Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Creation of Everything Everywhere All At Once
In the world of cinema, the Oscar-winning movie "Everything Everywhere All At Once" has left audiences in awe with its otherworldly creativity and DIY approach. At the heart of this visual masterpiece lies a small team of VFX artists and directors, who relied on a unique combination of tools to create complex shots efficiently without relying heavily on 3D modeling.
The visual effects team, led by first-time VFX Supervisor Zak Stoltz, primarily used Adobe After Effects along with Mocha Pro and Continuum plugins. Mocha Pro played a lead role in the motion tracking and rotoscoping needs of the team, with advanced tools like Power Mesh used for distorting faces and bodies seamlessly, as seen in the bagel sequence.
Continuum, on the other hand, contributed effects such as Prism for stylized distortion within After Effects. This workflow allowed the team to collaboratively pass projects around and solve challenging effects with traditional compositing techniques rather than brute-force 3D approaches. The use of Wacom tablets also aided fine detail work like rotoscoping and painting.
The team emphasized flexibility, efficiency, and collaboration using these tools alongside others like Blender and Cinema 4D where needed. However, they prioritized compositing solutions over complicated 3D setups, exemplified by sequences like the chef chopping invisible food.
This approach was notable for achieving Oscar-winning visual complexity with a minimal budget and small crew, demonstrating that strong storytelling and smart use of compositing tools can substitute for large-scale 3D effects.
Paul Rogers, who edited only two films, won an Academy Award for his work on "Everything Everywhere All At Once". His role as an editor involved being a barometer of truth and empathy, ensuring that the movie aimed to leave viewers with a greater sense of empathy, as intended.
In an interview titled "The Art of the Cut", Rogers shares his notable friend meet-cute story with the Daniels, the writers and directors of the movie. The discussion with the visual effects team members left viewers feeling creatively energized and wishing to be part of the group.
If you're interested in learning more about the techniques used to create the broken mirror look, Nick Harauz, Continuum's director of product marketing, demonstrated how to recreate this effect inside an Adobe After Effects workflow during a Boris FX Live event.
In conclusion, the visual effects for "Everything Everywhere All At Once" serve as a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and the right tools. The movie offers a feel-good story about a group of talented friends coming together to create the right movie at the right time. And for those who are intrigued, a free trial of Mocha Pro and Continuum is available for download.
Movies-and-tv entertainment like "Everything Everywhere All At Once" showcase the innovation and creativity of small teams, who primarily used tools such as Adobe After Effects, Mocha Pro, and Continuum to create complex shots efficiently. These tools enabled the VFX team to collaborate effectively and substitute large-scale 3D effects with smart compositing solutions.
The Oscar-winning movie "Everything Everywhere All At Once" offers valuable insights into the power of creativity, collaboration, and the right tools in the world of movies-and-tv entertainment.
