If I Can Dream

If I Dream It, It Will Come

On That Note...

For fun, I changed up the audio to include an excerpt of "If I Can Dream." This required finding lyrics that matched the lip syncing pretty darn close. Turned out not bad, not bad at all, if I do say so myself.

It All Starts With Animation

Before other priority lighting projects came up, this was to be my first animated scene to light. This is a collaboration with animator, Ender Perez-Lopez.

Study the Source

Having settled on the 1968 Elvis Comeback Special as a reference, in the early stages of scene research, Illumination's Sing, was a contender.

After discussing ideas with one of my mentors, Matt Hicks, we decided to do the live Elvis version. Why? To be able to light a 3D scene that would theoretically be able to seamlessly cut between CG and live action. There's a good challenge in that!

Setting the Scene

Having watched Elvis' video many, many times, I found the perfect section on which to base the camera angle in order for the animation to retain its amazingness.

maya_v09_r01 Every 20 frames. Camera set up. No lighting.

Elvis - If I Can Dream reference frames

The Pigment Factor

Dark skin has its own specialness to keep in mind when lighting. Though Elvio is based off a Puerto Rican skin type, it is on the darker side. To help determine the proper specular, I used three scenes from Pixar's "Soul."

katana..v32_r01_seq_w_hair21-84_noCA_055

Value Check

The ELVIO sign is a bit too bright. In order to get the same value as the reference, took away color and did some fine tuning to get the values right. It is a slight change but makes a huge difference.

In comp will add a touch of glow to the sign and a bit of camera shake.

Save Energy, Turn Off the Lights

When I was young, my dad was huge on saving energy. In fact, if we left our room even for a second we were required to turn off the light. If we didn't, he would take our lightbulb for a week! (A apropos punishment really.) To this day, I am very conscious about energy efficiency.

Originally used instancing for each globe of light, but was coming across a few issues when bringing over as USD. Besides, that is a whole lot of geo.

As a lighter, to be more efficient, using a mask and applying emission gives the exact effect of lights for the ELVIO sign without the weight of additional geo and lights or longer render time. No lightbulb required.

What do you think of that, Dad?

Create an image mask.

Connect mask to the emission of the geo. Adjust attributes and voila! Insta-lights.

Elvio in the Spotlight

Just as in real life, because Elvio moves across the scene, a gaffer would be sure the spotlight would follow him across the stage. In 3D, creating a "follow spot" using locators and offsets that follow the character provides a more seamless and realistic look.