LA-based visual effects studio JAMM brings a freaky fantastical and grotesquely beautiful vision to life for Die Antwoord’s “Alien.” Directed by Die Antwoord’s Ninja, the story he conceived with band-mate Yolandi Visser shows the South African rave-rap group continuing to push the boundaries of what a music video can be.
JAMM was introduced to Ninja through editor Leo Scott, and after meeting, it was quickly apparent the two parties would be creatively compatible. For “Alien,” Ninja wanted to capture the sense of otherness Die Antwoord felt when they came to the United States, in their own subversive, visually nightmarish way. The goal for the VFX was to create something never-before-seen yet authentic-feeling, a creature transformation which could exist within the pages of National Geographic.
Shot in Detroit, the video features Yolandi as a hoodie-wearing, insect-resembling alien. As the alien walks through a gritty and starkly real world, her non-citizen status denies her service at a diner, forcing her to trawl the streets alone. The exiled alien seems so perfectly enmeshed into reality, the viewer soon forgets they are viewing a VFX creation.
Amidst the bleak background, a glowing centipede-like creature encircles the alien girl. She catches it, and eats it – ravenously – tearing into its carcass and gooey entrails. A metamorphosis begins, as a webbed cocoon begins to grow and glow around the entire shape of her body.
The process becomes even more gorgeously realized through another transformation from unreal to real, as a second creature breaks through the cocoon. Emerging through the webbing, a human girl is revealed (played by Sixteen Jones, Ninja and Yolandi’s real-life daughter.)
“We're used to doing complex creature work … the cocoon was a new type of challenge,” says CG Artist Zak DiMaria. “It was important to Ninja that the cocoon looked very real, but also unlike anything people had seen before. We based the material of the cocoon on different molds and fungi to ground it in reality. Then we simulated it and allowed it to evolve and grow on its own into a very detailed and beautiful structure.” DiMaria led the JAMM team through the cocoon FX simulation, the most challenging aspect of the VFX process.
References from the natural world – moths, plants, coral and growing mushrooms – were interpreted to create the cocoon-like formation. JAMM made a custom digital mold that could evolve, with thin threads of webbing that would grow down the contour of her body. As the webbing grows, there is a physicality to it that grows denser and denser.
Another exciting aspect for this project was creating a photorealistic centipede with the wings of a damselfly, explains Animation Supervisor Stew Burris. “Ninja had a clear idea in his mind of how this creature should move and behave. He didn't want it to look too Tinkerbell or Fairy-like. Because this creature does not exist in nature, I used a combination of damselfly and centipede references to find a believable middle ground. These are the types of challenges I truly enjoy as an animator.”
Additionally, JAMM created the CG opening titles featuring the neon-lit insect encircling the Die Antwoord logo and song title. The sequence sets the mood for the entire film, a bizarre visual feast enhanced by JAMM’s attention to detail, from the creation of the centipede’s glowing internal organs to the delicate webbing of the cocoon.
“Ninja has such a strong vision,” says VFX Supervisor Andy Boyd. “He knows exactly how he wants something to look, and he works with you to get there and get it onto the screen.”
2024 AICP Awards Tour Concludes with Stops in Dallas and Chicago
The 2024 AICP Awards Tour concludes with stops in Dallas and Chicago this month as it wraps up its tour of cities across the U.S. The National Tour brought presentations, panels and screenings to marketers, advertising agencies, production and post production companies. The AICP Awards will be in Dallas on Thursday, November 14th, at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the Chicago event, set for Thursday, November 21st at The Old Post Office. Tickets are available now for both events at www.aicp.com. In Dallas, the program kicks off at 6:45 pm with a happy hour, followed by the screening and panel discussion at 7:30. The evening ends with a networking reception from 8:30 to 11:30. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas. Appearing in Dallas will be Abe Garcia, Chief Creative Officer, Dieste; Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content, Southwest Airlines; and Isaac Pagán Muñoz, VP, Executive Creative Director of PepsiCo Foods. The panel will review selected winners from the suite of the AICP Awards programs, offering insights into what made them rise to the top of their respective categories and share their viewpoints on key trends in the industry. The Chicago stop starts at 6:00pm with a happy hour, followed by the presentation and screening at 7:00pm. A reception caps the event, starting at 8:00pm and concluding at 11:30pm. The Old Post Office is located at 433 W Van Buren Street in Chicago. The panel there will feature 2024 AICP Awards Curators and Winners from the marketer, agency, production and post production sectors who’ll highlight this year’s winners. The conversation will include a discussion about the winning work, including insights... Read More