Considerations for VFX

So I think I've been struggling to try and think of things to film and make for creating some sort of visual effects because I know there is a lot to consider when actually filming if there are supposed to be effects in the scene.  If a director has a script, for example, there is likely to be a lot of information for every department to consider such as production design, lighting, even costumes and effects.

This is why I need to stop worrying about who and what is being made and just start making some little tests to see what effects I will be able to learn.

But the point I was making above is that it could be so easy to mess up the production schedule if there isn't a solid working process (okay okay, pipeline, if you insist) where they can plan ahead with all of the aspects of the end results in mind.
It must be a nightmare to plan for all CG scenes involving an actor..... then again maybe not....?

In an example from digital tutors James Whiffin, a freelance compositor and motion designer, talked through planning an idea out from start to finish starting from a simple concept to the complete effect; in this case a ghosting time warp effect.

It's by no means comprehensive but it was good to see the consideration of the things I have been concerned about, and it has given me some basic (and obvious) questions to ask myself and a little bit more structure to considering anything in the future.

I'd note that he said in the video that he shot the footage 4 times before achieving the camera angle he liked and that brought out the best in the effect, experimenting with focal length along the way.  He also put a hat on his actor to save him time when it came to rotoscoping.

Whilst I know very little about camera lenses and focal length etc, he comments that a reasonable shutter speed to help with roto and matchmoving (not something like 25... ).

Note camera details (filmback and focal length).  Any distortion that the lens may have.

All things to try and understand....

source: http://www.digitaltutors.com/tutorial/1819-Creating-a-3D-Time-Warp-Effect-in-Maya-and-After-Effects#play-44762