Saboor Akram

  Introduction For my final VFX task, I created a VFX Showreel, which serves as a visual portfolio showcasing my skills, creative journey, and technical expertise in visual effects and post-production. As a filmmaker and VFX artist, having a strong showreel is crucial. It acts as a first impression for potential clients, studios, and collaborators, demonstrating what I can achieve through past projects and creative storytelling. My showreel features the best of my work, compiling multiple VFX projects, compositing work, motion graphics, and cinematic effects, demonstrating my ability to enhance storytelling through post-production mastery. Thoughts Behind the Process Rather than just showcasing random shots, I wanted my showreel to have a flow and narrative, making it feel more like a cinematic montage than just a technical compilation. The goal was to make it immersive, engaging, and visually striking. I took inspiration from VFX-heavy filmmakers and editors like: Peter McKinnon –...

  Sound design plays a crucial role in setting the tone and atmosphere of the scene.  Ambient sounds were carefully chosen to reflect the environment and were mixed at low levels to ensure they complement rather than overpower the main action. Foley sounds were recorded and integrated to enhance the realism of the actions on screen. For example, the swing of the sword, sound for punchesm chain and wind were used to mimic the realistic impact of the situation.  Diegetic sounds, which originate from within the story world, were prominently featured. Diegetic sounds are crucial for maintaining the believability of the scene and enhancing the viewers' immersion. Non-diegetic sounds, or sounds that are not part of the story world (e.g., background music, voice-over narration), were used to underscore the emotional undertones of the scene. Carefully selected music tracks from Epidemic Sound were employed to enhance the mood. For example, a slow, melancholic track might be used ...

  Objective The goal of this task was to design a realistic and immersive sonic landscape that establishes a specific location through layered sound design. By utilizing field recordings, ambient textures, and sound manipulation techniques, I aimed to construct a country-side ambiance that captures the tranquility and natural richness of rural life. Recording Process To achieve an authentic soundscape, I used a DJI Mic Pro attached to my iPhone for high-quality field recordings. The DJI Mic Pro provided directional clarity, crisp highs, and balanced lows, allowing me to capture detailed ambient sounds with minimal background noise distortion. The recording was done in an open countryside environment, ensuring a natural, organic soundscape with real environmental depth. Post-Production Process in DaVinci Resolve Once all sounds were recorded, I processed and layered them in DaVinci Resolve’s Fairlight Audio Panel to enhance their depth and realism. Equalization (EQ) Used low-cut fil...

  Objective The objective of this task was to record 10–15 high-quality sound effects from a specific location and then process them using audio enhancement techniques to create a clean and immersive soundscape . The final step was to compile the individual sound files into a single export while preserving their clarity and uniqueness . Location: Café  For this task, I chose to record sounds in a café near my home , a setting rich with layered sound textures. The café environment provided a diverse mix of natural and mechanical sounds , including the hum of conversations, clinking of cutlery, and the rhythmic brewing of coffee machines . Using a DJI Mic , I ensured that each recording captured detailed, crisp audio with minimal distortion. The microphone’s directional pickup pattern helped isolate specific sounds while reducing background noise, making it ideal for capturing both individual object interactions and ambient noise . Post-Production Process Once the sounds w...

  Concept & Objective This project aimed to create a visually engaging and VFX-enhanced video showcasing the product's sleek design and cutting-edge features. I aimed to make the video feel futuristic, professional, and cinematic using advanced visual effects. I shot the footage using a Sony A7III mounted on a tripod for stability and precise framing. The entire VFX pipeline was executed in DaVinci Resolve , where I implemented motion tracking, relighting, compositing, text animations, and more . VFX Techniques Used 1. Motion Tracking & UI Integration One of the most crucial elements in this video was the motion tracking of the phone/product display to integrate digital UI overlays. Point and planar tracking were used to attach UI elements onto the product's screen, ensuring they moved perfectly with real-world motion. This effect created the illusion that the phone was actively displaying live data. Masking and feathering were applied to blend these digital overl...