Introduce Yourself : Writer, Director, Editor, Actor, Nutella Lover by Jesus Diez Perez

Welcome, Jesus! You sound incredibly busy and productive. Good luck with your projects!

Thank you, Emma! I'm trying, I'm trying What are you up to??

Welcome to Stage 32 Jesus. Being creative over there across our pond I see. You sound like you are keeping very busy with some great work, just don't get Nutella over your scripts. M.J

Some things cannot be helped, James... Nutella oll over the place is one of them.

Hi Jesus, I'm finishing up a feature, thinking about my next project, as well as writing for TV in Australia. Keeping busy!

Sounds great, Emma. What's the movie about? Genre?

Welcome to Stage 32, Jesus!

Hi there Jesus from a fellow Nutella lover! VFX compositing, what a great skill to have for making short films (or long films! :) ) I do sketch comedy on my YouTube channel as well as short films. I recently tried morphing something and let's just say it wasn't as easy as it looks! I have huge respect for people who have VFX skills. Nice to meet you!

Thank you, Jake!

Hi Janet. Sorry but the Nutella is MINE! Maybe the best thing I learnt while doing VFX is "never use VFX in your own short films". It's a pain. If you want, let me have a look at the shot and maybe I can advise. I don't usually do morphs but hey. It all depends on how complex the shot is (camera move, actor move...). It can be very easy or hell. Jesus.

I wish they would finally create a Nutella with dark chocolate and less nougat. =)

Welcome to Stage 32, Jesus.

You're welcome, Jesus!

Welcome, Jesus

Hey Jesus thanks for the offer about VFX advice, I seriously might take you up on that in the future! We got the shot done, it wasn't exactly "high end", but for my purposes I think it did the job. I was happy enough with the result after adding some "lightning flashes". The link is here if you want to look. https://youtu.be/pXCxzSc7WWY Not a Hollywood production by any means, but I think it was fine for low/no budget. :) I would like to use morphing for other short films but I don't know that there is a very easy way that looks reasonable. -Note to self, keep Nutella safe-guarded when around Jesus.

Janet, nothing will keep your Nutella safe from me... it happened before... it will happen again... (dramatic music and lightning in the background). I saw the video and I see what you mean. Story wise it works. Technically it could be better. In my opinion sometimes we get stucked with technology as in "I have to use morphing"... do you, really? I know it's done now and it's fine, but to be honest, in your shot I wouldn't have used morph at all. I think those flashes you had could be used to CUT to the young girl. It would work the same and with less morph problems. If you want to enhance mystery you can even go the other way: lights off (with some FX sparks coming from the ceiling). Then she uses a lighter and we see parts of her, she looks younger, but is she? Then suddenly lights come on and she screams! She's young! Just ideas. My point is think about the technology you want to use after you know the effect you want to get on the audience or the story point you want to express. There are many options to get the same result, some cheaper than others, often as good.

Good to know, Diane!! Thanks for the link.

Jesus, thanks for the input, and I totally agree about the morphing. It was the first time I've used it in a sketch and realized pretty quickly that the end result was going to be a bit hokey. I've seen some great morphing and would love to be able to use it - however, I am also realizing there are some extensive budgets involved in some of those great morphing effects! Originally the ideas you mentioned were the type of thing I had planned to do - switch to the woman's pov, put her hands over "her face" i.e. the camera - go to black, then some sort of flash and then the mirror shot. I could still do an alternate version if I wanted to. But then I think hmm my hair didn't really match hers, nor does my skin tone yada yada... There are a few things I'd do differently if I reshot it. What I like about doing a weekly upload is that it forces me to do something, even if it's not the exact vision I might ultimately want. And in doing that I keep learning. Thanks again for taking the time to offer your thoughts, I appreciate that! And btw I have 3 Nutella-protecting dogs so I think my Nutella is secure. Well I hope so...

Think again, Janet, think again (about the Nutella). Anyway if you want to try the morphing again I'd suggest splitting the image as much as you can. Like you can isolate the hands and morph them, then face, hair.... maybe not all at the same time to make it more organic. That way you get better results. Morph has big problems when you work with elements that are not at the same depth.

I tried morphing with a free software and it looked even more terrible. A friend of mine did the version I uploaded, which was better but still not a "convincing" morph. To be honest, I would probably outsource it if I wanted to do it again or on my low to no budget I'd probably come up with an alternative way to do it. What you said about splitting and isolating the image, but not at the same time, is good to know and makes sense. What software would you recommend if I try it in future? I am on an Imac and I use FCP 7 for editing. I'd love to learn more about VFX but there is sometimes just not enough time in the day for everything! I just watched Episodes 1 and 2 of your "Flatmates" - funny stuff! I love it.

So you are the quintuple threat with that jar of Nutella

Julianne... I am... the one who knocks... the jar of Nutella.

Great post, Jesus! Way to network the work.

Terrific Introduce Yourself post!

Thank you RB. Nutella references always work.

That gave me a great laugh, Jesus.

Great stuff dude! Hopefully we can work together on something in the future. All the best from the R.E.P Knights.

Hey Jesus! I would love to see your work too because I believe we have a lot in common! I also wrote a family/musical/animated comedy with rap music! Maybe we can talk and connect some time!!! Yay for Nutella!

Hi Jesus, just wanted to say thanks again. I've passed on all of your morphing feedback to another VFX enthusiast who is going to take another crack at it for a film festival entry. Will see what he comes up with. :)

David, this is spamming and not accepted here. This the lounge is for discussions and introductions and you spoil this introduction which is disrespectful. Additionally you promote a competitive website to Stage 32 here which is disrespectful too - and extremely idiotic. Please stop spamming us here. Thanks.

And he was promoting, um, enhancement pills. Suspended. Thanks, Elisabeth.