Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

Hey guys, I've got part of the movie I made with a friend of mine on this website, its just a quick clip test shot of visual FX we did. It's a head chopping off scene. There isn't any blood yet, but I want to know what you guys think. Does the head look fake? Does the whole thing look fake? I've been staring at it for so long, it all looks the same. I'd appreciate any feedback about it. Thanks guys.

http://homepage.mac.com/michaelcorvin/i ... ter12.html

NOTE: All that follows is meant to be constructive. Any criticism of creative output stings, and feels like a vicious attack. I've been on the receiving end, and it's no fun, even if you've asked for it.

Here we go.

[adjusts Shalit Movi-Spex(tm) and pastes on Official Tarantino Funni-Patch(tm) Facefuzz]

The departure of the head from the shoulders is convincing, although it's all very dark (not necessarily a bad thing, and less so on a screen more than 3 inches across ). Once the head's loose, the trajectory is a bit of a problem-- it's like the bugger's on a rocket. While 100% realism isn't hugely exciting, if the physics are a little closer to what we live with, it'll be all the more convincing. I know there's some dojo sites online with tameshigiri practice videos, which could be useful references. Finally, that red-shirt chap who shows up to get kicked kind of muddies the scene; I'm not quite sure what to do about it other than adjust the camera placement (with the attendant pain-in-bum of reshooting), but as it stands it's a bit like one of the crew stood up before cut was called and gets a boot to the head for getting into frame. Of course, if there's a previous shot establishing where he's coming from, that's a non-issue.

It should be quite the spectacle when the gore's processed in.

I think the scene looks cool, but I gotta agree with the whole trajctory thing. If you're going for reality, the head probably wouldn't fall behind the swordsman given the direction of the swordstroke (right to left). It most likely would fall in front of him. Also, the angle of the stroke (looks like an upward stroke) probably wouldn't produce such a horizontal cut across the neck, but more of an angular cut starting at maybe the bottom of the neck and going through the side of his face. My 2 cents. Keep in mind that I'm no expert in decapitation