A Pedagogical Collaboration with Objectif 3D Montpellier

Objectif 3D Montpellier is a leading school in the fields of 3D, animation, and visual effects. For several years, we have been pleased to collaborate with their students to support them in practical case projects combining video capture, 3D integration, and special effects.

During our recent intervention, we conducted a two-week workshop with second-year students, focusing on green screen shooting and techniques of realistic 3D integration. This project allowed them to understand production constraints and enhance their skills by working in teams.

👉 Interested in learning more about Objectif 3D Montpellier? Discover their website here: www.objectif3d.com

Week 1: Preparation and Collaborative Work

Preproduction Work and Defining the Art Direction

The first step was dedicated to preproduction, where students were divided into groups, each tasked with designing a coherent art direction (DA) for their projects. Each group, composed of students from different specialties (compositors, modelers, texture artists, and FX artists), collaborated to define the following elements:

·        The overall artistic vision: The visual style and atmosphere of the videos.

·        The roles of each member: A synergistic effort where each specialty contributes to a collective result.

·        The planned shots: Three shots previously chosen with their teachers to structure the project.

This collective work allowed students to better understand production constraints and the importance of collaboration between different disciplines.

Introduction to Equipment and Initial Tests

We then introduced the students to the handling of shooting tools, allowing them to acquire the necessary basics for their projects:

·        Camera: Capture settings, shot values, camera movements.

·        Lighting: green screen lighting, lighting for subjects to be filmed.

·        Rigor of shooting: script and artistic direction.

After this introduction, each group had the opportunity to handle the equipment, test configurations, and realize initial shots.

Creation of Individual Videos

In parallel with the group project, each student had to create an individual shot corresponding to their specialty:

·        Compositors worked on techniques such as keying, integrating 3D objects, and cleaning plates.

·        Modelers created 3D objects integrated into the shots made on site.

·        Texture artists applied realistic materials in collaboration with the modelers.

·        FX artists simulated dynamic elements like particles, smoke, or explosions and then integrated them.

This individual work allowed them to experiment with the basics of 3D integration while discovering the technical constraints related to their specialty.

Week 2: Shooting and Project Finalization

The second week was entirely dedicated to the realization of group projects. Each team, having finalized its preproduction, moved on to shooting its defined shots.

Collaborative Shooting

The students, in groups, shot their sequences while respecting the artistic direction they had defined. This process allowed them:

·        To coordinate their efforts to achieve coherent shots.

·        To test video capture techniques in real conditions on the green screen.

·        To understand the interactions between disciplines, such as placing 3D objects based on lighting and perspective.

Extra Time for Individual Videos

If time allowed, we used the rest of the week to shoot other individual videos, allowing students to enrich their stock of content for their demos.

Educational Objectives and Results

This intensive program aimed to:

·        Convey the basics of 3D integration: By experimenting with real tools and technical constraints.

·        Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration: By encouraging students to understand and respect the needs of other specialties.

·        Create usable content for their portfolio: The produced videos reflected both their learning and their creativity.

At the end of the two weeks, each group left with its shots to work on 3D integration. They then had one month to finalize their project by applying the techniques learned. Their work will be evaluated based on the quality of the integration and the artistic coherence, thus enriching their professional portfolio.

In previous years, this same training has already borne fruit with ambitious projects. A past collaboration led some students to choose live action for their end-of-year project, resulting in the short film Rumble.

This project, combining real shooting and special effects, was met with great success and was selected in several festivals. An enriching experience that continues to inspire new cohorts to explore further the possibilities offered by 3D integration and visual effects in their creations.

A Valuable Immersion in the World of 3D

This collaboration between Shogun Pictures and Objectif 3D allowed students to immerse themselves in an environment close to professional conditions. By providing them with a structured framework and concrete tools, we contributed to enriching their training and nurturing their passion for careers in 3D.

💡Want to learn more about our educational interventions or our projects? Discover our achievements in the our projects section.