LA-based visual effects studio JAMM assists 215 McCann by weaving fantasy and reality together in a flawless visual tapestry with the launch campaign for Sea of Thieves. Sea of Thieves is a new shared-world adventure game developed by Rare for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.
Directed by Isaiah Seret of Biscuit Filmworks, the campaign features actor Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings, The Goonies, Stranger Things) as the curator of the Museum of More Pirate. Throughout the glorious halls, our charming tour guide honors the most ridiculous deeds and unexpected accomplishments in this shared-world, where real players are enshrined as certified legends of a weird open sea. Eight unique videos bring different game elements to life online and in movie theaters near you.
JAMM worked closely with Seret, starting at the mood board and texture reference stages. Conversations early on dictated that they would take a light, barely detectable CG approach to the live action assets, merging the real and unreal in a seamless environment. VFX Supervisors Andy Boyd and Jake Montgomery were boots on the ground during the shoot, before leading the JAMM team through all the 3D and compositing aspects of the project. All in-game assets were provided to JAMM, leaving them to enhance the resolution and integrate them cohesively into the live action environment.
Museum footage was shot at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown LA. JAMM handled room extensions, creating a larger-than-life feel by rebuilding the hall to appear grander then how it was originally. The team added the large gold statue of Pikaaroon as well as the epic CG marble statue, providing intricate detail to the textures and finishes.
All the paintings featured throughout the museum represent still frames from the actual game, assets which JAMM composited through an oil painting process in post, giving it an added dose of wonder. Most notably, JAMM animated the slithering Kraken, a Loch Ness Monster-style creature and the most feared enemy in the game. Other work included adding CG fish into the aquarium, as well as overall retouching of the environment and atmosphere, amplifying the natural with the breathtaking beauty of the fantastical.
Collaborating closely with Seret and 215 McCann’s creative team, JAMM fine-tuned the details on a daily basis over a period of two weeks. The result of their creative labor is a fantastical shrine to game legends that feels true-to-life, brought into the real world via beautifully created – and discreetly hidden – visual effects.
Sea of Thieves is available now on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.
Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Pikaaroon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlbHv0k6qYQ
Sea of Thieves: The Legend of KattTruewalker – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAPwhMOqDzI
Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Lizalaroo – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7HL8WZ_HIc
Sea of Thieves: Museum of More Pirate – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM5OymTNBzw
“BE MORE PIRATE” CREDITS
Campaign title: “Be More Pirate”
Game: Sea of Thieves
Client: Microsoft Xbox / Sea of Thieves
Senior Director, Xbox Global Marketing Communications: Taylor Smith, Director of Marketing: Julie Lowe, Lifestyle and Pop Culture Marketing: Kumar Manix, Product Marketing Lead: Lisa Humphries, PR lead: Shon Damron
Agency: 215 McCann
Chief Creative Officer: Scott Duchon, Creative Director: Neil Bruce, Copywriter: Andy Holdeman, Art Director: Tor Kologlu, Director of Integrated Production: Alex Spah, Executive Producer: Jeremy Arth, Director of Business Affairs: Mary Beth Barney, Business Director: Peter Goldstein, Management Supervisor: Bryant Marcia, Senior Account Executive: Ben Blaska, Assistant Account Executive: Monisa Lu, Director of Strategy: Brian Wakabayashi, Strategy Director: Cassidy Wilber
VIDEO
Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks
Director: Isaiah Seret, Executive Producer: Jeff McDougall, Line Producer: Kim Bradshaw
Editorial: Beast
Editor: Connor McDonald, Producer: Jeff Bielat, Executive Producer: Jon Ettinger
Telecine: Company 3
Colorist: Dave Hussey
VFX and Finish: JAMM
VFX Supervisor/ Lead Compositor: Jake Montgomery, VFX Supervisor / Lead CG: Andy Boyd, Flame Artist – Brian Hajek, Flame Artist – David Hernandez, Flame Artist – Mark Holden, Flame Artist – Michael Vaglienty, Lead CG Artist – Brian Burke, CG Artist – Zachary DiMaria, CG Artist – Stew Burris, CG Artist – Jamie Ohara, CG Artist – Joel Durham, Matte Painting – Maxx Burman, Executive Producer: Asher Edwards, Production Coordinator: Justine Pregler
Mix: Lime Studios
Engineer: Jeff Malen, Sound Designer: Michael Anastasi,
EVENT
Production Company: BeCore
Preeya Patel, Arielle Pratt, Jen Martin
Live Streaming agency: Attention Seekers
Mark Bishop
