In October 2018, I collaborated with an artist who was dissatisfied with the initial results of his music video. The video consisted of just two static shots—a green-lit and a blue-lit take—based on the song’s cover art, which depicted the artist lying on the floor bathed in those same hues. While visually cohesive, the lack of variety and energy made the video feel repetitive and uninspired.
The artist challenged me to reimagine the footage, and I welcomed the opportunity to push the creative boundaries. At this stage in my professional VFX journey, my skill set was focused primarily on compositing rather than CG elements, so I decided to lean into a highly stylized, motion graphics-driven approach.
I began by brainstorming as many iterations of the two shots as possible, aiming to introduce dynamic visuals and break the monotony. This process was challenging, requiring me to think deeply about how to recontextualize the limited material in innovative ways. Some concepts were experimental, but others became key moments in the final video:
A sequence where the artist’s dreadlocks seemed to grow out of his head.
A surreal shot where crosses rotated around him, creating a sense of mysticism.
A motif in which green-lit shots were oriented upright, while blue-lit shots were flipped upside down for contrast and visual rhythm.
A striking shot where the camera flew through the artist’s mouth, transitioning to the alternate shot multiple times in sync with the beat.
These creative flourishes transformed the static, repetitive footage into a visually engaging, stylized narrative. While this project wasn’t a showcase of technical complexity, it highlighted my ability to solve creative challenges and develop compelling visuals within constraints.
This music video demonstrated that creativity doesn’t always rely on extensive resources or advanced tools—it thrives on problem-solving and vision. By embracing the limitations of the project, I delivered a video that not only satisfied the artist but also showcased my ability to blend creative freedom with purposeful decision-making.
