AUDI A3 SPORTBACK

AUTOFUSS / BOT & DOLLY

Role: Design, Animation, Compositing

Commercial / :50 / 2014

Inspired by the creative application of design and technology demonstrated in Box, Audi approached Autofuss to realize a spot that symbolized the harmony of art and engineering embodied in their vehicles. To promote Audi’s new A3 Sportback, Autofuss applied their expertise in advanced 3D projection mapping to transform a pair of robotically controlled canvasses into massive lenses that would augment the vehicle. Rotating the mechanized vehicle between these two lenses, Autofuss accented a specific feature set available in the new Sportback. Autofuss took the challenge a step further by generating the effects practically and captured the entirety of the spot in camera.

CREDITS

Client: Audi
Agency: Verba
Production Company: Indiana Pictures, Autofuss, Bot & Dolly
Executive Creative Director: Randall Stowell
Director: Chris Brown
Creative Technologist: Tarik Abdel-Gawad
Design Director: Bradley G. Munkowitz
Roboticist: Asa Hammond
Director of Photography: Joe Picard
Design & Animation: Christopher Bjerre, Ryan Chen, Jason Kerr, Michael Rigley, Anthony Enos
Editor: Ashley Rodholm
Assistant Editor: Ian Colon
Executive Producer: Micah Gendron
Producer: Yovel Schwartz, Alison Plansky, Anastassia Babanskaia
Engineers: Matthew Bitterman, Michael Beardsworth, Ian Sherman
Robot Operators: Matt McDonald, Aron Pruiett, Patrick Walsh
Projectionist: Phil Reyneri
Visual Effects Supervisor: Matt McDonald
VFX Artist: Ben Hawkins
Colorist: Chris Martin
Coordinator: Johnny Carroll
Production Supervisor: Geoffrey Sawyer
Assistant Camera: Dean Snodgrass
Talent: Ryan Waters
Electronic Lighting Designer: Tom Thompson
Gaffer: Frank Strzalkawoski
Key Grip: Dave Childers
Electric: Alyssa Moran, Oscar Ness, Mick Burns
Grip: Robert “Boomer” McCann
Best Boy Electric:Chris Shellenberger
Best Boy Grip: Don Hendersen
VTR: Andy Neddermeyer
Touch Up Artist: Jim Edelhauser
Art/Fabrication: Bryan Dewe
Wardrobe/Make-up: Lisa Zomer
Set Design: Sean House
Craft Services: Michelle Kitagawa
Production Assistants: Sean Servis, Dakota Smith, Christopher Scott, Scott Badovick
Sound Recording/Sound Design/Mix: Tom Disher
Music: Sizzer

STILLS

DESIGN PROCESS

I was brought onboard along side a talented group of designers to help conceive the transformative space behind the lenses. Lead by Design Director, Bradley G. Munkowitz, the graphics team – Christopher Bjerre, Ryan Chen, Jason English Kerr and myself – were each to tackle a specific section of the spot.

My focus was illustrating “4-Cylinders on Demand” which demonstrated the A3’s ability to selectively disengage two of its cylinders to reduce energy consumption. We explored a variety of visualizations for speed. The result was airflow over the vehicle coupled with luminant pistons floating beside the car.

I also spent some time developing the lenses’ look and building an AE comp that could be customized for each section.

On the pipeline side, our master robotics animator, Anthony Enos, delivered the team Alembic files fresh out of Maya. We then integrated the robots’ motion into our Cinema scenes which would be sent off to AE for comp with the car plates. The finished comps were then sent over to the team on set, capturing the final shot.

STYLEFRAMES

TRAIL LOOK DEVELOPMENT

CYLINDERS

LENS / CAUSTICS

BEHIND THE SCENES

Autofuss put together a comprehensive behind the scenes piece, breaking down the complex processes occurring on set and outlining some of the creative and technical challenges in the spot. See below.