London-based VFX and animation studio Cinesite has launched a new division dedicated to next gen storytelling: Cinesite Immersive. The new branch debuts at speed, announcing its first film project, Forsaken, as well as a first-look deal with LBE company Frameless Creative.
Conceived and directed by award-winning filmmaker Roland Lane, produced and animated by Cinesite and supported by Greenpeace and Arts Council England, Forsaken is set to play on Outernet London’s floor to ceiling wrap around screens to highlight the mass extinction of life on Earth. Scientists have stated we are entering Earth’s sixth mass extinction event, with up to a million species at risk of being lost. This work takes inspiration from the Immortal Jellyfish, which is able to regenerate and begin its life cycle over again, to celebrate the beauty of the natural world — and couch a somber warning about the destruction of life on our planet.
“It’s true, a picture says a thousand words” said Cinesite London’s GM Joce Capper, “it’s great to see Cinesite’s recently established immersive division bringing Forsaken to life for Roland with the support of Greenpeace. We’re really proud of the message behind the animation and the quality of the visuals our artists have delivered for Outernet London. With the immersive entertainment industry growing rapidly Cinesite is expertly positioned to work with creative IP owners and brands to elevate the impact of their imagined worlds.”
The 8K piece will premiere on January 11 at Outernet London, Europe’s largest digital exhibition space, running daily at 11 a.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., free to the public. Greenpeace ambassadors will be on site January 13-14 and February 6-7 to inspire visitors to take action to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 and to support a deep sea mining ban.
“Working with Cinesite to bring this idea to life has been a collaboration, in the truest sense of the word, and being able to utilize the world-class talent, creativity and expertise they have within their team has been a professional highlight for myself,” said Lane. “We worked closely together to apply the industry-leading CG and VFX capabilities they are renowned for to this most innovative of productions, crafting something ambitious for the immersive, one-of-a-kind Outernet venue, as we sought to combine visual art with pioneering tech. I’m delighted that we have been able to do the message behind the work justice, and use it to amplify the important work Greenpeace is doing in this area.”
Under the direction of Lane, Andrew McNamara supervised the Cinesite crew with creative support from Head of Assets & Visual Development Madeleine Scott-Spencer. The team worked closely with Roland to develop the overall design and CG build of the different stages of the life-cycle of the Immortal Jellyfish, crafting each stage of the narrative as well as blocking out general timings and movement to utilize the unique space effectively. The sequence was realized using Cinesite’s standard VFX and animation workflow rendering up to 8k per wall and resolving back to a 360 degree video at 50 frame per second which was then remapped onto each LED video wall to give a full immersive experience.
The Outernet experience features sound design by Gareth Fry and is accompanied by motion graphics featuring official stats from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, designed by Jonny Stopford.
In addition to Forsaken, Cinesite Immersive announced it has entered into a long-term partnership with Frameless Creative, the company behind the U.K.’s largest (and London’s first) permanent multi-sensory art experience. Following months of collaboration, two stunning artworks have been meticulously brought to life by visual effects artists for the first-time, enabling visitors to fully immerse themselves in these masterpieces.
The first piece to be added to the Frameless experience since launch last year, is a Rembrandt seascape which can now be seen in the venue’s largest gallery The World Around Us. Creating convincing real-world FX was vital to convey the power of the storm: simulation techniques were used to create controllable open water-wave height, frequency, fine spray and run off. Haze passes were added to backlight the water and spray.
“It was essential while doing that to respect and preserve the integrity of the original work of art,” noted Cinesite’s Capper. “It was far more than just a case of extending the environment. The team needed to extend the power, drama and spirit of the original, its nuances, lighting, mood and intent.”
The GM added, “Cinesite London is proud to be joining forces with Frameless and we look forward to working with the team on many more artworks. With the immersive entertainment industry valued at more than £45.7 billion in 2020 and growing rapidly Cinesite is expertly positioned to work with creative IP owners and brands to elevate the impact of their imagined worlds.”
The second addition is Monet’s Boat on the Seine near Jeufosse. Animators & FX artists enabled the 19th century impressionist masterpiece to live and breathe. From the rippling water and the paddling of the oars to the light shimmering on the water and butterflies fluttering across the meadows, the team was committed to bringing to life the serene scene from the Seine as if the artist was there.
“As one of Monet’s lesser known pieces, this artwork has always been for me a really underrated piece, and one that has rarely been spoken about, so we knew we’d be introducing many of our visitors to it for the first time,” explained Ryan Atwood, Frameless Creative Director. “We’ve been obsessing about retaining the nuances of the original from the serenity of the landscape to the incredible lighting effect that Monet achieved with his brushstrokes, all working together to provide a rare moment of reflection in an often-chaotic world. Front of mind throughout the creative process has been imagining just what Monet was thinking when he created this masterpiece and how he wanted the work to make people feel.”
Frameless Creative CEO Richard Relton added, “Working with Cinesite gives us the opportunity to take Frameless London to the next level, working with world-class masters of effects and plugging them into our space. This process has been about exploring how we can harness the film experience of the team to enhance our overall storytelling capabilities and the level of detail and effects in the artworks, really investing in the emotional connection our visitors can have with the work. The results are spectacular and this is just the start of what is an extremely exciting phase for Frameless, enabling us to take Hollywood style effects into the world of art.”
Cinesite is in discussions with other creative IP owners and brands to elevate the impact of their imagined worlds. Projects will span virtual, physical and mixed realities, location-based entertainment and theme park rides and attractions.
