How VFX stock footages helps for faster filmmaking and post production?

The demand for blockbuster Visual Effects is growing exponentially, but the amount of work that goes into a VFX shot hasn’t gotten any less time-consuming. Such shots take hours, weeks, and even months to produce. And depending on how things go, some studios aren’t able to pay their artists enough due to the lack of funds.

This leads to individuals wondering if there is another option to explore when it comes to saving time, money, and still producing realistic high-quality effects. The solution is simple — VFX stock footage elements.

Here are four reasons why you should use such visual effects video clips in your projects.

1. You can save time and edit faster

One obvious reason is that you don’t have to spend a huge amount of time in creating a CG simulation for your shot or taking the time to shoot your own clean plate. The shot is already done and ready to be composited into your project.

On top of that, using high-quality VFX stock footages will have your shots looking realistic without the extra work, saving time for other areas of your project.

Take Sindre Johnsen for example, a Lead Compositor at CoSA VFX Vancouver, who completed work on the hit Netflix mini-series ‘Waco’. Johnsen utilized ActionVFX stock footage throughout Waco, specifically an action shot involving fire and smoke. When asked about using ActionVFX’s stock footage elements, Johnsen stated, “Having elements that don’t clip and have a lot of detail, even when exposed down, made matching the real fire a lot easier and meant that I could spend more time on other more creative aspects of the shot.”

2. VFX stock footages gives more realistic final results

Such video clips can make your shot look much more real and authentic. Because these are real elements shot in real-time, giving you the most realistic result.

In most productions, time is a necessity. And in more times than not, filming your own in-camera fire, for example, might not look as good as a VFX stock clip that was edited and filmed by professionals. Not because you were unable to film and edit at a high-quality too, but the time lost in reproducing realistic fire could have been saved by a simple purchase from a stock footage website / companies that poured all of their effort into the realism of the clip.

You have a whole production and shot to create, so creating high-quality in-camera fire should not be something you worry about.

Instead of filming practically and leaving room for a potential reshoot, buying VFX stock footages at discounted prices gives you ultimate control over your project. This huge benefit is worth considering. It will save you from a massive headache in all phases of production, from the initial vision to the post-production work.

Having total control over every aspect of your film or Visual Effects shot is nearly impossible (such as weather or lighting), but it is comforting to know that parts of the main source of action such as VFX stock footage obeys your commands.

3. Create stunning VFX on a smaller budget

Shooting your own elements can burn a hole in your pocket. For example, if you were wanting to add an explosion to your shot, you would have to rent your own equipment, pay your crew/pyro-techs, get the proper permits, pay insurance costs, etc. Instead, let the stock footage companies take care of the numerous requirements it would take to create the explosion.

This will allow you to allocate your precious hard-earned funds in places you see fit. Whether that be for more help on set or equipment that can add extra value to your project, choose what is best for you.

Black Friday sale is over. But, you can still buy VFX stock footages using the promo code of Action VFX. It will be applicable for a single video clip to the entire bundle.

Use the ActionVFX discount coupon ‘VIRTUALASSIST10’ to get 10% discount on any VFX stock footage or library. You should put this coupon code at the time of payment / check out.

4. Build your library of VFX stock footages

The best part about purchasing them is that it becomes your assets, for any upcoming projects. If you decide to shoot something in-camera, it benefits the scene and project you were working on, but not necessarily the new productions you have upcoming.

Once you see the incredible use of VFX stock footage, you can begin adding components to your library you feel you might need in the future. Of course, there is a lot of optimization needed as well. Using the same high-quality stock in one project may look a lot different than it did in another project based upon how you adjust and adapt them to your story, you are trying to convey. In all, your VFX stock footage library helps you create what you want to create, end of story. 

Rodolphe Pierre-Louis, CEO of ActionVFX, leading stock footage company, states it best. He says “Nothing gets you a realistic result faster than using real live-action VFX stock footage in your shot. You can simulate a lot these days, but the most realistic element at the end of the day is still the element that was practically filmed. It looks and behaves like the real thing because it is the real thing.”