Special Effects Pre Production

Brief: I plan to re-create a Visual Special Effect from a movie.

Brainstorm: The effect will be lightning. This is seen in Star Wars with the lightning shooting from the Emperor's  hands. For this I'll use After Effects Advanced Lightning effect which I have watched tutorials on.
Here's a link to the Star Wars scene with the lightning effect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BOQI-LAEzM

Research: I have found and watched a variety of advanced lightning tutorials produced in After Effects.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNXECHjLwjw
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjVc3M-ofIw
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQjVl1HHJpM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug0US9MoA0s
• http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/lightning_strike/

 Storyboard: 

Identify Cast/Crew: The cast involved will be myself and a friend. Since I'm planning to make it two people versing each other in a lightning battle, I wont be needing too many. Might also need another person to help out with the HD video camera.

This storyboard was good as a draft for the shot placements but was extremely limited in what you can put into it in regards to content and panel numbers. The website only allowed a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 panels for each storyboard. Hence why doing a draft shoot showing all the shot camera angles is advised, kind of like doing up an animatic for an animation production.

 Resources:

• HD camera
• After Effects CS5.5
• Desktop Computer
• A tripod which might have to be a makeshift one.
• My car to get around to the location.

Location: An open area like a park. Junee has a couple of parks but one has some nice features in it. Time of day might have to downcast or cloudy. Hopefully I'll get an opportunity to film in the correct weather but to achieve this I'll need to keep checking weather reports. For filming in the part, there will be no authorization required.

Budget: There won't be any fees since I have access to a HD camera and only require about 3 people including myself. Time for recording might be around 2 to 3 days or less depending on the footage quality, peoples schedules and weather.

Schedule: 
Planning phase: I plan to start shooting the footage during these up coming holidays. This is between the 23-9-13 to 6-10-13.
Video Shoot: Will have to work in appropriate times which is suitable for everyone's daily schedules. Preferably on days off if possible or weekends.
During the holiday period will shoot it and treat it like a final edit then bring it in for critique for term 4 which might require redoing the shooting. I'll need to allocate time for this and discuss it with my friends. Might also have to consider doing a sky replacement if it's difficult to shoot in the stormy weather. Might have to go with a green screen too if required.
Doing several different practice shots and variations will be a wise idea in case one shot turns out better than the other alternative.
My friend Danielle has agreed to be an actor in the footage. I'm also playing as an actor since I can exaggerate a pretty good dying, electrified action.
Post Production: I'll bring the finished footage in After Effects to add in the Advanced Lightning Effect then export it out and import it into Premiere Pro for the audio.