filming based on the storyboard, carefully translating each scene from concept to camera. Every shot was planned to reflect the surreal tone of the narrative—shifting between reality and dream. We focused on framing, lighting, and movement to emphasize emotion and symbolism, especially the presence of the Moon card as a guiding element throughout the story. The process helped us turn abstract ideas into visual storytelling, staying true to the emotional arc we had envisioned.

Fig 1.3 Shooting Videos

Once filming was completed, we began the post-production process in Adobe Premiere Pro. We organized the footage based on the storyboard and arranged it on the timeline accordingly.
To highlight the contrast between the real self and the mirrored self, we worked with layered video tracks, allowing us to manipulate each version of the character independently. We also incorporated background music and carefully placed sound effects, adjusting the audio to build emotional tension and reinforce the surreal atmosphere.

Fig 1.4 

For visual grading, we used the Lumetri Color panel for color correction and stylized adjustments. By increasing contrast and saturation, we highlighted the seductive and surreal qualities of the dream versus reality. In selected shots, we applied darkening effects to emphasize the emotional and psychological distance between the two worlds.

In addition, we layered various visual effects into the dream sequences, such as magnetic interference and reverb overlays. These techniques helped us visually represent the protagonist’s emotional shift from being lost in illusion to awakening.

Fig 1.5 Color Correction and Effects Layering

Final Project Proposal:

Final Project Proposal: VFX

Final Video

Reflections

Working on this project allowed me to explore the intersection between visual storytelling and emotional expression. From pre-production planning to post-production editing, I gained a deeper understanding of how visual elements—like transitions, color grading, and special effects—can represent psychological states. One of the biggest challenges was ensuring that the dream sequences felt surreal yet emotionally grounded. Through experimenting with lighting, visual distortions, and sound design, I learned how to create contrast between illusion and reality in a meaningful way. This process also strengthened my teamwork and technical skills in Premiere Pro and After Effects. Overall, the project pushed me to think more critically about how visuals can reflect internal struggles, and it gave me the confidence to tackle more complex narrative editing in the future.