BRIEF
After seeing TJ's maps for Tourism Ireland, GlobalHue approached us for Bermuda Tourism's latest TV campaign targeted at audiences on the East coast of the US. The agencies initial concept focused on using cuts between oversized map icons and slick live-action scenes. From the start, our creative lead, saw an opportunity to create something breathtaking. Focusing on one complete camera sweep around the island, we wanted to contrast the island's beauty with recreational activities in and around the island, creating a compelling real-time journey. Through an intense pitching process, our ambitious treatment was selected. We took the script from concept through to final delivery. With two 30sec TV spots, we needed to create scenes that were varied across the Island. Blending CGI seamlessly with live-action, involved a mountain of technical issues we need to resolve at the pre-production stage before going on-set to Bermuda. As with every production, the agency dealt with one internal creative lead in the team, who helped align the creative vision along with the technical aspects needed to successfully direct the complete production.

PRODUCTION/SOLUTION
For the on island live-action production we teamed up with Emma and the team at Flynn Productions. With one fixed camera-move, we quickly needed to confirm our 6 island locations in close proximity and plan a shooting schedule that would allow for lighting continuity in the shots.  Focus soon switched to the seamless integration between the live-action plates and the CGI camera. The timing of the camera paths, the distances travelled, the speeds, the voice over and the terrain information conveyed, were important to nail down as early as possible due to timing constraints. At this point, along with reference photography captured from the location scouting, the CGI team back in London had already started building the complete island. Modelling from reference imagery and some purchased material, billions of polys were used to create this digital Bermuda. Meanwhile the production team prepared for the tight 2 day live-action shoot. Capturing 6 locations whilst trying to work with consistent lighting, was made difficult when the weather turned and we faced a mid-atlantic storm- unheard of in the last 15 years! We managed to capture 4 locations but had to return a week later to get the last 2 scenes.  Our animatics at the MS3 stage proved an invaluable tool in guiding the talent, client, creatives and crew through the specific requirements for the live-action camera movements. For blending between the  movement and speed of our CGI and live-action cameras, we used set extensions, matte paintings and various swipes, fighting hard to match scale and perspectives within the complete journey. Bringing all the elements together our post production team had to combine countless scenes and grades to deliver the continuity you see in the final piece. Within each of these steps there were countless technical decisions the team had to conquer. Its the ability and desire of our artists matched with the tight working structure of the studio that allows for this free-flowing knowledge and problem solving to take effect.

RESULTS
Bermuda has won several awards and even more admirers amongst the creative community. Within a modest budget we have created a multi-million dollar production that stays true to its initial vision. Bermuda is just one example of how our technical abilities and creative instincts give us the confidence to tackle any production. We are still very proud of this work. “As with every TV production time is of the essence, working with just one post-production studio proved to be a huge timesaver.The use of CGI and live-action came naturally...we would've never been able to showcase the entire island if we'd have gone with just live-action and we would have lost its personal touch.  TJs’ creative direction on the project proved that using live-action and CGI provided the perfect balance of beauty and realness we were looking for. Their problem solving is impressive as we didn't have a blank slate. We had to hit specific areas on the island that appealed to the consumer. So the "fly-over" technique had to be really well thought out. There were a thousand technical decisions that had to be rendered just so in order to make the trip engaging and they came through.” Desmond Hall, Executive Creative Director, GlobalHue, Detroit.