Group member: Hao Tan / Jiawen Yin
This real time compositing project we made aim to create some twist humor feature into the story, that could make our theme and producing process become more funny and playful, reminds us back to childhood period, and because of these interested parts, that we can finish this project with more motivation and joy.
- Few month ago
- while I was struggling my mess internship things which made me feel streesful and anxious for a long period of time.
- and at this time, Jiawen asked me if I would like to do this project with him, do a tiny collaboration for a better effect and efficiency. so, why not?
Before we start to have a brainstorm, Jiawen told me he wanna create something looks more attractively funny in this project, leave the deep notions away, just a pure joyable practice, so we stay together create our first camera film sketch for the AIR-FLIGHT WAR!!!
- according to Jiawen’s describ about the goal, I drow some basic camera film as reference.
After discussion, we immediately take action, collect amount of paperboard as materials create a huge plane prop
2. creation is really made everyone enjoyable, bring lots of memories and joy to us while producing prop
PRODUCING
We went to Pondland to pick up some essential tools — scissors, rolls of tape, and a hot glue gun. That evening, we spent almost the entire night cutting, gluing, and assembling the cardboard boxes piled up at home. By the end, we had built a massive cardboard “airplane” — a clumsy but delightful toy that set the stage for the rest of the project. Special thanks to Peiyao, whose background in manufacturing engineering helped us reinforce the structure and make the airplane much sturdier and more reliable
- me and Jiawen Peiyao were doing paperboard airplane
FILMING
We first scouted the school’s green screen studio. The setup was impressive, but it lacked one crucial element — natural sunlight. We tried to recreate the effect with studio lights, but it just didn’t capture the atmosphere I had in mind. In the end, we bought a piece of green fabric from a materials store and decided to shoot on my apartment balcony instead. This solution not only gave us natural light but also saved us the trouble of moving the giant cardboard airplane back and forth.
2. shooting with IPhone
Modeling
I was responsible for modeling the enemy airplanes in 3D, which were then composited into the shots to battle against my cardboard plane. While our main aircraft was physically built from cardboard, the opposing planes existed entirely in digital form. This approach saved us the effort of physically building multiple props and added greater depth and intensity to the dogfight sequences.
Editing, Voiceover & AI Integration
One of the biggest challenges in editing was achieving the illusion of a continuous long take, even though our footage was shot in segments. I used AI tools to smooth out the subtle differences between shots, creating a seamless “one-take” effect.
How to control AI to generate a video which pair the idea in my mind? That is a huge challenge, cuz once we import a tiny wrong detail, then there might appear uncontrol variaty（velocity, lighting, shape, direction, background, even the position of character’s hand need to be under control). So before decribe a story used to generation, we need to set up how’s the first key frame and the last key frame look like. Adding more detail to clear what kind of flow, plot and effect we want. then add more prohibited entry according relatively successful AI video until it makes perfect!
I also dominated the whole audio work — including the airplane’s engine roar, bullet trails, explosion sound effects, and even voiceover — my contribution tied the visuals and sound together, significantly enhancing the film’s overall sense of immersion.
Thought:
do a collaboration work with someone who can take responsibility is a really enjoyable thing for both of us. super appraciate that Jiawen’s idea can bring this project more vitality and energy. That really saved me from a dark period, not only less pressure, but also reminded me some pure soul inside. We can do anything just for fun. Putting those fantastical imaginations from childhood into video synthesis is also a way of realizing dreams.