Proto short film visual effects.

Concept design, 3d modelling, rigging, texturing, 3d animation, tracking, compositing

In 2011, James created visual effects shots for a short film by modelling, rigging and animating a prototype robot. The robot was then used to animate a set of visual effects test shots which helped secure funding from Screen South.

In order to achieve photorealistic VFX, James captured a full range of exposures from a HDRI light probe, which was then used to light the 3D scene. The camera motion was tracked using PfTrack so that Proto would sit in the live plate correctly.

Despite the test shots being a huge success, the robot was redesigned to suit a more ‘younger’ look, however the original still makes a cameo in the film.

‘PROTO’ is a sci-fi action adventure, about a child-like, experimental robot, set in the robotics lab where he has been built. Directed by Nick Pittom, it was filmed as an international co-production between Screen South based in the UK and Film Fyn based in Denmark. It was shot in August 2011 at Robocluster in Denmark, a genuine working robotics lab and completed in June 2012. It held it’s first premiere in early 2013.

View one of the VFX test shots below.

Software used: 3DS Max, PfTrack, After Effects, Photoshop.