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The Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Kicked off on the 17th-19th March 2023 and we were more than excited when asked to create a full on animated Unreal Engine cinematic section for the main promo video and social campaigns for the event.
The only caveat was that all the animation had to be created in UNREAL ENGINE
So of course, we jumped at the opportunity to make this project because it embraces our love for all things motor sport and would draw upon our extensive experience creating all types of content in Realtime interactive 3D software’s.
We were given pretty much free rein with regards to what we created whilst working with our friends at Paradox who provided the master vision which was to create a film that takes the viewer into the future of Jeddah, beginning from where it all starts: the Formula 1 track at JCC. Through the eyes of a young girl, the 2023 SAGP film breaks stereotypes and bonds together universal interests intertwined by Saudi culture and tradition. And this was to be portrayed as a cutting edge fast paced unreal engine cinematic film in the style of Overwatch/Fortnite to appeal that younger generation.
We were involved across all the areas of the production from initial concept creations to final audio. Working in our usual collaborative way to bring together some of the best creatives to deliver this epic animation from ideation to final out in just 14 weeks.
The final deliverables included:
1 x Hero animated section of video 1 Min 20 Sec in duration
6 x Social media videos
1 x Cinema Poster
Check it out, we hope you like it
Check them out, we hope you like them
Check them out, we hope you like them
The project employed some of the most innovative digital production techniques being used now from AI text to image to create initial character concept designs to bespoke pipelines we have been developing within UNREAL Engine to allow us to create a metaverse of characters, vehicles and environments that would feature throughout this video. Which meant we could overdeliver on the original 45” unreal engine cinematic requested by doubling it to 1:20” within a very short deadline (the story was just too fun that we didn’t want to stop or cut corners while telling the story but would have been impossible to achieve in standard CGI)
What this project allowed us to do is speed up parts of the approval process and work in a more efficient way whilst trying put ideas without the bloat of a traditional CG pipeline, which would have severely hampered a project with the sheer volume of assets that needed to be created. If we didn’t like a shot, it was quick to drop in another camera and export out what we saw through it pretty much instantaneously which really helped us get critical sign offs along the way.
Even though the project was mostly created in Unreal we did still need to create model assets in Maya and texture in substance painter before importing them into Unreal to start building the final scenes for the unreal engine cinematic.
The characters were initially created in Midjourney and then adjusted by hand in photoshop to incorporate in specific client feedback.
We were supplied with digital 3D models of the F1 cars, these racing cars had to be faithful to the current 2023 season’s design, even though the environment they were set in was in the future. We needed to remodel much of the car model so that they were usable inside UNREAL Engine. We further had to rig each of the models to make them move inside the scenes and make some subtle design adjustments to the cars which related to each of the drivers unique ‘superpower’ and the cars unique features.
The Environments were initially drawn by hand and then finished in photoshop.
Were rough sketched by hand for speed because working in UNREAL allowed us to provide a very quick method to make previz animations (one of the key benefits of working in UNREAL)
The modelling was created in a standard CG method and build in Maya
The models were textured using substance painter and Photoshop
The lighting was done natively inside UNREAL
All the animation was created in Unreal and Meta humans combining Motion capture for the characters.
The special effect were created natively inside UNREAL
The scenes came straight out of UNREAL
The special effect were created natively inside UNREAL
A production by GTV Media Group in co-production with Paradox Studios
Executive Producer:
Tewe Pannier
Production Supervision:
Talal Dakhakhni from Saudi Motorsport Company
Production Supervision:
Jana Schumacher
Project Manager:
Krish Acharya
Script:
Gerry Blaksley, Lucas French and Krish Acharya
Development:
Noura Abou Zeinab
Accountant:
Sheela Flores
CG Production Company:
Imaginar in Partnership with Engine House
CG Producer:
Richard Watkins
CG Head of Production:
Natasha Price
CG Creative Director:
Mike Ritcher
Live action producer:
Philip Moeller
Live action director:
Ian D Murphy
Live action 1st AD:
Georges Cassab
Live action service production:
Two Tales
Main actress:
Linda Al Faisal
Steadicam operator:
Dani Dagher
Production Designer:
Sunny on Set
Wardrobe:
Windy Ishak
Production Assistants/DIT:
Fred Clemson Logan
Editing Director:
Krish Acharya
Film edit:
Karim Najjar
Music:
Holla Sonic
Sound Design:
Richard House
Final Sound Mix:
Khaled Hamdy
If you have an upcoming project coming and would like to know more about our Unreal Engine services then please get in touch with your brief and estimate budget on 0203 848 9035 or email info@immersivestudio.co.uk or complete the contact form below.
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