Value
You could go around assembling similar assets from a number of different stock companies, but even then, you wouldn’t find all of the assets in this package. (The high quality shell casings are of especial rarity.) You certainly wouldn’t come close to the price point of $100 for 500 pre-keyed HD elements (or $250 for 500 pre-keyed 2K elements). While you’ll still likely want to augment your effects collection with some of the packages available from companies like FXHome, this is the most necessary starter package for folks who wish to make action films.
Another example of using assets from Action Essentials 2 in an early test poster for Depleted. (Photograhy by Nate Eckelbarger, Graphic Design by Craig McDaniel.)
Final Comments Action Essentials 2 is a homerun for Andrew Kramer and Video Copilot. While there are plenty of new elements I’d love to see explored in Action Essentials 3, you simply couldn’t have packed more high quality assets into a first release version of a package like this. If you’re only going to make dramas and comedies, you might not need the assets in this package. However, if you want to inflict some damage on the world your film is set in or if you own Stu Maschwitz’s DV Rebel’s Guide, then you need to go right out and buy this set!
Ease
of Use
10.0
Depth
of Options
10.0
Performance
10.0
Value
vs. Cost
10.0
Overall Score
10.0
The
director of two feature length films and half a dozen short films,
Jeremy Hanke
founded Microfilmmaker Magazine to help all no-budget filmmakers make
better films. His first book on low-budget special effects techniques, GreenScreen Made Easy, (which he co-wrote with Michele Yamazaki) was released by MWP to very favorable reviews. He's curently working on the sci-fi film franchise, World of Depleted through Depleted: Day 419 and the feature film, Depleted.
