Short Film
Synthetic Pleasures
Revenant
Revenant joined forces with the powerhouse that is director Stuart Langfield and collaborated to open OFFF Barcelona 2024 with a stunning title sequence, Synthetic Pleasures. This project showcases our innovative VFX capabilities, blending cutting-edge technology with human experiences in a narrative that sees an AI orb escape the confines of its digital realm to explore the physical world.
Synthetic Pleasures made its debut in front of an audience of 3000 on the final day of the OFFF conference, not only serving as a creative showcase for Revenant and Langfield but also marking a significant achievement on the international stage. The sequence imagines a world where our familiar digital assistants like Siri and Alexa break free from their confines, taking control of human bodies in a playful yet profound exploration of AI's potential impact on society.
Kevin McCrae, Revenant’s founder and creative director, emphasises the importance of early involvement in projects to ensure a seamless workflow from concept through to final delivery. This approach was pivotal in Synthetic Pleasures, where the team faced the challenge of designing the AI orb. The orb needed to strike a perfect balance between digital precision and organic fluidity, a task that required extensive research and development, including numerous design iterations and animation styles. Ultimately, the team settled on a fluid, slightly ominous movement style that effectively conveyed newly gained sentience, enhancing the narrative’s impact.
The tight timeline of six weeks from filming to final delivery demanded rigorous planning and clear communication. Collaborative efforts included detailed pre-filming strategies to streamline VFX integration and on-set data capture, critical for executing the complex post-production required.
The success of this project underlines our commitment to pushing the boundaries of visual effects and storytelling, highlighting the studio's ability to merge technical prowess with creative vision as we explored the intersection of technology and human emotion.
Crew
Writer & Director - Stuart Langfield
Producer - Kieran Smyth
Producer - Stuart Langfield
DOP - Leon Brehony
Cast - Ling Tse, Aidan Jolliffe-Byrne, Roxi Hofmann, Michael Jean-Marain
Title Design - Antihero Studio
Choreographer - Konstantin Koval
Score & Sound - AEPH
Colour - Nadia Khairat
Key Grip - Graham Pittaro
Grip Assist - Richi Holt Jnr
Wardrobe - Heida Senkute
On-Set VFX - Jack Lang
Camera - No Drama
Special Thanks - Jen Mackie, Will Farquhar, Honor Anderon, Andrew O’Connor, David Bell
VFX Credits:
Studio: Revenant
Creative Director: Kev McCrae
Managing Director: Pam Nelson
CG Supervisor: Joe Lawrenson
Creative Supervisor: Scott Taylor
Executive Producer: Debbie Ferguson
Producer: Sean Ewins
Animator: Luke Angus
CG Artist: Ignasi Casas
Compositor: Abby Barr