Video and Sound Production Final Project / Visual Effects video

26.04.2025 - 27.07.2025 (Week 05 – Week 14)

ZHOU YUTONG / 0378676

VSP 60104/ Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media 

Final Project / Visual Effects video

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TABLE OF CONTENT

INSTRUCTIONS

TASK

FEEDBACK

REFLECTION

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INSTRUCTIONS

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TASK 

Final Project / Visual Effects video

VSP25 Final Project Proposal

We worked in pairs, and our story idea was inspired by the Tarot card we drew – The Hierophant. From Week 10 to Week 14, we focused on planning and production: writing the script (proposal), doing a test shoot, filming the final scenes, then moving into rough cut, fine cut, and finally adding visual effects.

Visual Effects Exercise

By week 9, it was time to begin our final project: creating a VFX (visual effects) video. In class, we learned how to create a “people flying” effect using Adobe After Effects. We practiced cutting out a person using the “Rotate Brush” tool, adjusting their position along the motion path, scaling them down, and adjusting the timeline to make the motion look natural. This exercise was very useful because we later applied the same technique in our own project.

After shooting, we imported all the footage into Premiere Pro (Pr) for the rough cut. Then, we moved into After Effects (AE) for VFX. Our project included two main effects: Clone Effect and Flying Paper Effect.

According to our Proposal, we accomplish our task on both ae and pr software.

For the Clone Effect, we used a fixed camera and shot three separate clips of the actor in different positions. In AE, we used Roto Brush to cut out the subject from each clip, then combined them into one scene so it looks like multiple “clones” of the same person appear together.

Then use the pen tool to key out the left side of the screen, so that JinYi can realize the effect of multiple splits.

The Flying Paper Effect was more challenging. First, we found a paper texture and added rotation keyframes at the start and end to make the paper spin. Then, we applied an effect to make the paper curl slightly for realism. Finally, we motion tracked the scene so the paper followed a natural floating path. 

Make multiple copies, edit the different tracks, and then insert the produced ones into the shot.

After finishing the VFX shots, we exported them and brought them back into Premiere Pro, where we added voice-over, text, color correction, and filters for the final look.

Add soundtracks, subtitles, credits, and other effects.

Photos of the preparation and during the shoot

Scouting the filming location.

Working on edits together.

Final Video

https://youtu.be/wuGqjVTlbrk

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FEEDBACK

Proposal Feedback: Mr. Martin said our concept was feasible, but the ending felt a little dull. He suggested making the finale more surprising and emotionally impactful.

After Shooting & Rough Cut: He liked the storyline, but noted some shots were overexposed. He also mentioned that the first version of the clone effect didn’t work well—the space was too large and the characters appeared too small to clearly show that they were clones. He recommended reshooting in a tighter setting.

After Reshoot & Fine Cut: Mr. Martin was satisfied with the new clone effect and music choice. His final suggestion was to add an adjustment layer in Premiere Pro to make the overall tone warmer and softer, so it matched the relaxing background music.

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REFLECTION

This project deepened my understanding of using digital compositing tools to tell visual stories. I practiced layer management while using AE's Roto Brush and masking features. I learned that visual clarity is critical, especially when making character clones, and that the distances and angles between replicas must be carefully planned to emphasize the effect.

The feedback we received reminded me of the importance of testing shot composition early in production. Next time, I'll evaluate visual intensity by testing renders before the final shot. Additionally, exposure control for each frame is an important aspect of visual impact, and I will pay more attention to this in future projects.

All in all, this project was a valuable experience combining actual shooting with digital processing, and it strengthened my collaborative workflow with team members and software tools.