The practicality of alien costumes for a Mass Effect movie (fan-made or otherwise)
Feb 16, 2017 22:29:01 GMT
Post by N7Pathfinder on Feb 16, 2017 22:29:01 GMT
I'm a firm believer of the idea that if a movie can be done practically, you should try and do it practically. Whether it's building a set, designing a prop, and especially a costume.
That being said, I realize that often times physical limitations prevent filmmakers from doing everything practical and may require some CG. Some times the desired set is too big so green screen's required to expand on it, and sometimes if a character is too alien, CG is used. This may apply to a Mass Effect movie, whether it be a low-budget fan-film (which I want to do) or a big-budget Hollywood film (which I wish will happen)
One of the reasons my preferred director for a Mass Effect movie is JJ Abrams is because he has proven to make not one, but TWO epic sci-fi franchise movies with the most practical effects he can get. I'd like to think about what would be done for the alien costumes in regards to a Mass Effect movie. I'll basically be going over each alien species and give my thoughts on whether it should be tackled with practical effects or CG in both a low-budget film and a big-budget film.
- Asari: This is easy. Practical. Asari are the most humanoid out of all the aliens, with the same human facial structures. All a movie has to do is design a hair-tentacle head piece, and apply full body make-up to the actresses. Now granted in a low-budget film, whether the hair-tentacles are CG or practical depends on the level of creativity on the filmmakers part. If he/she knows someone who can sculpt a headpiece well for them, good. Otherwise, a 3d model would be designed on a computer and then motion captured on the actress' head. Again though, that's only for a low-budget.
- Turian: I've seen Turian cosplays on the internet, and most of the time, they are very well done! So making a practical costume for a Turian is definitely possible for both a high-budget or a low-budget movie. Now granted one thing I haven't seen done well yet is a costume that can move it's jaws to allow actors to speak, but I do believe it is possible. For a low-budget film however, this again is based on how skilled with physical costume designing the filmmaker is. If they can't make a good looking costume, nor know anyone who can design one, CG with motion capture may be the better option.
- Salarian: CG is definitely going to be used. I realize Salarians have a fairly human structure, but they do have structures that a human can't replicate. They are much skinnier than humans, with a much more narrower head and large eyes. When I saw a cosplay of a salarian, it looked pretty silly. So Salarians will probably have to be CG, or at the very least, there heads should be, maybe their long fingers too.
- Quarian: It's just a person inside a specially designed suit! Of course practical! But for a low-budget maker, it too depends on whether they can get a suit designed. That being said, it's possible CG may have to be used for their hands and feet, though I have seen work arounds in cosplays.
- Krogan: Is it possible to make a practical Krogan costume? Yes. Is it possible to make a practical Krogan costume that can talk without looking like a cheap puppet? Probably not. Unless you have a super high budget and a talented team of engineers at least! For low budget, you may have to stick with CG.
- Volus: Unless you can cast really small actors, I would say just use CG.
- Elcor: An Elcor costume could be made (just look at that giant lizard thing from Force Awakens on Jakku), if you had a high enough budget and enough ingenuity. Otherwise, CG.
- Hanar: CG. I mean, how can you pull that look off realistically?
- Drell: Make-up and practical effects can definitely be used. For low-budget, this again depends on the skill.
- Vorcha: Either practical effects or CG depending on the skill.
- Batarian: see Vorcha.
- Reapers: a mixture. Make-up for husks. Mixed for cannibals, Marauders, and Banshees. Full CG for Brutes and the giant ships.
Got some opinions of your own? List them here? Have a talent for designing costumes? Let me know, I'm going to need help later on.
That being said, I realize that often times physical limitations prevent filmmakers from doing everything practical and may require some CG. Some times the desired set is too big so green screen's required to expand on it, and sometimes if a character is too alien, CG is used. This may apply to a Mass Effect movie, whether it be a low-budget fan-film (which I want to do) or a big-budget Hollywood film (which I wish will happen)
One of the reasons my preferred director for a Mass Effect movie is JJ Abrams is because he has proven to make not one, but TWO epic sci-fi franchise movies with the most practical effects he can get. I'd like to think about what would be done for the alien costumes in regards to a Mass Effect movie. I'll basically be going over each alien species and give my thoughts on whether it should be tackled with practical effects or CG in both a low-budget film and a big-budget film.
- Asari: This is easy. Practical. Asari are the most humanoid out of all the aliens, with the same human facial structures. All a movie has to do is design a hair-tentacle head piece, and apply full body make-up to the actresses. Now granted in a low-budget film, whether the hair-tentacles are CG or practical depends on the level of creativity on the filmmakers part. If he/she knows someone who can sculpt a headpiece well for them, good. Otherwise, a 3d model would be designed on a computer and then motion captured on the actress' head. Again though, that's only for a low-budget.
- Turian: I've seen Turian cosplays on the internet, and most of the time, they are very well done! So making a practical costume for a Turian is definitely possible for both a high-budget or a low-budget movie. Now granted one thing I haven't seen done well yet is a costume that can move it's jaws to allow actors to speak, but I do believe it is possible. For a low-budget film however, this again is based on how skilled with physical costume designing the filmmaker is. If they can't make a good looking costume, nor know anyone who can design one, CG with motion capture may be the better option.
- Salarian: CG is definitely going to be used. I realize Salarians have a fairly human structure, but they do have structures that a human can't replicate. They are much skinnier than humans, with a much more narrower head and large eyes. When I saw a cosplay of a salarian, it looked pretty silly. So Salarians will probably have to be CG, or at the very least, there heads should be, maybe their long fingers too.
- Quarian: It's just a person inside a specially designed suit! Of course practical! But for a low-budget maker, it too depends on whether they can get a suit designed. That being said, it's possible CG may have to be used for their hands and feet, though I have seen work arounds in cosplays.
- Krogan: Is it possible to make a practical Krogan costume? Yes. Is it possible to make a practical Krogan costume that can talk without looking like a cheap puppet? Probably not. Unless you have a super high budget and a talented team of engineers at least! For low budget, you may have to stick with CG.
- Volus: Unless you can cast really small actors, I would say just use CG.
- Elcor: An Elcor costume could be made (just look at that giant lizard thing from Force Awakens on Jakku), if you had a high enough budget and enough ingenuity. Otherwise, CG.
- Hanar: CG. I mean, how can you pull that look off realistically?
- Drell: Make-up and practical effects can definitely be used. For low-budget, this again depends on the skill.
- Vorcha: Either practical effects or CG depending on the skill.
- Batarian: see Vorcha.
- Reapers: a mixture. Make-up for husks. Mixed for cannibals, Marauders, and Banshees. Full CG for Brutes and the giant ships.
Got some opinions of your own? List them here? Have a talent for designing costumes? Let me know, I'm going to need help later on.
Be seeing you.
