Film/Game Comparison

Throughout the production of all SAW films, computer generated visual effects are always seen as a last resort, every object you see on screen has been materialised and built by the film production team alongside professional mechanics. By using the hands on approach, production teams have full control of what they want the trap or environment to look like, and this element of control is what I need when constructing and texturing this SAW environment within Maya.

When analysing the SAW games, the traps had a lot more simplified appearance in comparison to the films, with the lack of mechanics and basic, solid colour textures. Having identified that the environments within these games were made using Maya, this has really made me strive to achieve a more photo realistic interpretation of the SAW trap, that people will think is a snapshot from the film itself.

Gun Trap Sketches

This sketch gives an indication of what the additional gun trap looks like as a whole, as well as the graphical complexity and detail behind the mechanics that gives it the menacing, violent appearance. In addition to this, the gun is stored with a thick green glass cabinet, that during the scene in the film, light passes through the glass, throwing a reflection onto the many crucifix trap, creating an unusual, yet visibly beautiful silhouette. Having not created an effect like this within Maya and After effects, research will be carried out into the functionality of tools, such as Render Passes and possibly tools within After Effects.

Set Design Sketch

Heres a indication of what the project will cover within my recreated SAW scene. Behind the perspective view that the drawing has been taken from, is a rusty wall containing a conceiled trap door as well as an additional smaller trap. From the snapshots taken, this trap will require complex modelling techniques, in terms of manipulation of polygons and uv mapping, which needs to be focused on separately to the set design.

Larger Trap Sketch

This sketch illustrates the many object within the SAW enviroment. Throughout the scene, the trap is moving and with continious, sudden camera movements, it is hard to capture a head on perspective, so this has been quickly drawn up from an array of different snapshots taken from the scene in the film.

Film Analysis

Before any concept sketches or modelling takes place, research was carried out of both the specific film the trap I will be recreating is from, as well as the whole SAW franchise and related films. By doing this, I would achieve a greater understanding of different elements of the enviroments, such as lighting, shadows and the complexity of the modelling, that would have to be carried out, to achieve the photo realistic appearance I am looking for.