Justin Bieber

Credit: VFX & virtual production · Scissor Films

Five scenes shot in a single 5,000 sq ft stage with director Cole Bennett, then extended in Unreal Engine by Scissor Films. Storyboards drove previs, previs drove the shoot, and live compositing on set let us frame and light for the final image rather than the blue screen. [DRAFT COPY — rewrite in your own words]

https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792312/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=9c2fbae76cbb4b6a1152042305405965dc03016884205566bd9ba0e7da8c8b85

Storyboards

Each scene was boarded before anything was built; the boards became the shot list for a very tight schedule.

Storyboard | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792397/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=30e94f3d253e89cb0cdf4fbe61997ec7c68d7e9ab57e0d5b38cc4711a7320008

Previs

3D previs from the boards set lens, camera moves and blocking for every scene.

Previs | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792394/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=b2346c5c1635e74fbb1c9334ee876e169ddd040571848abd77d56042c267cfc1
Set build | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792310/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=078b639918b5025a0b155fbaf4157c6cbf2eda629e4e9879ef70f16e5232b934

On set — live compositing

Unreal Engine composited the environments in real time on the monitor, which made it possible to light and frame for the final rather than for a blue wall.

https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792341/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=d5665cdcde6609b502b46dcb13a417fba7963cac02efddcb473f220734775445

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Space

Drag the handle to compare the stage plate with the final.

Previs | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792395/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=5de21e4268dccaa5a3e53cd1e806c4ab023bbf701e7dc975ba1a1a4c886c00f1
compare: https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792396/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=98952e21f2ee99a6b8371b847b9470ec47a26cb7510e8f107bd52d5d7a900daf | PASTE MP4 URL — Space final

Forest

A physical forest set against blue, with CG butterflies added for Justin to interact with.

Previs | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792326/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=5ab2c923fe1b4d6c236e6c236a4332cf1a29322178c725f65e376fe6ae92a062
Production | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792327/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=bb8ba2d48d9a2eb99d9c5b578c7b4bfc561a7c46385c1fb2c2c3430007a1efde
3D butterfly | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792332/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=a37f0a8bf81837cd6f8782bb4a73628eb8b3bbb90fdae15f75c5f1d2d6603a60
Final | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792337/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=dcc08aa59daca8aa712dad4b36b4fb6f3dc039e6e5f63cfe9693af9b2b0650d4

Grass

Practical grass in the foreground, landscape extended in post.

Production | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792339/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=1be40eef57869135cd28e511362c221d86785a6d44fd4d67c3c901ef6dc6b16c
Final | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792340/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=50315701057a9f2ba4f2732b7e0e9d89b08e7f9383354b4a5787e90f8f04cf47

Cliff

Fully built in Unreal — rolling hills and a setting sun; the stage lighting was matched to the engine's sun.

Unreal Engine | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792311/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=b8e6699c657f11facd9bd5a1a05f15b33bcd63ac8dec1dc3764e45b0e086aa72
Final | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792309/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=6f5b818cdace03834ba1873b3595878a7d3c8ba38508345617aae57d005a0083

Ocean

Horizon extended to isolate him in frame; 3D waves crash as the scene turns to sunset.

Previs | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792357/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=dfe01ff044bca5ecc971f6ef3fe9196f0d3cbfce2cd8f3a25e67e13ebadd6c84
Production | https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792360/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=97fd80a07d2e84504952e6cc147d582b8fac1be84d88c0bfd180f4a614ab9759
Final | PASTE MP4 URL — Ocean final

The show

https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1223792430/rendition/720p/file.mp4%20%28720p%29.mp4?loc=external&log_user=0&signature=474601cb99c1972d2ec53a8c511d78cc200c8640fcac61556851462694fcb0a2

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