To promote the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas, the $4.3 billion, 3,500-room luxury destination in Las Vegas set to open June 24, Hooray Agency and Psyop teamed up to create an engaging virtual production, “Stay Fabulous.”
This spot debuted during The Academy Awards® broadcast on Sunday, April 25. The virtual production merged VR and CGI to transport viewers to a new reality, taking them to a heavily designed and stylized world which blurs the line between physical and digital.
“Stay Fabulous” also implements an LED volume to create a variety of digital worlds and features celebrity talent including Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, Tiësto and Zedd each ruling over their own fabulous domain.
The technology used in “Stay Fabulous” was originally used in the making of The Mandalorian on Disney+. The “Stay Fabulous” production engaged Nant Studios, using much of the same team and cutting-edge approach from the American space western.
“We are honored to be part of the team to bring the compelling story of Resorts World Las Vegas to life,” said Psyop chief executive producer, Justin Booth-Clibborn. “Psyop’s passion is merging art and technology to create worlds, tell stories, and capture hearts and minds. The Resorts World team clearly shares that passion, so to collaborate with them, leveraging our expertise in design, real time CG technology and live action production, and push the creative possibilities, was literally fabulous.”
To meet the demands of this innovative commercial production, the large technical and creative team developed evolutionary workflows, allowing filmmakers to make never before creative changes in real time during the shoot including lighting, colors and animation within the sets. Applied lighting and animation processes were also employed to drive both practical and virtual light fixtures for immediate creative changes enabling production crews to see their scenes unfold as they are composed and captured on set.
“Stay Fabulous” will continue to roll out across digital and social platforms in the coming weeks.
CreditsClient Resorts World Las Vegas Agency Hooray Agency, Orange County, Calif. Eric Stein, chief creative officer; Christopher Leon, creative director; Kevin Johnson, creative producer; Ted Trautwein, creative director/copywriter; Angela Casteneda, producer. Production Company Psyop, bicoastal Marco Spier, director/founding partner; Justin Booth-Clibborn, chief executive producer; Noah Goldsmith, exec producer; Andrea Panda, head of production; Saul Germaine, line producer; Matthew Jensen, DP; Scott Harris, 1st assistant director; Kevan Dirinpour, production supervisor; Phoenix Lawton, production coordinator; Kim Seko, talent coorindator; Jeffrey Higinbotham, production designer; Mike Martella, art director; Nick Nevlin, art coordinator; Cris Araujo, costume designer; Andrea Peraza, key costumer; Stella Tzanidakis, key makeup; Justin St. Clair, key makeup (Celine); Deanna Amore Marti, key hair (Celine); Pepe Munoz, key costumer (Celine); Melissa Schleicher, key makeup (Carrie); Emma Trask, key costumer (Carrie); Jesus Guerrereo, key hair (Katy); Michael Anthony, key makeup (Katy); Heathre Picchiottino, key costumer (Katy); Paula Turner, groomer (Luke); Lee Moore, key costumer (Luke); Jaime Maloney, groomer (Zedd); Jodi Jraushar, post/editorial producer; Lawrence Jones, virtual production supervisor; Kristin Carey, technical producer; Pakorn Bupphavesa, CG supervisor; Sang Lee, 2D lead; Brandon Sanders, Flame artist; Loren Christiansen, editor; Marla Colour, color; Fernando Lui, grading colorist. (Toolbox: Maya, Unreal Engine, Nuke, Flame) Virtual Partner & Stage Nant Studios Gary Marshall, director of virtual production; Juan Nader, supervisor of virtual production engineering; Fernando Rabello, vitual production TD; Julia Lou, unreal developer; Bryan Brown, real time content lead; Adolfo Sanchez, stage mgr; Keaton Heinrichs, operations director. Unreal Engine Workflow Optimization and Creative Services Extended Reality Group Evan Glantz, exec producer; Zack Kingdon, producer; Patrick Beery, CG supervisor; Darron Granieri, sr. tech artist. Music & Sound Design Squeak E. Clean Studios Zac Colwell, creative director, composer; Josh Hoisington, composer; Stuart St Vincent Welch, sound designer, final mix engineer & additional recording; Nicholas Doering, Danielle Toporoff, producers.
Top Spot of the Week: Director Jake Scott, Paramount Brand Studios “Make Your Gameday Epic” In “Gladiator II”-Inspired Pepsi Spot
Nearly 20 years after Pepsi’s “Roman Empire” made its mark on pop culture, the brand is returning to the arena with a colossal Gladiator-themed campaign titled, “Make Your Gameday Epic™.” Celebrating the start of the 2024 NFL season and the highly anticipated release of Paramount Pictures’ Gladiator II in theaters on Nov. 22, this short film--directed by Jake Scott via RSA Films for Paramount Brand Studio features Megan Thee Stallion, as Empress Megan, leading a legion of NFL superstars turned Gridiron Gladiators, including Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and Travis Kelce, locked in an epic battle with ice-cold Pepsi at the heart of the action. A brand-new gameday anthem from three-time, Grammy award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion soundtracks the campaign. The unmistakable “boom, boom, clap” from Queen’s epic track “We Will Rock You” is featured on a fresh sample with cutting new lyrics from Megan. The new track became available on all major music streaming platforms, and ahead of Megan hosting the 2024 MTV VMAs last night (9.11), where the track and music-video inspired spot were heard and seen throughout the show. “I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of the legends who appeared in this Gladiator campaign 20 years ago and proud to have carved my own new legacy,” said Megan Thee Stallion. “Pepsi really brought the worlds of music, sports and entertainment together in a powerful way to set off the new NFL season.” The spot opens with Lamorne Morris and Jake Lacy peering into a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar as it transforms into a colosseum. Empress Megan calls the shots, and the royal roster of NFL players are at her command as they all vie for her favor and a sip of an ice-cold Pepsi... Read More