Balmain | Virtual Fashion Show

UTILISING UNREAL ENGINE TO CREATE FUTURISTIC VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS

For the production of the Pierre Balmain’s pre-fall 2022 collection films, Happy Finish were approached to create futuristic virtual environments using Unreal Engine.

Working as close creative collaborators with Lalaland Productions and Director Norbert Schoerner, we supported in a new and highly innovative way of shooting, by owning the process of the environment creation for an XR virtual production. Inspired by various futuristic references including Stanley Kubrick’s iconic 2001: A Space Odyssey they designed five environments, including a descending space ‘lift’ and a 360-degree spinning ‘centrifuge’.

Each of these virtual environments were projected onto the stage on high end LED screen walls and floor behind and below the models. These sets then react to the real-life camera moves and using Unreal Engine the content on the LED walled background and LED floor change to complete the scene being filmed. This technique completely removes the need for green screen compositing to produce the final result. The shoot, filmed in Paris, used camera tracking technology allowing for the perspective of the environment to alter as the models moved around the stage.

This project was showcased how the luxury sector is at the creative forefront when it comes to utilising the latest virtual production techniques to maximum effect.