STAR TREK teleport effect | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2026-09-24 | STAR TREK teleport effect | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios
Ghostbusters proton pack and ghost trap animation sequence #shorts Shanks FX 2023-02-03 | Ghostbusters animation sequence using long exposure photography effects to create the proton pack / neutrino wand light streaks for capturing a ghost.Watch the full video here...youtu.be/6WlqvS7OpoM
Oppenheimer VFX asset tests | Part 1: Subatomic effects Shanks FX 2023-01-31 | Tests for subatomic particle effects for the upcoming film Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan. I saw the trailer and thought a lot of my light painting and fluid dynamic shots looked similar to the trailer footage so I wanted to put a montage of effects that I think resemble the trailer footage.Some of this footage is from past episodes but a lot of the effects seen here are new visuals that I captured with a microscope over the last couple of years.At the 37-38 second mark, I'm still stumped on what was used to create those circular atomic streak elements. Any ideas from you guys how that was achieved?For Part 2, I may end up trying and create some miniature mushroom clouds. I've looked for videos online and found several good looking mushroom cloud reactions that looked somewhat safe and didn't need too much TNT. I'll keep you posted on this process. :-) Thanks for checking this out!
Remote control Delorean time machine! #shorts Shanks FX 2023-01-30 | No plutonium needed. Just a couple AA batteries for the remote!
Back to the Future | Delorean time machine miniature #shorts Shanks FX 2023-01-28 | 88 mph + 1.21 gigawatts = some serious stuff !!!
A TOPIARY concept Visual Effects | follow-up to PRIMER | An Unmade Masterpiece | Shanks FX Shanks FX 2021-03-22 | A few months ago I stumbled upon a PDF document of concept art for the film A TOPIARY, which is from the same director that brought us the time travel film PRIMER. I was amazed at A TOPIARY'S concept art and I thought that many of these objects and shapes could be created with a 3D printer. I have been on the fence about getting a 3D printer for years now but this inspired me to finally take the plunge and purchase one.The A TOPIARY script is a fascinating read. Advice, I recommend having the concept art PDF close by to help visualize the foreign and ever-expanding technology that is thrust upon the main characters. There are many more engineering steps that come after the KNEE ASSEMBLY, which is where my video ends. It would have been interesting to see what this film would have looked like if ever been made. Hopefully, this video will shed a light on some of the imaginative elements that this film would have consisted of. If you want to take a deeper dive into the unmade film A TOPIARY, here are some links.CONCEPT TRAILER (many animations were featured in this video)vimeo.com/23608364 SCRIPT - indiegroundfilms.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/a-topiary-numbered.pdfCONCEPT ART PDF :robertgraff.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/a-topiary-illustrations_compressed.pdfA TOPIARY WIKI FAN-PAGE :a-topiary.fandom.com/wiki/A_Topiary_WikiBREAKDOWN of script by you-tuber DisRegarding Henry He does a great job and goes in-depth into every aspect of the script.Part 1 - youtu.be/XF-i48BJgyoPart 2 - youtu.be/2nuUmXIjFHwPart 3 - youtu.be/s42GwGa3MTY3D MODELS that I created :thingiverse.com/joeyshanks/designsI would love for the 3D printing community to try and create more printable models from the concept art PDF document. I'm just a beginner in the 3D printing world and I'm sure a more experienced person could take it to another level in design and detail of the prints.If you are wondering how I did the 3D printing time-lapses, I used a program called Octoprint / Octoplase. It took me about a month to figure it out. Had to get a Raspberry Pi and program it. It was a nightmare of a time learning but I eventually got it working properly. Octolpase is a program that tells the print head to move out of the way for each layer of the print, so it's a nice smooth and clean-looking timelapse.Thanks for watching guys!!!It feels good to upload a new one, I know it's been a while. all the best, JOEY SHANKShttp://MovieMagicNow.com
Indiana Jones Reopening the Ark | Shanks FX Shanks FX 2018-06-18 | To celebrate the anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark, I recreated the visual effects of the Raiders of the Lost Ark ending sequence.Here is that great companion piece video / documentary of the film... Raiding the Lost Ark by: Jamie Benning vimeo.com/36011979Music by: Big Fokbigfok.bandcamp.comFor more Shanks FX...http://MovieMagicNow.com
Recreating the original STAR WARS Jump to Hyperspace | SHANKS FX Shanks FX 2018-05-24 | Learn how to make the original jump to hyperspace with the Millennium Falcon with vintage Han Solo action figure and cockpit.I purchased the Millennium Falcon playset for $20 on Ebay. Music by: Big Fok
THE AVENGERS engulf Infinity Stones | Magnetic Putty Magic | SHANKS FX Shanks FX 2018-04-03 | The Avengers engulf magnets / infinity stones with magnetic putty.I found the Hulk, Iron Man, and Captain America shells / eggs at grocery store checkout line. Noticed that they created a very detailed impression / facial cast when I tried it with my daughter's play-doh. It wasn't too long till a tried it with magnetic putty.Crazy Aaron made me some custom colors like green and red to use for Hulk and Ironman.Check out Crazy Aaron's Putty World: goo.gl/pBKXgZMusic by: Big Fok
Star Wars LEGO Tie fighter built with the FORCE / stop motion THE LAST JEDI Shanks FX 2017-12-04 | Get ready for STAR WARS "The Last Jedi" by watching Kylo Ren's LEGO tie fighter come to life with the use of the force / stop motion animation !Thanks for watching and please share and subscribe !!!Music by: Big Fokhttp://MovieMagicNow.com
Powering a 35mm Film Camera | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2017-02-14 | Learn how to power a 35mm movie camera with a 6V battery.We then shoot a roll on Super 8, 16mm, and 35mm.To check out the films rolls in their entirety, check out the 4K video here...youtube.com/watch?v=bOr85HDTC6Q&index=9&list=PLZhF8BrhZdETL8gz7yVgT3TbOdj2HPU_uSpecial thanks to FRAME DISCREET for providing the film scans for this episode. Please check out their website and learn more about their 5K laser scan process. http://FrameDiscreet.comMusic by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
35mm Movie Camera Tricks & DIY Hacks | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-12-20 | Learn how to shoot on a 35mm movie camera. In Part 2, we will be go over some useful tricks and DIY hacks for the 60 year-old Konvas 1M film camera.1) Plugging unused lenses on your camera's turret. 2) How to make a custom Russian lens. a) Swapping glass from other lenses b) Fixing a stuck aperture 3) Shooting a test roll with photography filmIn Part 3, we will be cover how to power the camera with a 6V battery. I will also be shooting Christmas morning on 3 different film formats (Super 8, 16mm, and 35mm) and we will compare and contrast.Check out the roll I shoot on 16mm film - youtube.com/watch?v=_goJAzoRHME&index=6&list=PLZhF8BrhZdETL8gz7yVgT3TbOdj2HPU_uLinks for good info on Konvas cameras and gear... Now I purchased my camera off of Ebay, but if I had to do it again I would purchase from Olexandr Kalynychenko. Very knowledgeable and will answer any questions you have. Check out his website...Other Links for good info on Konvas cameras and gear... http://Konvas.orghttp://www.rafcamera.com/en/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=0&p=1&q=konvasMusic by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Shooting on a 35MM movie camera | Part 1 | Shanks FX Shanks FX 2016-12-06 | Test Footage can be seen here... youtu.be/bOr85HDTC6Q (Super 8, 16mm, 35mm)In Part 1, we will learn how to shoot on a 35mm film movie camera. Camera I used was a Konvas 1M Russian camera, which is the most affordable camera you will be able to find online.Other cameras to lookout for are the 2nd generation Konvas 2M, Mitchell 35mm, and Bell Howell 35mm. Also check out the Arriflex Eclair, really beautiful camera. (but pricey)When acquiring a 35mm camera, here are some questions you need to ask.1) Has it been tested ? ("Untested" is always a huge red flag)2) Does it come with a lens and what kind of lens mount does camera have?3) Does it come with film magazine/s ? How many feet does it hold?4) How will you power the camera? a) Manual Hand Crank (included with camera?) b) Spring Drive (hard to find with Konvas cameras) c) Power Drive (does it come with cord and battery?)Now I purchased my camera off of Ebay, but if I had to do it again I would purchase from Olexandr Kalynychenko. Very knowledgeable and will answer any questions you have. Check out his website...sites.google.com/site/olexserviceskonvas/home2 other good sources... http://Konvas.orghttp://www.rafcamera.com/en/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=0&p=1&q=konvasMusic by: Big Fok In Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Recreating the DOCTOR STRANGE Fire Portal | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-11-16 | After watching Doctor Strange at the theater I noticed that the fire portal effect seen in the film looked a lot like my "Warp Speed with Steel Wool" episode.So I thought I'd take a similar approach on a smaller scale and use sparklers instead of steel wool.The biggest thing you have to consider is how to capture the entire fire ring for each frame. Luckily my camera can shoot at different frame rates. But if you have a HDSLR, you can set your shutter to about 1/8 and use the quick burst setting. Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Film Burn effects | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-11-01 | Learn how to create hypnotic imagery by burning film in a projector.For our Super 8 filmmakers guide series I purchased a projector on Ebay. Unfortunately the "reverse" did not work but this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It gave me the ability to burn film relatively easy if I just loaded film in the projector and engaged the "reverse" function. Different film stocks give off different looks and my favorite was some old 8mm film from 1950s. Most of the film footage is just random reels I purchased at thrift shops. I tested out 16mm and 35mm film stocks where I cut the film so it would fit inside my Super 8 projector film gate.One word of advice is always leave the lamp casing on while operating. I had a bulb explode on me and if the lamp casing wasn't on, it would have been very ugly. Safety goggles are recommended as well. Music by: Big FokIn association with: PBS Digital Studios
Ghost Trails with Fluorescein | Shanks FX Halloween Special” | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-10-18 | Create Halloween ghost-like trails with the compound known as fluorescien.The powder form can be purchased on Amazon and gives off a darker green hue.The fluorescien extract from highlighters gives off a light green.I enjoyed working with both and each one will give you a slightly different look when put into water and / or alcohol.This episode was inspired by the NightHawkInLight episode dealing with fluorescein. Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Shooting on 16mm Film | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-10-03 | Learn how to shoot on the 16mm film format in this in-depth beginners guide.Topics covered in this video are...1) Difference between 16mm and Super 16mm 2) Learning about the Russian K-3 16mm camera3) Loading 16mm film4) Taking a proper light reading with a traditional light meter, HDSLR, and an iPhone.Some additional tips and notes that I didn't mention in this video...- You don't have to load film in the dark. You will expose a couple feet of film but the remaining 48 feet will be fine. Just make sure you load in a shaded area and not in direct sunlight.- If you don't have an extra roll of 16mm film to practice loading your camera with, you can cut a few feet off of a fresh roll of 16mm film and just practice with that.- http://K3camera.com is a great website to go to and is filled with tons of great info on learning more about the K3 camera. - When your 16mm camera is not in-use its best to hold down the trigger and run out the drive spring so camera isn't wound. - If your light meter doesn't go all the way down to "0" when sensor is covered, there is a flathead screw on the back that you can turn and fine tune your meter.- If you are shooting outside with lots of light, you will insert the "high" slide plate found on the back of light meter into the light sensor. You will then line everything up with the "red arrow" instead of the "white arrow".I will share a link of what I capture at the fair in a couple weeks !!!Special thanks again to Ruben Marrufo for his help and also recommending the K3 camera. I'm very happy with my K3 and don't think I would have purchased it without his strong recommendation. Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Recreating Super 8 in Digital | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-09-15 | In our last installment of our Super 8 Filmmakers Guide Series, we go into great detail on how to pull off the Super 8 look with digital footage. (Check out the opening for our film GALAXY GULCH at the end of this episode) (NOTE: WE HAD TO REMOVE AUDIO FROM LAST PORTION OF VIDEO. To watch that segment with its orginal music track and sound design, go to http://MovieMagicNow.comThe trick is to capture film reference shots, so you can match the color and grain to your digital footage. We also use real film grain and scratches from the end tails of our Super 8 film rolls.And the last element (the most important) is to motion track the film cameras shake and apply it to your digital footage. This really ties all those other elements together and makes for an authentic film look.Check out the full post-production breakdown at our website...http://MovieMagicNow.comMusic by: Big FokCamera by: Kyle PlatzIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Super 8 Filmmakers Guide: Working with Projectors | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-08-30 | Learn about film projectors in our 3rd installment of our Super 8 film making series. I'd recommend practicing with an 8mm projector and find old home movie reels at thrift / antique shops. Just about every old projector has some little quirk to it, and its better to find out with old film rather than your own.The combo Super 8 / 8mm projector seems like its the best one to own, but that was the one that jammed up the most on me. It's cause it didn't use the film sprockets to move film through gate.I may be doing an episode that deals with burning film frames. That was very fun to do!!!Special thanks to Ruben Marrufo for his helpful insights on the Super8 format and working with these projectors. He let me know that it's better to film at 30fps rather than 24fps when digitally capturing screen.Music by: Big FokCamera by: Kyle PlatzIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Super 8 Filmmakers Guide: Shooting a Test Roll | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-08-16 | This 3 part series will go over everything you need to know in order to shoot on Super 8 film. Part 2 covers your basic Super 8 camera operations and shooting a test roll to see if your Super 8 camera is working properly. I'd recommend shooting a test roll with black & white reversal film. It will be about half the cost of shooting on color film.We will dive into that more in Part 3.Also, I have a bonus episode that goes in-depth on how to ship out your test roll to a film processing lab. It's not the most exciting video, but it will save you some time and trouble of in-depth researching. You can find it on our homepage at...http://MovieMagicNow.comPassword = Super8Please leave comments and questions below, and will try and answer as many as I can.Special thanks to RYAN TIMMS for letting us borrow his Canon 814 Super 8 camera. Music by: BIG FOKCamera by: KYLE PLATZIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Super 8 Filmmakers Guide: Cameras and Accessories | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-08-02 | This 3 part series will go over everything you need to know in order to shoot on Super 8 film. Part 1 deals with Super 8 cameras and accessories. Many times you can find working cameras at thrift shops. Learn what features you need to look for and how to test for them.I also go over some key camera accessories that will help in maximizing your ability to get the most out of this format. I've put together a PDF of great links that go into further detail about film stocks, cameras, and shooting tips. You will also find links to some of the items I purchased for my Super 8 camera. dropbox.com/sh/nluauohqa2cc4y3/AAAn2eAcY89CnahbVl_2rgU_a?dl=0 Part 2 will deal with shooting a test roll and how to send off roll to get it processed and digitized.Part 3 will document us shooting a little 2 page script on Super 8 film and the challenges that come with shooting a narrative story on film. Special thanks to RYAN TIMMS for letting us borrow his Canon 814 Super 8 camera. Music by: BIG FOKCamera by: KYLE PLATZIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Creating the original STAR TREK energize effect | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-07-19 | The Star Trek teleport / energize effect has been featured in every iteration of the franchise, dating back to the 1964 TV pilot.The special effect was created by Darrell Arthur Anderson. To obtain the “glitter effect”, aluminum dust was photographed as it was dropped from overhead, falling through a beam of high-intensity light.Learn how to re-create this effect with household items like glitter and alka-seltzer tablets. To create the looks from the 80s films I captured different reflective objects out of focus to create the "light beam" effect seen in these films. I did extensive research and couldn't find out exactly how they were done in films from the 80s. If anyone knows please let us know !!! Music by: Big FokCamera by: Kyle PlatzIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Jupiter in a Jar 4K | Shanks FX | PBS DIgital Studios Shanks FX 2016-07-06 | Create a realistic looking Jupiter with a jar, milk, dish soap, and food coloring.I came up with this technique after watching footage of liquid orbs floating aboard the International Space Station.I wondered if you could create planet-like orbs made of milk on the ISS. What I figured is that if you were to substitute water for milk (higher fat content would be ideal) and put a 2 drops of red food & 1 drop of yellow food coloring in milk, take a syringe and give it a puff of air so it gets spread out, then ad a drop of dish soap on each pole of sphere. Hopefully the surface tension between the fat molecules and soap will create a similar reaction to how the texture & clouds of planet Jupiter work. And also look very similar to it as well.You could have the milk sphere be suspended by a tiny rod or wire? So you wouldn't have to chase it around while applying food coloring and soap, this way would give you more control and once you got the milk sphere looking good, you could then release it, letting it float around the ISS.Now this is just a theory, but I hope this video will inspire those aboard the ISS to give it a shot !!!So please share this video and see if we can actually get astronauts to try this out.For more videos that deal with liquids in micro-gravity, please check out SCIENCE OFF THE SPHERE. http://www.physicscentral.com/explore/sots which are a set of videos created by astronaut Dr. Don Pettit who I actually have bounced around some ideas with on this subject.Music by: BIG FOKCamera by: KYLE PLATZIn Association with: PBS DIGITAL STUDIOS
Ghostbusters Surge Protector Trap | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-06-14 | As a young boy, I always thought surge protectors looked like Ghostbuster ghost traps. With the new Ghostbusters film coming out, I thought why not live out a childhood fantasy and actually turn a surge protector into a ghost trap. Sean Bishop's ghost trap plans were an invaluable resource. I've made a PDF version of these plans to download here... dropbox.com/sh/rkmluf37ltidmjm/AADiB7vDPTT9XHIpdg5qRoR2a?dl=0I will also be posting detailed images of parts used in this build in the same dropbox folder. I think getting the nuts, bolts, and PVC materials for trap will be easier to find at your local hardware store. Here is a Amazon product list to many of the items used... amzn.com/w/36WCL89FT7T5J One day, I do want to put servo motors in this trap, and also a foot pedal switch. Hope you guys like it !!!Music by: Big FokCamera by: Kyle PlatzIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Giant Bubble Reflections in 4K | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-05-17 | Get mesmerized with giant bubble reflections in 4K.Originally this episode was just going to be a 4K sequel to our popular "Giant Bubble Explosions" episode. I was capturing good stuff but felt the video needed a new twist to it. So randomly I tried mirroring the bubble clips when editing and was amazed with the results. Enjoy !!!Shot with the Sony FS7 at 60fpsMusic By: Michael CassetteAssistant Camera - Kyle Platz In Association with: PBS Digital Studios
DIY Game of Thrones Ice Wall | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-04-25 | To celebrate the start of season 6 for Game of Thrones I attempt to build a miniature Ice Wall using styrofoam. The most important tool was the hot wire foam cutter which gave me a lot of control when cutting into the huge block of styrofoam.Light the wall from the bottom so you can create shadows on your wall. That will help sell the scale.The 8 foot piece of stryofoam was purchased at hardware store for $25. Hot Wire cutter is by "Hot Wire Foam Factory" for $30.Dungeon Corridor mirror was purchased on Amazon for $25.You may notice some snow composited into these shots. That is just dust particles I captured for a previous episode. Thought the dust worked quite nicely with the miniatures to create realistic snow elements. For the finale I wanted to make the wall fall, and that was achieved by projecting a video of a glacier calving onto my styrofoam Ice Wall.I attempted using nail polish remover to make the wall dissolve but just didn't cooperate the way I wanted it to. Many of the stills used in this episode were taken with the Lytro Ilum "Light Field" camera. Which allows you to capture stills with depth map info. So in post you decide what you want to be in focus and what you want to be out of focus. For most of the images I kept everything in focus, but there are definitely some fun possibilities to explore with this camera. Lytro.com for more info.Music by: Big FokIn association with: PBS Digital Studios
Close Encounters of the Drone Kind | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-04-11 | Create UFO-like imagery with practical lighting and a quad-copter / drone.The drone I am using is a DJI Phantom 3 Standard. Anyone trying to attempt these kind of shots, I strongly recommend you read your drone's manual front to back.A few things of warning... - Experimenting with a drone like this increases the chances of damaging / crashing, so just know that going in. - About half way through filming this episode I decided to remove the camera and gimbal. That made it a lot less stressful for myself and also increased the battery life considerably. It also gave me 9 more ounces to my payload. - Attaching various things to your drone could mess with the navigation antennas located near the bottom of the landing gear. So be mindful of that, and try and fly in "ATTI" mode which will turn off most flight assistant. This will make it a manual flying experience. The drone does have a hard time holding still while hovering in "ATTI" mode. Many times I would fly with the GPS on and be ready to flip the switch to "ATTI" mode if I saw my drone start acting erratic.- For the lighting rig where light is attaching the camera lens. Make sure there is plenty of slack for gimbal to move freely. If there is any tension gimbal could be damaged. - Controlling lights via remote loses its strength in range because of the drones remote signal that is being used at the same time. 10 feet was about the max range I had with being about to control the light while attached to drone in the air. I heard a servo switch would be ideal to have, but seems a little advanced to engineer with my limited skills as an electrician. - An extra set of propellers, propeller guards, and a gimbal guard are all good investments. The propeller guards actually made drone look more like a UFO.Please share any other ideas about cool visuals that could be done with a drone. I think there is a world of possibilities out there! Featuring: Bret Wilson & Tommy Wrenn Music by: James Kaleth & Richard ThomasSpecial thanks to James Gustafson for the idea of powering main light with a portable phone charger. In Association with PBS Digital Studios
Hurricane Balls in 4K | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-03-28 | I came across this cool toy called hurricane balls while watching videos the other day. I looked to see where I could buy some but couldn't find them anywhere online. Then I realized all you have to do is simple connect two spheres of a similar size together. Use a plastic nozzle or straw to blow air onto one side.The air increases the balls' angular velocity to speeds up to 12,000 rpm.Spherical objects that work best are ball bearings, lamp shade fasteners, cabinet door knobs, curtain rod ends, and marbles.Please share your own custom hurricane ball creations below!Music by: Big FokIn association with: PBS Digital Studios
How to use a Split Focus Diopter | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-03-14 | A split focus diopter is an unique way to achieve the illusion of deep focus. The half convex glass attaches in front of the camera's lens to make half the lens nearsighted.Before the digital age of cinema, many directors made frequent use of the split-focus diopter. The split diopter allowed directors to capture two main focal points in just one shot, rather than having to shoot two different angles. I've always noticed split diopter shots in older movies but never really researched how they were done. I got inspired to find out more when I saw this technique used in The Hateful Eight (in glorious 70mm).I re-watched Inglorious Bastards, Django Unchained & Kill Bill Vol I, and was surprised that I couldn't find any split diopter shots.Here is a great little montage of split diopter shots in some well known films.youtube.com/watch?v=2CbQ-ayDbrU I got my split diopter for 35 dollars on Ebay... Look for "77mm Split Field Two Field Special Effects" (this diopter was equivalent to a +2.0 power in reading glasses) And please comment below and share other split diopter shots used in movies!PS- You may notice that there is a small little crack in my split diopter. That crack happened from the frisbee golf shoot which was the first day I got it. Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
How to create Water Illusions | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-02-29 | Water Illusions can happen when you film fast movement with the right type of camera.To the naked eye this looks like something of a blur.But with a fast enough shutter speed a camera can make objects appear like they are frozen in time.These illusions happen when an image moves too fast for a camera to detect.This is known as Temporal Aliasing / the Wagon Wheel effect.Materials needed:SpeakerTone Generator (to create vibration for your speaker)Running WaterFlexible Hose (Pocket Hose purchased for $20 at local store)Camera that can record at 24 frames a secondHow this works...A 24 hz bass tone is sent through a speaker making the water vibrate 24 times a second. In a circular motion.With a fast enough shutter, the camera captures the same image frame after frame.Creating the illusion of water that is frozen in time. Episode inspired by amazing water illusion video by BRUSSPUP Music by: Michael Cassette In Association with: PBS Digital Studios
How to create STAR WARS Lightsaber sound effects | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2016-01-06 | The lightsaber sound from Star Wars was created by legendary sound designer Ben Burtt. He combined the sounds of a 35mm projector and a 70s tube TV to create one of the most iconic sounds in movie history. In this episode I try and use the same techniques Ben Burtt did and create a similar analog driven sound design for my very own lightsaber.Finding a tube TV wasn't hard but couldn't locate an old projector with twin motors but I was able to replicate a similar sound with a square-wave generator.My advice would be to walk around your house with a mic and recorder and see what kind of sounds you get from all the electrical appliances. (just be mindful that getting too close to certain electromagnetic fields could put your gear & sd cards in danger, never happened to me, but that's what I heard can happen in certain cases)Older appliances seemed to work better for me as I got a lot of interesting sounds by recording the vibration of the their electrical transformers.Another tip would be to go to antique stores with an audio recorder and record all the old interesting mechanical devices from yesteryear. You may even run into an old 35mm projector!After making this episode I find myself hearing a lot more electrical hums wherever I go. It never hurts to bring an audio recorder with you at all times! A great resource I found was the "The Lightsaber Sound Cookbook" which really goes in depth about the whole process of creating these kind of sounds. Some of the technical detail went over my head but I'd rather it be too much information than not enough!http://www.dblondin.com/071807.htmlHere are some more links from some of the Ben Burtt video excerpts seen in this episode. Ben Burtt creates the sounds for Wall-Eyoutube.com/watch?v=TSf8Er2gV_QSounds in Space - Lightsaber Soundsyoutube.com/watch?v=tNhIoImntqIAlso, check out our episode that shows you how to create the original Lightsaber effect. youtube.com/watch?v=p3otcB1EjYcMusic by: Big FokIn association with: PBS Digital Studios
The original STAR WARS lightsaber effect | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-12-17 | The lightsaber from Star Wars is arguably the most famous weapon in the history of cinema.Go back in time to 1977 and learn how the lightsaber was first captured with the help of the highly reflective material "Scotchlite" & a compact motor at the hilt.If you want to try this out yourself, "Scotchlite" tape rolls can be found at local hardware store for around $10.I also went in search of a Graflex flashgun handle and was lucky enough to find one but it was one from the 60s and not the sleek silver version that Luke uses in Episode IV & V. Enjoy guys, and I'm not seeing Star Wars till Sunday morning, so it's going be tough reading comments till then.The opening of this episode is a little scene I've always wanted in a Star Wars movie... acquiring a Kyber crystal and constructing a lightsaber.I know there is that deleted scene from Return of the Jedi of Luke adjusting his lightsaber settings, but I want a little more in depth account.Enjoy guys !!Music by: Big Fok & Paul Dateh In Association with: PBS Digital Studios
How to create a Mini Tornado | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-12-07 | Learn how to create a water vortex by drilling a hole at the bottom of plastic aquarium to act as a drain.If don't have an aquarium just fill up your sink and then release drain plug. Stir in a circular motion and watch vortex form from above. I highly recommend using a perfectly square tank. Any tank that has more of a rectangular shape will make it much more difficult to produce vortex. Tank I recommend is the the Tetra 29095 Cube Aquarium Kit, 3-Gallon. Some of these shots were even captured with a cube tank that was only 1/2 gallon. Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Creating the Stargate Portal | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-11-24 | The 1994 film Stargate combined CGI and practical effects to create the portal sequence in the opening act of the film. An air cannon was fired into a huge 500 gallon tank. We use the same technique but in a 2.5 gallon tank. The Stargate model featured in this episode cost $30 on Amazon.Look for another Stargate episode soon, as we will try and create the water vortex that shoots out of the portal once it is activated. If you would like to learn more about "multiple exposure" effects check out the Back to the Future "Time Slice" effect episode we did.youtube.com/watch?v=RNkwtfbW_nQOur Interstellar episode will give you a better idea about the post production process. youtube.com/watch?v=zHykWKaKk2ILearn about how to create the bubble film layer here...youtube.com/watch?v=ODfj3Tw6oE4Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
How to make Dry Ice Comets | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-11-16 | Follow-up to our "Creating Dry Ice Comets" episode where we show the step by step process of how to create your very own comets.Here are the key 17 steps...1) Choose a shallow water container. a. Glass Picture Frame b. Upside-down Aquarium2) Apply water sealant along the edges to prevent your shallow pool from leaking. (hot glue even worked for me)3) Provide a black backdrop. (I used a black floor mat)4) Position camera directly above subject with a C-Stand or 90 degree tripod. (don't forget to add counter weights / sand bags)5) Create a dark environment. ( I use cardboard and black sheets)6) Make sure surface area is level. (You can even download the "iHandy Level" app and use your phone)7) Position a spot light at the same height as surface area.Try to illuminate the top layer of glass and nothing else.8) Use a dark object to block unwanted spill from spot light.9) Evenly pour water on glass, creating a thin pool of water 1-4 cm deep. (you can make your pool deeper if you plan to use bigger pieces of dry ice)10) Acquire dry ice from local grocery store. (Harris Teeter is the store I go to here in North Carolina. I have bought dry ice at a Ralphs once while in California.) The giant block of dry ice weighed around 9 pounds. Cost at around 9 dollars. 11. Put dry ice in a cooler on-top of a rubber floor mat. (I used an old floor mat from a truck) Always leave cooler slightly cracked to prevent a buildup of pressure. 12. Put on protective gloves and goggles when working with dry ice.13. Proceed to break dry ice up into small pieces.14. Put broken pieces in plastic bag and break up into even smaller pieces.15. With needle noise pliers, try and pick out a thin piece that is roughly 1-2 cm in diameter. (the thinner the better)16. Drop dry ice into water. A smaller piece will sublimate faster and have more movement. 17. To get the smaller pieces, crushing the dry ice with your pliers is an effective technique but this can cause small pieces to shoot out in all directions.Always protect your eyes, lens, and camera by covering them up.Happy comet creating !!!music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Creating Dry Ice Comets in 4K | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-11-10 | A main ingredient to a comets core is dry ice.As it gets closer to the sun the ice sublimates into the vacuum of space. Putting dry ice into a shallow pool of water will produce a similar reaction. The dry ice turns into vapor and creates jets of gas which propel the particles across the surface of the water.Episode inspired by "Icy Bodies" exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Special thanks to Robert Shaver for sharing this exhibit in the comments section.Music by: Paul Dateh In Association with PBS Digital Studios
CREATING THE COSMOS IMAX screened film | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-10-28 | Sequence from CREATING THE COSMOS, a film being made for the IMAX® and giant screen theaters.First screened at the Giant Screen Cinema Association's annual conference in San Francisco this past September with IMAX's® groundbreaking new 4K laser projection system.After creating Shanks FX episodes for the past 3 years, I realized that one of the underlying components of my "in-camera" visual effects was capturing real world physics in action. From magnetic putty to dry ice bubbles, the things I captured on camera were often based on science and physics.I thought - a giant screen film about DIY physics and fluid dynamics would be a fresh contribution consistent with my niche. It would deal with both outer-space and nature - a large percentage of the giant screen market.If you are curious on what it would be like for a DIY filmmaker trying to break into the IMAX® & giant screen market, check out the 4500 word write-up I did of my adventures in getting this video made and ultimately projected onto the second largest screen in North America with the entire giant screen community in attendance. Read it here... http://CreatingtheCosmos.comIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
CREATING THE COSMOS in 8K with Canon 5DS | SHANKS FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-10-07 | Watch us CREATE THE COSMOS with the Canon 5DS to achieve 8K resolution! The Canon 5DS has a 50.6 megapixel which is equivalent to an8688 X 5792 aspect ratio. Believe it or not I actually had to scale down to 89% to fit the 8K aspect ratio of 7680 X 4320.We shot image sequences with the "high speed continuous mode" on which allowed us to capture at around 2-4 frames per second. We then brought images it into After Effects, turned them into 24fps image sequences. We made 1280x720 QuickTime proxy files to edit with in premiere and then brought them back into After Effects for final export. The 8K compressed video was around 14GB in size. 8K resolution may seem like overkill for most platforms but not for us. We are working on a film (CREATING THE COSMOS) made for IMAX©, Giant Screen, and Dome / Planetarium theaters. There are a handful of full dome theaters that are 8K ready with an aspect ratio of 8192 X 6144.We actually presented a 5 minute extended trailer (will release video soon) at the annual Giant Screen Cinema association conference this past September. It was an out-of-body experience seeing our work projected onto the 2nd largest screen in North America (AMC Metreon) with the newest IMAX© laser projection system. http://CREATINGtheCOSMOS.com to know moreMusic by Paul Dateh which is a remix from the song "Breathe" by Télépopmusik.Outro Music by: Big FokIn Association with PBS Digital Studios
Sand Art Landscapes 4K B-Sides | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-09-22 | I had so much good looking footage of Sand Art Landscapes that I just couldn't leave on the editing room floor. So here is an atmospheric cut of footage that didn't make the original episode.After going back thru all the footage, many of these shots would have made the original cut if I had more time to fine-tune. Enjoy guys !!!Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Sand Art Landscapes 4K | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-09-02 | A sand picture consists of two panes of glass glued together creating an air tight seal.Liquid, sand, and small pockets of air live inside the glass.Rotating the sand picture will cause the air bubbles inside the glass to rise. Creating an air barrier between the liquid & sand. The sand will eventually start to squeeze itself through the air bubbles. More air inside the glass = slower avalanche of sand. Less air inside the glass = faster avalanche of sand. Air can be regulated with a small blunt syringe needle. I used 3 different sand art picture frames. 1) Pink Frame (3.5 x 6 inches) I purchased at the store "5 and Below" for 3 dollars a few months ago. I went back there to see if they had more, but they no longer had them in-stock. (worked really well, liquid was blue which actually helped sell the effect when adding in different backgrounds.)2) Westminster Sandscapes (the one seen briefly that created multiple hills) 15-20 dollars 3) Aurora Borealis Movie Sand Art, by Rainbow Vision 8.5 x 13 inches , 75 dollars The larger frame made all the difference for allowing me to use my wide angle lens to help achieve a deeper focus. It came with a picture in the background. I took picture out and then taped down the edges in the back so the glass would have support. I plan to make my own sand art picture frame in the near future. I searched the web for some DIY tutorials but didn't find any.Let me know if you guys have any suggestions on building a Sand Art picture frame. Filmed with the Sony FS7 with Super 35 sensor Filmed resolution of 4096x2160 at 60fpsMusic by: Big Fok In Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Bubble Prism Planets | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-07-27 | Bubbles act like a prism, reflecting the basic colors of the Cosmos. White light coming in is composed of all the colors of the rainbow and based on the thickness of the film all the different colors refract off in a different way, just like a prism we get the whole spectrum in every bubble.The best way to see this first hand is to get a large soft light to put the bubble in front of. A diffused sky works the best, but using large soft boxes with bounce cards and white fabric will create similar results. Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Star-Fields out of Dust Particles | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-07-09 | Learn how to create majestic "in-camera" star-fields with a flashlight, paper towel, and a plate of glass. So simple, but yet so effective. Please share your star-fields with us !!!Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
SHANKS FX Ambient Mix | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-07-02 | A collection of the various clips, effects, and composites of many Shanks FX episodes. Set it to loop and play it in the background at parties and when you have company over. Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Working with Proxy files for 4K | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-06-23 | I recently purchased a Sony FS7 4K camera. I'm getting accustomed to it and expect some really cool stuff in the coming weeks.The biggest change to working with this camera is the 4K workflow. Proxies files are imperative and in this video I'm going show you how to make proxy files. I've never really used proxies in the past so if you guys have any tips please let me know.In Association with PBS Digital Studios
Detail Preserving Upscale in After Effects | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-06-10 | I recently was made aware of the "Detail Preserving Upscale" filter / effect in After Effects CC. This effect allows you to zoom in on your shot without losing too much detail & resolution. I think this effect is best served with 4K footage shot at 10,12, and 16bit resolution. But this technique will still provide pretty good results with 1080p 8 bit footage. Let me know what you guys think !!!Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
How to Turn a Stroller Into a Dolly | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-05-29 | If it has wheels, there's a pretty good chance I'm going try and make a dolly out of it. So after our baby shower, I started looking at our very nice new stroller (thanks sis!) , and took some test drives around our wood floors. It handled really well better than other crazy devices I've used in the past to create dolly moves. Have you used anything unusual to create a nice smooth dolly move? Let me know in the comments! And make sure to subscribe!Music this week: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Bungee Gimbal Stabilizer | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-05-22 | This episode I try and create a Bungee Gimbal Stabilizer mount for my car. I wanted to get some smooth POV shots of me driving and thought attaching bungee cords throughout my car to an HDSLR cage could do the trick.The Bungee Gimbal mount worked well and even works better when you apply the "warp stabilizer" in After Effects or Premiere to your shot.Also, I do have my seat belt on, I just had to put my arm over the shoulder strap b/c that part of the belt was going over my lavalier mic.Music by: Big FokIn Association with PBS Digital Studios
Recreating the AURORA BOREALIS | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-05-13 | We attempt to create the Aurora Borealis with a sheet of fabric & a handful of fans. We discovered that throwing the image a little out of focus really creates a believable visual effect that can be composited into a scene to create the Aurora. This week music by: Big FokIn Association with PBS Digital Studios
SPECTRUM concept trailer | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-05-11 | SPECTRUM is a narrative short film that will be rooted in real-life science that pertains to lightning and the visible spectrum of light. We are also making this for the Giant Screen & IMAX® theaters. We hope to make a collection of Shanks FX episodes that will serve as a template for aspiring filmmakers who may want to try and get there film screened on these "giant screens." Music in this video: Starcadian & Must Be the Holy GhostIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
Story Inception | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-04-15 | After 3 years, I've come up with a concept for the next film I want to make. It will deal with supernatural weather & lightning. I find when a certain idea or topic sparks your interest, it is important to get all of those ideas out of your head and onto a piece of paper. Everybody has different techniques, please share how you guys jot down ideas when inspiration strikes !!!In Association with PBS Digital Studios
Full Sensor vs. Crop Sensor | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios Shanks FX 2015-04-08 | Check out some comparisons between my crop sensor Canon 60d and my full sensor Canon 5d Mark II.I enjoy using both of my Canon HDSLR and feel like I double my lens collection because I can get a totally different look with the same lens used on either of my full or crop sensor cameras.To find out what kind of focal length & field of view your crop sensor camera has with a particular lens simply take the (focal length of lens X 1.6) = crop sensor focal length (just make sure your not using a crop sensor lens when doing this equation)So if you are shooting with a 50MM lens on a crop sensor camera, you are essentially shooting with an 80MM lens. Music by: Big FokIn Association with: PBS Digital Studios
