Jerry Bruckheimer effect question

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Level 2

215 points

Jerry Bruckheimer effect question

OK, OK, I know a lot of people don't like his and Michael Bay's movies...but I was wondering something:

Next time you see one of their movies, look at the sky...there's an effect where half the sky is dark (or saturated...a different color?) than the rest of the sky...usually the top half. Is this something done in-camera with the film or an effect done in post? You can see it in "The Rock", "Days of Thunder", and pretty much any action movie in that genre. Anyone know what I mean? I would think it's some kind of mask or solid composited on that half of the sky. Am I right? I just like trying to figure this stuff out.

I tried a search for "Bruckheimer" or "Bay" and found nothing.

Just wonderin'.

Jonathan

Power Mac G5 2.0, Mac OS X (10.4.8), 1GB RAM, FCP 5.1.2 (Studio), nVIDIA GeForce 6600, Canon XL2

Posted on Feb 21, 2007 3:49 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 21, 2007 3:59 PM in response to 8Lincoln30

Try googling for graduated sky filter or gradient filter. It's a classic photographic effect. I've got drawer full of Hoya gradient filters.

Easily done with a gradient and a compositing mode of choice.

bogiesan

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Answer 2

loyed256

Level 4

2,265 points

Feb 21, 2007 4:00 PM in response to 8Lincoln30

Look at some of the filmlook plug in packages. I have Magic Bullet and they have a very similar effect. One of them out there even calls it the Michael Bay look I think I think.... most all of that is done in post I would think as you have so much more control. But it does cost $$.

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Answer 3

Da Nam

Level 4

1,115 points

Feb 21, 2007 4:31 PM in response to 8Lincoln30

Video generators - render - custom gradient. Place it above the clip of your choice. Double click the custom gradient, click the controls tab, change the gradient direction to 0 (i.e 12 o'clock), control click the gradient and choose composite mode - multiply.
Change the colour/experiment at will.

Dave

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Answer 4

Feb 21, 2007 5:37 PM in response to 8Lincoln30

It's a bit off, but Stu Maschwitz (thanks Patrick) built a plugin for after effects called eLin. It was a way to help deal deal with HDR stuff prior to AE 7. In the first tutorial for eLin, he does this treatment to a sky - it's pretty cool. Check the Red Giant Software site to find it. Or maybe just google it. You also may be able to find it via prolost, Stu's blog.
Yo.

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Answer 5

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Feb 21, 2007 5:43 PM in response to Kenneth Ecker

If we start calling the use of Graduated Filters the "Jerry Bruckheimer Effect" I will quit these boards...

Ken Burns is bad enough (thanks Apple for using that in iMovie!).

Shane

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Answer 6

Bolex

Level 1

0 points

Feb 22, 2007 12:54 AM in response to Shane Ross

use the graduated filter, then add the pro-arc filter to change the colours.

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Answer 7

Feb 22, 2007 2:59 AM in response to Da Nam

What ever color change you do, do not forget to check the Videoscopes for the correct video levels.

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Answer 8

James M.

Level 4

1,977 points

Feb 22, 2007 3:04 AM in response to Shane Ross

Ha ha! funny...

What about the Joel Schumacher effect?

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Answer 9

8Lincoln30 Author

Level 2

215 points

Feb 22, 2007 5:36 AM in response to 8Lincoln30

Thanks for the replies, folks. I just didn't know the name of the filter: graduated filter. Great.

And to Shane: I hope I didn't start a trend. I would feel EXTREMELY bad if it caught on. I'm not a fan of calling animated keyframes the "Ken Burns effect" either. 🙂

Jonathan

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Answer 10

Maxx Power

Level 5

4,926 points

Feb 22, 2007 5:51 AM in response to 8Lincoln30

oh, i thought the Jerry Bruckheimer effect was to make a mediocre movie that makes millions.

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Answer 11

Zebulun

Level 5

6,749 points

Feb 22, 2007 6:01 AM in response to Maxx Power

mediocrity is a level to be strived for in his case. however, he's doing it and making a ton of money and having fun and i'm not so more power to the guy.

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Answer 12

8Lincoln30 Author

Level 2

215 points

Feb 22, 2007 11:46 AM in response to Maxx Power

oh, i thought the Jerry Bruckheimer effect was to
make a mediocre movie that makes millions.

HA! NICE! Truth be told, though, his movies are good "popcorn" movies...get a box o' popcorn and just let your mind wander with the eye candy. Hasn't done a lot of good stuff since Don Simpson died. Best stuff, IMHO, was 'Beverly Hills Cop' (the 1st one).

Jonathan

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Answer 13

RedTruck

Level 4

2,145 points

Feb 22, 2007 11:52 AM in response to 8Lincoln30

He'd been around for about eight or nine years as a producer before BHCop, but the first I remember was American Gigilo, the next was Flashdance.

And like Zeb said, he's been doing what most of us dream of doing. And people still pay money to see his movies. No one ever paid me a million to see any of my shorts...

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Answer 14

Maxx Power

Level 5

4,926 points

Feb 22, 2007 12:01 PM in response to RedTruck

Hey I didn't say that i didn't like his flicks. Honestly a couple of his are definitely guilty pleasures of mine. I'm definitely not hatin on him or anyone else living the dream whether I like their work or not.

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Answer 15

RedTruck

Level 4

2,145 points

Feb 22, 2007 12:01 PM in response to Maxx Power

I like a couple too, but I think I like his logo better than his movies.

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