HOW WE DUPLICATED LOS ANGELES IN UREAL ENGINE
PROJECTS: TISSOT
SOLUTIONS: Unreal Engine Real-Time Environment / VP Studio / VP Operators
THE BREIF
Our client wanted to recreate a very specific moment in time—Los Angeles in the 1970s, just before sunrise. The goal was to capture the early morning vibe, where soft light and rich tones set the mood, with a strong emphasis on authentic art direction from that era.
THE CHALLENGE
Achieving this shot posed multiple challenges. First, the limited window of time to capture the 10-minute window before sunrise made it nearly impossible. Recreating 1970s Los Angeles with the right light, cloud density, tree types, and sky color was a challenge in itself, but adding in the constraints of shooting during the COVID pandemic and in the winter months, it became clear that traditional filming methods wouldn’t work.
THE PROCESS
To overcome these challenges, we turned to Unreal Engine to build a fully customizable world of Los Angeles set in the hills. Our team created 3D models of the buildings, roads, palm trees, and streetlights to recreate an accurate, period-appropriate environment.
We then developed a custom system that allowed for real-time adjustments on set. The director could control the speed of the camera, adjust the position of the sun, and modify the speed and density of the clouds. Colors of the streetlights and other environmental features could also be tweaked live, ensuring precise control over the scene's aesthetic.
THE SOLUTION
The final result was a fully customizable, virtual environment where the director had unlimited time to capture the perfect eternal sunrise. With the flexibility of Unreal Engine and Virtual Production, we recreated 70s Los Angeles with complete accuracy, allowing the team to shoot with the freedom and control that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
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Client: TISSOT
Production: Creative Doing
Director: Guillaume Allantaz
Art Director: Julilen Vray
DP: Julien Bourdeille
1st AD: Sonia Rossier
Production Manager: Helen Moore
Line Producer: Julia Chraïti
1st AC: Rhony Sutriesno
2nd AC: Tanguy Lejeune
DIT: Jolan Verghade
Grip: Mathieu Werlen, Elias Fernandez, Paulo Leite Da SilvaSet Design: Michael Horchman, Mahaut Hoesl
Photographer : Nicolas Prado
MakeUp: Ruby Mazuel, Laura Colas
Stylist: Giulio Casagrande, Ilaria Poloni
Hmc: Jehan Radwan
Photographer: Gian Marco Castelberg
Dog Trainer: Laura Martin
Location Manager: John Schlegel
Editor: Guillaume Allantaz
Colorist: Florian Martiny
Graphics: Guillaume Gravier
Storyboard: Miguel VieraUnreal Artist: Pau Benazet
Virtual Studio: Appia
Music: Blondie « Call Me »
Mix: Zikali
Casting: Amandine Maugy
Actor: Léo Pochat -
Media Servers: Disguise RX + VX2
Camera: ARRI Alexa Mini
Tracking: Mo-Sys
LEDs: NovaStar 2.6mm
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