ArsenalFX, a leading Visual Effects Post Production studio specializing in high end commercial finishing, has produced visual effects for two new national Lexus spots. The announcement was made today by ArsenalFX Executive Producer Ashley Hydrick.
Working directly with client Team One (El Segundo, CA) ArsenalFX provided VFX to two spots, "Shift," which broke during the weekend after Thanksgiving, and "Say Nothing," which broke on November 15th. Both spots will initially be airing during in-game sports presentations.
In the "Shift" spot, we see the dashboard inside a silver Lexus GS performance sedan, as the driver pushes the start engine button, and accelerates down a dark road at night illuminated by brilliant white lights blurring past. The driver shifts, then shifts, and then shifts again, through all eight speeds of a transmission connected to more standard horsepower than the German competitors. We hear the VO announcer say, "That is the moment when driving the Lexus GS will shift your perception. This is the pursuit of perfection." To view "Shift," please see below or CLICK HERE.
In the "Say Nothing" spot, we see a white Lexus IS sport sedan speeding around the curves of a racetrack under a cloudy sky, snow capped mountains in the background, as we hear the VO announcer: "We could say a lot about the most track tested IS ever. About its stiffer suspension, precise steering, and more rigid chassis. But the truth is, we don't have to. The experts have spoken — now it's your move." To view "Say Nothing," please CLICK HERE.
About ArsenalFX's Work on Lexus "Shift" Spot
The "Shift" spot involved ArsenalFX digitally removing vehicle front and rear sensors, and dirt, as well as some light spec removal on the vehicle itself. The entire conform of the spot consisted of variable speed alterations and motion estimation warps. Light effects were added by ArsenalFX to simulate the outer lights on interior shots. Road vibrations and vehicle movement were also simulated by Arsenal FX on all exterior road shots.
In addition, interior speed and RPM gauges were also reconstructed and redesigned by Arsenal FX for proper speed manipulation. Roto-scoping and tracking was also utilized in various shots. To tie the full spot together, each shot had to be repo'd and resized for optimum viewing. A 2:35 letterbox was added by Arsenal FX for the final touch.
"Shift" Credits: Agency: Team One; Agency Producer: Jenny Valladares, Group Creative Director: Craig Crawford; Production Company: Bandito Brothers; Editor: Bryan Cook; ArsenalFX: Producer: Caitlin Forrest, Senior Lead Flame Artist: Terry Silberman, Jr.Flame Artist/Spot Conform: Jeff Aquino
About ArsenalFX's Work on Lexus "Say Nothing" Spot
This spot required ArsenalFX to clean up a good deal of ground seen on the race track, as the road whips past the speeding car. This work spanned crane shots, curving roads, and camera zooms. Conventional 2D tracking techniques would not have been able to provide this outcome without extensive hand tracking and an odd-looking perspective.
In order to accomplish this road cleanup, ArsenalFX used 3D tracking software (Boujou) to create a 3D camera that would match the live action camera which was used to shoot the original footage. These sequences were then brought into a 3D program (Maya) where the ground was modeled as geometry. Simply using a flat plane was not enough — ArsenalFX needed to match the curvature of the ground. This was all exported as an FBX and imported into Flame.
Once inside Flame, the ArsenalFX team painted numerous clean still frames of the race track. These were then projected onto the ground geometry and tracked in, via the 3D camera. Ultimately, a seamless and camera corrected fix resulted in a faster process, and in superior quality of the finished picture.
"Say Nothing" Credits: Agency: Team One; Agency Senior Producer: Pilar Leff, Digital Art Director/Designer: Quoc Lu; Production Company: Bandito Brothers; Editor: Bryan Cook; ArsenalFX: CG & Design VFX Director: Casey Conroy; Lead Flame Artist: Matt Motal; Senior Flame Artist: Terry Silberman; Flame Artist: Jameson DeSantis; 3D Generalist: David Carlson; 3D Generalist/MatchMover: David Hyatt; Motion Graphics: Andrew Schreiber; Nuke Compositor: Jeff Kalmus; Jr. Flame Artist/Spot Conform: Jeff Aquino
About ArsenalFX
Founded in Santa Monica, CA, in 2008 by Mark Leiss, with Terry Silberman serving as Partner, and Ashley Hydrick as Executive Producer, Arsenal FX is an artist-driven, Visual Effects Post Production studio set within a boutique environment. The company specializes in commercial finishing. ArsenalFX enjoys a stellar reputation and a diverse global client base, spanning the industries of advertising, motion pictures, and television.
ArsenalFX's sister company is ArsenalFX Color, founded in 2012 by Mark Leiss and Larry Field. In just a short time, that company has earned a strong reputation in Hollywood for providing the horsepower and top gear that major TV studios expect, within a personalized, comfortable, boutique-style environment. ArsenalFX Color specializes in television finishing. The sister companies often collaborate on various projects, as each has the ability to utilize the services of the other.
ArsenalFX considers its greatest strength the talent of its award-winning artists and technicians, whose collective years of experience, along with a shared hunger for new challenges, has resulted in an uncompromising standard of excellence. Under Ashley Hydrick's supervision, the ArsenalFX team has the expertise and technology to provide state-of-the-art visual effects for any commercial, TV show, or feature film, regardless of its size or location, anywhere in the world.
Since its founding, ArsenalFX has contributed visual effects to many hundreds of commercial spots on behalf of such major clients as Sony, Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, Nike, Redbull, BMW, Bud Light, Hyundai, Audi, Lexus, Chevrolet, Mazda, McDonalds, State Farm, U.S. Cellular, and dozens more.
ArsenalFX and ArsenalFX Color are located in Santa Monica, CA. ArsenalFX phone: 310/453-5400. ArsenalFX Color phone: 310/453-5444. The company website is: www.arsenalfx.tv
