VHS Effect

In anticipation for the Name Project, I'd like to share one of my favourite YouTube videos. I've decided to go with a 90's VHS style effect for my project, since I love trying to mimic things in After Effects. A great example of this is the following video, in which someone cut together a 90's style opening to Game of Thrones.

There are so many things I love about this video. First of all is the look. I've tried VHS-ing videos myself, and it's a lot of fun trying to degrade the quality. However, it's not as easy as simply dropping the resolution. Film grain and scan lines need to be added. Chromatic aberration (seen in the following image) also helps achieve the look.

Also experimenting with the Fractal Noise effect in After Effects can help add the "fuzz" often seen in VHS tapes.

I also love the editing in the video. Certain shots are chosen which suit the style, and go well with the high-pass filtered music.

Here's another great example of the effect put over Breaking Bad.

Great Graphics

As the course goes on, I've become less intimidated by the program After Effects. Coming into the class with zero previous knowledge, I imagined I would forever be hopeless. But it turns out, AE is just like any other program/medium. It takes time and effort to really learn the craft and use it to its full potential. I'm loving the entire interface and it truly is a beautifully designed program.

I recently just bought a new VCR for 10 bucks at Ithaca Reuse (if you haven't been there before, check it out. Tons of awesome/cheap stuff) and brought all my old VHS tapes back from home. It's hilarious to see how many movies I've collected over the years, especially when I was younger. One film that I just watched was Spawn (1997). I use to adore the movie and I still do... Except that I now realized it's a horrible film. Really bad script, a long and boring title sequence, and even worse acting. BUT, some of the graphics are still as awesome as I remember. Check out his cape in some of these scenes. 

I love the way it flows so freely as if it has a mind of its own. The luscious crimson red and shine to it really makes it stand out of the film. I have no clue what kind of programming they used at this time but it really does hold up in my opinion. I would love to try and replicate this in After Effects and see how well it can come out.