Sony is using the live stream of the Big Game to promote its God of War prequel.
To further transport players into this manifestation of Kratos’ world within the game, Fong brought on seasoned cinematographer Trent Opaloch (District 9) to get the most out of the location, steering clear of the overuse of green screens to deliver a more authentic vision of Sparta.
VFX Supervisor Jeremy Cox paid meticulous attention to detail in pre-production in order to utilize every possible moment of the two-day shoot. He worked alongside Fong to choose lenses and camera angles to most effectively create the illusion of a grandiose Spartan army in Greece out of 10 actors in the mountains of Southern California. Cox and his team utilized an array of duplication techniques to enhance the legion of live soldier actors in post.
The shots following Kratos transference from the Spartan countryside and back into war were shot on a green screen set, utilizing as many practical elements as possible to sustain the authenticity of the storytelling.
“I wanted there to be a strong visual representation of the transformation of Kratos’ world from idyllic Sparta to a desolate battlefield,” said Cox of the shift between the two environments.
To execute the disintegration effects featured in the second half of the trailer, Imaginary Forces brought on seasoned VFX artist Allan McKay. He and his team went through a comprehensive research phase, and then completed the extensive 3D simulations, delivering assets that were married together with practical smoke, ash and debris elements by the IF team. The final climactic overhead shot of the trailer features Kratos in the center of a circle of advancing soldiers, teaming with desperation and rage.
“After taking the player out of the customary digital world of the game, they are left in a place where they feel enticed by the story and want to jump in and start playing,” said McKay.
With this trailer, the Imaginary Forces team was able to take the God of War series into uncharted territory.
“These characters take on a life beyond their original format. Being so familiar with the characters’ digital inclinations, it was extremely rewarding to visualize them as actual people and bring that vision to life,” said producer Jon Hassell.
