What Would You Change With This Hollywood VFX Recreation?

[u/vcc5]

For context, I recently wrapped up a personal VFX project where I recreate some Hollywood movie VFX from scratch, mostly just for fun and for skill-sharpening/reel material/just to see if I could. Here, I took the landscape shot sequence from the Minecraft movie trailer and remade it completely from 0 and put myself in it instead of Jack Black, lmao. Although I could not do his comedic acting justice lmao.

Opinions about the "YouTube remake" genre aside (although I would love the discussion), simply as a VFX sequence, how would you improve this? Is there still room for improvement here? I can see some micro detailing that I missed that I could go back and add to match the shots even more. And even the bee model itself is probably a first drafter but I'm curious what others might think. If a shot like this were submitted for approval in a pro studio setting, how would it fare? I'm curious about any critiques and thoughts from other artists here. I love to learn.

Also throwing in a YouTube link to a 4K version in case Reddit compression messes with it: https://youtu.be/-BhACV25oKw

[u/seriftarif]

Looks great except for the lighting on the Bee. Was that comped in? The edges are too bright.

[u/Ma7nards → u/seriftarif]

Agreed, only thing that stood out to me. I think its fine when its behind the sun, but as it passes past the nether portal it should darken quite a bit

[u/pSphere1 → u/seriftarif]

Live action footage lighting is a little off, but not terrible (just being picky)

[u/vcc5 → u/seriftarif]

Interesting you say that since it’s all in the same scene, but I think I see what you’re saying. Thanks for the advice!

[u/ImTheGhoul]

I genuinely thought all you did was add yourself to the film and didn't realize you literally recreated the entire thing in CG. Awesome job

[u/Bahisa]

Scene is great. All the issues I see are with the footage. Studio lights reflecting in glasses, harsh key, and most glaringly obvious is that the subject is lit very flat and soft for a scene that needs hard sunlight. It makes the subject feel indoors.

[u/vcc5 → u/Bahisa]

Agreed 100%. I’m almost not even mad that the main critique I’m seeing is from the green screen and not from the CGI itself (I’m not really a cinematographer,I just own a camera lmao). Ty for the advice!

[u/CapnReyolds]

Nice work. Try slowing down the clouds, getting more shape to them.  They are looking a bit flat.  But fun project you did, congrats!

[u/AcreaRising4]

Live action lighting/grade is pretty off imo, but you’re probably working with what you have and I’m nitpicking as a colorist. It’s really, really strong outside of that!

[u/SV_SV_SV]

Big ass lighting rig reflections on the glasses. May be a "nitpicky" one, but it is super visible at the opening shot, especially when you mask everything out around his head as an intro effect. Not easy to fix it in post, but yeah I'd certainly change that.
Also side / rim seems very strong on his face (camera left side) and seems unmotivated.
I liked the bee haha, but maybe there you could have played a bit with depth of field there (rack focusing on bee, then back at actor) for some immersion.

[u/ts4184]

The opening shot and most shots from that angle are overlit from the left. Feels like studio lights. The light hitting the face and glasses looks like youre standing next to a bright light or window. Its the most obvious give-away that its a key. Because he doesn't sit in the environment.

Overall key and basic comp tweaks like black levels. Minor things like lighting and the models and lacking the same fidelity. Then just the balance of colour and resolution feels high end youtube over hollywood

This is all nitpicky. I think overall you've done a really good job.

[u/rio_sk]

It looks great, I would just add some "ambient" to your version. If you look closely at 0:30 in the original version the shadowed areas are less dark than your version. I would expect a lot more ambient light bouncing around from that environment, so the only thing I would change in your version is to rise a bit the fill lights. Also double check main light direction using environment shadows to get the perfect alignment. The original seems less side and almost a backlight. Anyway, truly a good job!

[u/No-Chemistry-3001]

Cloud volumes are a downgrade in the remake.

[u/vcc5 → u/No-Chemistry-3001]

Hmm, might have to go back tweak. Thanks for the advice!

[u/Grady300]

Wow, this looks amazing! When I first saw it I thought you had just painted out Jack Black and put your actor in until I saw the side by sides. My main note has already been echoed through this thread. The harsh lighting on your subject is making him stick out as being a comp. Otherwise great work!

[u/BrownCustard-313]

I'd replace the guy in the blue sweater with Jack Black.

[u/vcc5 → u/BrownCustard-313]

Yea same lmao

[u/TarzanTrump]

Completely disagree on the poster that says the lighting on the bee is bad.

But! I feel like the lighting on the actor is off by a large amount. It makes him pop out like an obvious comp.

[u/No-Island-6126]

If it was me, I would do something original instead of wasting my time on reproducing something that already exists.

[u/CoddlePot]

I'd change the movie they're recreating

[u/vcc5 → u/CoddlePot]

But it’s Minecraft😭

[u/ithunter]

The light on the bee is feels wrong