I don't think I have ever posted a topic before about filmmaking, but hopefully one of you has a good idea...
So I've been making this stop-motion movie for the last SEVEN YEARS. And I have one more scene to shoot--the beginning.
I need to shoot special effects, specifically outer space shots; more specifically, stars and nebulas and galaxies. No spaceships, just outer space. Does anyone have an idea how to create these effects either in camera or in post-production? I can't find anything on the web. I don't have After Effects, by the way. And I've been using Final Cut Pro 2. That's what I have to work with.
Jeffrey Mitchell
L.O.T.A.

People do stars by poking tiny holes in black material and backlighting it. Not sure how much help that is.

How many shots do you need?
What kind of elements do you want in each shot?
Are any of these shots moving?

just blow powder sugar on a black piece of paper and u get a nebula or whatever, its looks like those sace clouds and stuff. Then just sprinkle some more suger on a black piece of paper and it looks like stars

Im fairly sure you can find some royalty free space photos...


If not space effects are fairly easy to model/animate. I decided to mess around for a few minutes and came up with:


(blast! the contrast got adjusted in the upload. meh. doesnt look nearly as good now)
It would take some tweaking and detail work, but realistic space images are not very difficult. If you cant find any public-access space photos let me know and Ill see if I can help you out.

Hey. Thanks for all the advice. I'm actually trying to stay away from stock footage. After making all the sets and action figures and what-nots, I feel like I'm cheating if I don't make the outer space visuals myself. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I think it would look out of place if I used them. Though, if I can't do effects, it will be another story. I think I will try all of your ideas this Monday and see what works best. I'm actually thinking of using an idea I saw in the movie "CQ." If anyone gets any new ideas, let me know. I'll be checking back to this post.
Best,
Jeffrey Mitchell
L.O.T.A.

Blast. I was up for a modelling challenge...oh well.
Haha

Wow, a 7 year project? I really want to see this now. Let us know when you finish!

Yes, seven years, on and off. I am sure that it will infuriate some filmmakers. Like my earlier films, this one is very expository. I have taken out the parts that, I hope, don't serve the story; and I have focused more on cinematic action. Still, how I have done that is very unorthodox.
Jeff
L.O.T.A.

I think Eraserhead took six or seven years to shoot also... I really don't think it wouldve been the same if it hadn't been shot that way.
Even that pales in comparison to Coffee and Cigarettes which took Jarmusch nearly 20 years to shoot.

Coffee and Cigarettes is essentially a bunch of shorts put together though, lol. 7 years is a long time though, congrats on having hte patience for that.

The Perfect Storm, a small region in the Swan Nebula, 5,500 light years away, described as 'a bubbly ocean of hydrogen and small amounts of oxygen, sulphur and other elements'.


A carebear's **** made by tree reflections and my own sticky treasure;

Seven years... wow. Would really like to see this too. You might use NASA photos, which are mostly public domain and very high res, and then use some vis-effects to make some starts 'twinkle' or something.