Skip to main content
M
Mindbreak_net
Participant
October 3, 2010
Answered

Dream / Flashback Effect

  • October 3, 2010
  • 4 replies
  • 26803 views

Hello all,

I am trying to find the typical (and usually cheesey) dream or flashback effect to place between two clips of a character thinking, and imaging a certain outcome. Then back again out of his imagination to reality.  I edit on Windows Vista and XP, have CS3, and don't see this rather common effect.

- Is it called something else?

- Or is there another effect I can use that will achieve the look I want once I mess with the settings in Effect Controls?

- Is it only available as a plug-in?  If so, where can I download it?

Thanks!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer the_wine_snob

    I did similar some years back. There were a lot of very good suggestions here, but those threads are now history, since the forum changeover.

    What I did was a bit of a combo of Feather Edge, Wave Warp and then Highlight & Shadow with some Levels adjustments. In my case, these "dream sequences" were revealed as PiP, and were animated on Scale and Position, kind of like a "thought balloon."

    ProDAD has a set of plug-ins with VitaScene, that probably would package things into just a few parameters, rather than a half-dozen Effects.

    Good luck,

    Hunt

    4 replies

    M
    Mindbreak_netAuthor
    Participant
    October 4, 2010

    Hahaha, thanks guys! 

    able123
    able123
    Inspiring
    October 3, 2010

    I dont know about you, but when I dream and have flashbacks everything tends to get sorta blurry and wierd looking....depends sometimes on what I ate just before going to sleep.  Like Mr. Scrooge seeing the ghost of Christmas Past... and blaming it on some unpleasant sauce with his Pheasant dinner !

    Maybe you don't see the same effects I see when YOU dream ( or the character / talent you are editing ?)

    If you have a sample ( link to sample ) of this "common effect" you mention I'd love to see it.  Would make it easier to try and duplicate too...

    Don't forget...  if the dreaming / flashback effect becomes too common it will probably look a lot like the infamous "page curl " effect...which might work too ?

    hehe..."turn the page, go into dream, turn the page, come out of dream"...works for me !

    able123
    able123
    Inspiring
    October 3, 2010

    I can't resist this...temptation to take this further.

    from about 200 bc to last year, we got thousands of "dream sequence/ flashback " effect.

    1) stick figure cave drawings

    makes primative mankind wonder about what happened "yesterday" or in their dreams about getting that hunted animal to survive...

    2) avatar 3d movie

    makes modern people wonder about what happend " tomorrow" or in their dreams about not hunting that animal to mine the planet....

    to reduce the art of editing and vision to wanting a "template" of "common device" is sorta like looking for a shortcut to something that cries out for more personal input and imagination....know what I mean ?

    Think about what "you" see in your mind's eye when you start daydreaming in the situation you are editing...and try to duplicate THAT.

    the_wine_snob
    the_wine_snob
    Inspiring
    October 3, 2010

    Rod,

    Did you get to the article on Di Caprio's Inception in the American Cinematographer that I sent? Interesting treatments from the director. Now, he wanted to keep the audience slightly off-balance, regarding dreams and reality, and not "give it away," too clearly. Have not seen the film, so cannot comment on the effectiveness.

    I think that for most "dream sequences," some little tip-off is good. However, over the decades, various directors have rather walked a thin line with them. Some to good effect, like La Jetée. Or was anything a dream... ? See 12 Monkeys. Also, some might suggest that much of Fight Club is actually a dream.

    Hunt

    the_wine_snob
    the_wine_snob
    Inspiring
    October 3, 2010

    Here is a more recent THREAD, that might offer some tips too.

    Good luck,

    Hunt

    the_wine_snob
    the_wine_snobCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    October 3, 2010

    I did similar some years back. There were a lot of very good suggestions here, but those threads are now history, since the forum changeover.

    What I did was a bit of a combo of Feather Edge, Wave Warp and then Highlight & Shadow with some Levels adjustments. In my case, these "dream sequences" were revealed as PiP, and were animated on Scale and Position, kind of like a "thought balloon."

    ProDAD has a set of plug-ins with VitaScene, that probably would package things into just a few parameters, rather than a half-dozen Effects.

    Good luck,

    Hunt

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices