Looking for advice on animation for short doc.

[RouseandFable]

I'm currently working on some animated elements for a feature documentary and since i'm new to Octane and 3D in general i was hoping to get some advice. A short film was made of the project already and the previous motion artist predominantly used After Effects, mapping 2D planes in 3D space. It looks alright but i was hoping to create more depth and realism to the actual feature film.

I'm working with green screen footage of actors, archival still photographs and 3D models. The first thing i'm trying to figure out is to how best approach the main scene, which is an underground bunker in Iraq. I've found some models but they don't look exactly like what i'm trying to build, i guess i just need four walls and a ground plane with some realistic textures. Which i'm assuming shouldn't be that difficult to build? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The bigger challenge is how best to create bodies on the ground that don't look like flat photographic images. I don't think i'll be able to find models with this specific look so was thinking about projection mapping the still images possibly. If i go this route however, what would the 3D models be? Random 3D shapes or would they actually have to be 3D human models? Also, the last time i tried projection mapping i found it limited my camera movement, but maybe i was doing something wrong.

Below is the original trailer for the film to give you an idea of what was originally done in C4D but mostly in After Effects.

Bunker scene :11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42YFUwCnWzE

[TonyBoy]

Why not just use clips from the documentary? You could use something like 3D-Coat to create a floor covered with bodies and even start painting them with projection painting to give you a guide. Export to C4D for animation and rendering.

[RouseandFable]

The shots of soldiers on the ground are archival stills, not from the documentary. Not even sure what a 3D-coat is.

[TonyBoy]

3D-Coat is a sculpting, retopology and paint program used for purposes like you described.
http://3dcoat.com/home/

[RouseandFable]

Ok thanks TonyBoy, will have a look. I just don't have too much time so might just map the photos onto planes in 3d. At least i'll get some atmosphere and depth from the building itself.