Video and Sound Production / Final Project

 18.06.2025--23.07.2025 ( Week 9 - Week 14)

WANG JINYI / 0374697

VSP60104 / Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Final Project

TABLE OF CONTENT

Instructions

Task

Feedback

Reflection

INSTRUCTIONS

TASK

Visual Effect Exercise

By Week 9, it was time to start our final project: creating a VFX (visual effects) video. In class, we learned how to use Adobe After Effects to create a “people flying” effect. We practiced using the Roto Brush tool to cut out a person, adjust their position along the motion path, scale them down, and tweak the timeline to make the movement look natural. This exercise was very useful because we applied the same techniques later in our own project.

Final Project /VFX

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Behind the Scenes

Scouting the filming location.

Working on edits together.

Final Video Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/wuGqjVTlbrk

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.

REFLECTION

Experience

Working on this VFX project was both exciting and challenging. It was my first time using Adobe After Effects for a full production, so tools like Roto Brush, motion tracking, and keyframing felt intimidating at first. But after practice and applying these techniques to our project, I gained confidence and enjoyed the creative process. Team collaboration was also a valuable experience—we shared ideas, divided tasks, and supported each other throughout filming and editing.

Observation

Pre-production planning is crucial. Our storyboard and shot list helped us stay organized, but we still had to make quick adjustments during filming due to lighting and location challenges. I also noticed that fixed camera shots are essential for cloning effects; even small shakes can make compositing difficult. For the flying paper effect, details like adding curl and motion blur make the effect look more realistic and less artificial.

Findings

From this project, I learned that VFX requires both creativity and technical precision. Planning ahead is just as important as editing because a simple mistake during filming can cost hours in post-production. Even a short 60-second video involves multiple stages: scripting, filming, rough cut, fine cut, VFX, and color grading. Time management is critical because VFX can be very time-consuming.