Raising the bar?

[Sachiel7]

Ok, so this is the first year we're actually putting in an entry for the vizualization award. We are trying to get under way as best we can pre season, by experimenting with tools, and coming up with generic ideas for our "animation".
The thing is, we wanted to create something that has the following properties:
-Something for everyone. We've got people who draw, live action, and video editors just to name a few. How can we all get involved? (This was our target question, we've got it solved )
-A Fun Project, conveying the message creatively while remaining a fun challenge for everyone involved. I think we've done that too.
-A bit of our team theme involved
-Raising the bar a bit. Hopefully.
So, with that said, here's a small list of a few of the technical effects included in our project:
-Photorealistic rendering (that deserves it's own listing!)
-Pre-Renders
-Live Action
-Full size sets
-Scale model sets
-Green-Screen Live action/3D combo
-Reference-based camera movement (see the making of Jurrassic Park, where the pan-handled shot is transferred into 3D camera motion with the golfballs layed in the ground (btw, JP is another hint...) )
-3D Object step-ins (ie, turning a live stick into a sword by reference movement)
And the list could go on.
Anyway, we have had quite alot of experience with visual effects, 3D animation, and live action "production", so I'm sure we're not pushing past our abilities for our first year. In fact I'm suprised we havent entered anything for the past 2 years, time just ran out.
Anyway, we hope to do some pre-shots, to test our abilities. We hope to set up a small Green Screen set with one live actor and a referenced object, like a stick, and do some stuff. Perhaps a swordfight with a skeleton? Who knows. But I hope to post our progress up here on CD.
My question is, how far has anyone pushed the bar?
And, what do you think of our efforts?