The work of Jim Mann
A behind the scenes breakdown of the BBC World Cup studio, featuring my virtual set design.
The virtual set extension functions without needing any greenscreen, or keying, and features a pair of virtual windows to each side of the studio that depict a stylised Russian landscape.
BBC World Cup 2018 Virtual Set and Virtual Window from Lightwell on Vimeo.
I’ve been working on virtual set designs for most of the past year, but recently had the opportunity to work on a printed backdrop design for a set design by Toby Kalitowski at BK Design Projects. The new set was for STV’s Scotland Tonight, which broadcasts from their studios in Glasgow.
The backdrops depict an stylised interior, and make extensive use of glass, and reflective surfaces. The scene is composed to provide the multiple opportunities to frame shots, whether they were wides or closely framed singles. To complicate matters, the scene makes extensive use of linear perspective, but is displayed on a curved surface. By a combination of different techniques, the scene artwork was provided pre-curved, so that installation would effectively de-curve the scene as it was applied to the lightboxes.
The new look went live on Monday, so I can now share some photos provided from the set.
Bakcdrops: Lightwell
Set Design: Toby Kalitowski
Set Build: Scott Fleary
Backdrop build: 3DS Max + Vray render
Industrial Light and Magic have posted a treasure trove of concept art from Rogue One and The Force Awakens to their website. Concept art is more commonly associated with the pre-production stages of a film’s development, but ILM, whose focus is visual effects and therefore post-production, provide art direction and design throughout all stages of a film. Their incredible, and quite beautiful Visual Development work during post production is essential to the successful completion of a film.
The examples shown span numerous scenes from Rogue One, and include work by a number of different artists and designers, including the superlative Yanick Dusseault (Dusso)
GHOST IN THE SHELL – REEL from Ash Thorp on Vimeo.
I have yet to see the film, but have been in the thrall of it’s visuals and design since the first teaser images appeared last year. This concept reel by Ash Thorp is stunning, a work of art in itself.
A very small preview of some new designs I have been working on at Lightwell, for PWC for use in the Newtek Tricaster equipped greenscreen studio. The new virtual set designs feature four separate presentation spaces, each designed a different presenting style and format. The complete set of new designs are due to launch in Spring 2017.
My earlier designs for PWC are featured on the Lightwell website.
Paramount have just released a cluster of teaser shots for their live action remake of Ghost In The Shell (GitS). They are frustratingly brief and play out like a digital glitch, but what they do reveal of the designs, coupled with what the art direction of the original animated versions (if you haven’t seen the original animated version, I thoroughly recommend you to do so), suggest we could be in for some gorgeous production design and cinematography.
Production designer for this version is Jan Roelfs, whose previous work includes Gattaca, whilst cinematography is by Jess Hall who provided the cinematography on Son of Rambow and Hot Fuzz. VFX is to be provided by Weta and MPC, so I am hopeful that we will see some superlative digital sets amongst the set design. The quality and influence of the original animated version of GitS demands that any live action re-telling of the story be accompanied by nothing less than a work of unparalleled visual quality. Please don’t disappoint.