i want to make one character transperant and another solid. There will be a shot where the ghost reaches into a man's chest to stop his heart. I need to know how to shoot and edit this.
how to make a ghost
- Thread starter seth.craven
- Start date
Shoot the "real" character acting alone, then have them leave the frame and without moving the camera, shoot the "Ghost" performing their action with the other actor standing where they were before. Using After effects, Shake, Nuke or just a garbage matte in FCP, PP, Vegas or Avid, add the second layer of footage above the first and drop its opacity to 50% or so and use the matte (or rotoshape) to mask the hand where it overlaps the "real" character so you can ghost it over the bottom layer of footage. You'll probably end up with these layers of footage:
50% opacity - just the ghosted Hand where it overlaps the "real" actor
---------------------------------
50% opacity - ghosted actor cropped at the point where they reach "into" the other actor's chest
---------------------------------
100% opacity - "real" actor
50% opacity - just the ghosted Hand where it overlaps the "real" actor
---------------------------------
50% opacity - ghosted actor cropped at the point where they reach "into" the other actor's chest
---------------------------------
100% opacity - "real" actor
And now you will be able to pick up 'Best Special FX' in any 48hr Film Festival! 
No but really...funny story...we submitted a 48hr film which houses composite explosions, muzzle flashes, CG bullet squibbing and ejecting casings, including other details...all looking pretty darn good for a two day film (or any indie film)...and a film that had a ghost effect in it took home 'Best Special FX.'
True story.
Here is our submission for reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5cd...E58B2C73&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=18
Now picture a simple ghosting effect taking the award over the above short...a lot of people were pretty ticked-off.
No but really...funny story...we submitted a 48hr film which houses composite explosions, muzzle flashes, CG bullet squibbing and ejecting casings, including other details...all looking pretty darn good for a two day film (or any indie film)...and a film that had a ghost effect in it took home 'Best Special FX.'
True story.
Here is our submission for reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5cd...E58B2C73&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=18
Now picture a simple ghosting effect taking the award over the above short...a lot of people were pretty ticked-off.
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