Patrick Kalyn, an Emmy Award-nominated VFX artist known for his work on films like “Deadpool 2,” “Blade Runner 2049,” and “Avatar,” has completed a new sci-fi horror short film titled “SpaceX Final Transmission.” The two-minute project, which Kalyn created to enhance his acting skills, was entirely produced using DaVinci Resolve Studio.
Kalyn's Approach
Inspired by the concept of interplanetary colonization, “SpaceX Final Transmission” follows Captain Taylor as he sends a final warning to an approaching ship from a doomed Martian camp. Kalyn shot the film in his living room with minimal lighting and a green screen, making it ideal for testing DaVinci Resolve Studio's capabilities.
Visual Effects Workflow
The visual effects were created using the Fusion page of DaVinci Resolve Studio. Kalyn utilized various tools to composite the VFX environments, including the Delta Keyer for green screen removal and clean plate node enhancements. He also used Channel Booleans to assemble layered CG elements such as Mars' surface from NASA's Perseverance rover images.
Kalyn added depth blur and soft glows to integrate the background with the live-action footage, ensuring a cohesive look. The heads-up display was constructed using rectangles and text nodes for realistic integration into the scene.
Audio Post Production
The audio post production process involved Fairlight, DaVinci Resolve Studio's audio page. Kalyn layered dialogue with sound effects and music from his library, adjusting EQ settings to simulate sounds traveling through thick walls outside the observation deck.
Kalyn mixed sounds on a per-clip basis, using volume sliders for macro adjustments. He highlighted the DIM toggle feature as particularly useful for auditioning sounds without sudden volume spikes.
Conclusion
“SpaceX Final Transmission” demonstrates that filmmakers can produce high-quality content entirely within DaVinci Resolve Studio, according to Kalyn. The project serves as a testament to the software's versatility and efficiency in handling both visual effects and audio post production.