Playstation 3 “Twisted Metal” Trailer from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.
Here is a trailer that I worked on with the incredibly talented folks at Zoic Studios that was revealed at the Sony Playstation press conference today at E3 gaming convention.
We shot the “Twisted Metal” trailer over one night in downtown Los Angeles a few weeks ago. I was the DP on the gig with director Levi Ahmu, producers Chris Jones, Loni Peristere, and EP Erik Press - and a pretty fantastic crew.
This shoot was a blast - I think it’s safe to say that everyone on the crew had fun hanging out with a couple dozen actors dressed up as crazy clowns and freaks ready to light their hair on fire. While the cast and camera moves were real - the flames were all VFX of course.
The original plan was to use the Canon 1D MKIV or 5D MKII as this would be a low light shoot. I worked with the VFX team and we were worried that the H.264 compression would bring up too many potential headaches given that some of the characters had to be comped in - and each character had to have the flames added to their heads with VFX. Therefore we decided to work with the Red Mysterium-X. I was really impressed with how well the new sensor handled a pretty incredible range of exposure / latitude - far in excess of what I’m used to working with on digital. I’ve since used the Mysterium-X on two separate videos and keep being surprised at how well it holds highlights and shadows at the same time.
Someday - I’d love to see how the Canons would do relative to this sensor - but until the Canons can offer RAW recoding (i.e. not H.264 compressed footage that they currently do) we’ll never really know… As I’ve said - each camera has it’s unique place in the market today - each has pros and cons and I love to work with both of them.
Huge kudos goes to the crew and especially gaffer Mark Lindsay for finding us a spare generator at midnight when ours died at a pretty inopportune time - (anytime a generator dies on an exterior night shoot is a pretty inopportune time!) - Mark had a new one delivered within less than 30 minutes believe it or not… that’s something VERY few gaffers can pull off out there…and the guy can light circles around you too…
And kudos to Christian Hurley the Technochrane operator who pulled off the wicked shot with the cigar - the shot of the cigar being thrown from the cab ( that cigar in mid-air was CGI - but it was a real move on a real cigar from there on) the 180º turn back to Sweet Tooth (the clown) all the way to the pan up to his head is a SINGLE shot… and it was done on INCREDIBLY uneven ground mind you. Sweet. Always nice to work with pros/veterans.
I’d of course mention the dozens of SFX people - but I don’t yet have all of their names. I also hope to put up a higher res video on Vimeo (full 1080) to show off the quality of the Mysterium X camera.
Thanks to Loni, Chris, Erik, and Nick C. for thinking of me on this one. More Behind the scenes videos on the shoot to come in the next few days.
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Vincent, you are GOOD at this, wow. And I’m still going through all the HDDSLR Weekend vids like a dry sponge. You’d never know that you were a long time still photographer who blossomed into a DP/director practically overnight. Inspiring, Bud!! FWIW, it was Reverie in Sep 08 that yanked me into all this. Unbelievably exciting. Anyway, great work here!
Paulie
That’s crazzzyy. I saw this earlier today and immediately thought of you. Spooky coincidence. Or maybe you’re developing a signature style. 
-Ted
Ted Belton 06.16.10 @ 3:47 am[...] . Read all about the making of the trailer here. [...]
Pingback by Video: Vincent Laforet’s “Twisted Metal” trailer « Stockland Martel 06.16.10 @ 6:51 amMan that looks sweet V. Can’t wait to see the footage on Vimeo. That technocrane shot is amazing indeed. Love the color grading as well!
Comment by Daryl 06.16.10 @ 8:17 am[...] Latest Shoot: Twisted Metal Playstation Trailer « Vincent … [...]
Pingback by 2nd Trailer Karate Kid | Karate Kid Movie Trailer 06.16.10 @ 11:20 am[...] Latest Shoot: Twisted Metal Playstation Trailer « Vincent … [...]
Pingback by THE KARATE KID Trailer hd 1 | Karate Kid Movie Trailer 06.16.10 @ 1:00 pmgreat shot and overall direction…but the voice acting was a bit corny…actually the whole clown segment/background music looked like high quality bad FX. I know that doesn’t really make sense. But you can tell it was made by talented people using the latest and greatest, but it’s too clean. The fire was too clean, the picture was almost too clear haha. just an armchair opinion. but overall i thought it was pretty cool.
Comment by milo 06.16.10 @ 8:54 pmIf you get a chance, would love to know about the collaboration process for putting this together. You’ll hear it a thousands time, but I’ll say it anyway, nice work!
Comment by Phat Photographer 06.16.10 @ 10:30 pmAnyone else notice the audio issues with the cabbie’s dialogue at the beginning? Or is it just me???
Comment by Andrew 06.17.10 @ 1:58 amHi……….
Absolutely amazing game plays.
Thanks for sharing your twisted metal playstation trailer to me.
@Hunter, my fault - wanted to get the video out to you ASAP - haven’t gotten the final version w/ correct audio… so shhh…. don’t get me in trouble The final version was pristine - v
[...] I posted a trailer for the new ‘Twisted Metal‘ Playstation game that we shot in downtown Los Angeles. That shoot also happened to be the [...]
Pingback by Using the iPad on set – This is for you Mike S. | theshuttersquad.com 06.17.10 @ 4:18 amJust wondering your opinions on this http://www.photographybay.com/2010/06/16/reds-jim-jannard-blasts-dslr-cinematographers-says-they-should-be-embarrassed/
The original post by Jim can be seen here http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?p=615431#post615431
To be honest I find it very childish and aggravating. It is very clearly directed towards DSLR users (aka “wannabe filmmakers” by RED) especially those, like yourself, who are pushing these cameras forward and driving away Jim’s golden market.
I’m just wondering if you will still shoot RED while being considered a sellout by the head of the company.
Wow, small world. That’s my friend Mike playing the cigar smoking cabbie! Great work, Vincent.
Comment by Josh 06.17.10 @ 10:34 am[...] Honestly, we all are shooting with what’s available and what fits our needs to finish a gig. Vincent Laforent (Canon 5D user #1) shoots with a RED One too, because they went the “safer” way, not the cheaper way. (read his blog about his latest commercial here) [...]
Pingback by DSLR users should be embarrassed? | MF Films 06.17.10 @ 12:24 pmIt’s a small world indeed. I was a huge Twisted Metal fan back in the day and had stumbled across the very exciting E3 news and trailer. I had no idea this trailer was your doing.
Awesome game. Awesome commercial.
Comment by Sean 06.17.10 @ 5:31 pm[...] didn’t want to touch one this - but I’ve gotten several e-mails and comments about it - and think I’ll take the risk of weighing in. So here [...]
Pingback by HDDSLR vs. Red … has war been declared? « Vincent Laforet’s Blog 06.17.10 @ 7:00 pmGreat lighting work! Curious about the lighting of the two cabbies. Did you hang a balloon above them?
Comment by KaanAkalin 06.18.10 @ 9:42 pm[...] Laforet drehte kürzlich den Trailer zum neuen Sony PS3-Titel Twisted Metal und schob die ‘Quasi-Werbung’ für das iPad noch [...]
Pingback by [KlimBim] iPad on Set, Self-made-Bumper, entwendete App-Store-Konten, Retro-Sticker und AppSales 07.05.10 @ 2:25 amLeave a comment
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john dsouza Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:00 am
@Ted Belton, hello! may be right
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john dsouza
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