Animatic, Ten Hard Questions, and Photoscans.

What is the film about?

The Wahoo Roam opens up a whole new world of riding! The commercial features Wahoo’s lineup of bike computers in a thrilling immersive experience.

Why this film, why me, why now?

Bikes are my transportation, my seasonal profession, and my hobby.

At the local trailhead, there is a sign that says, “The best accessory to your bike is the trail.” In my opinion, the second-best accessory is a Wahoo bike computer. What product facilitates the trails more than the Wahoo? Any rider can use this tool for their own personal needs: navigation, statistics, planning rides, sharing rides, music control, radar/light compatibility…

The Wahoo Bolt, Roam, and Ace are products that I am excited to share. They are the perfect canvas for celebrating riding and displaying the work I’d be thrilled to collaborate on after school.

Does another film like yours already exist?

This commercial’s title, “Why I Roam,” comes from a previous advertising campaign from Wahoo. The campaign emulates a docu-series which illustrates the reasons these #Wahooligans ride their bike. Their creative stories inspired me to share my own.

Though my commercial will share the same name as Wahoo’s, there are key differences. Wahoo’s series hosts personal accounts about individuals’ passion for riding. There will be no narration or documentary qualities within my piece. My personal passion for cycling will strictly be displayed through the visuals.

The original series has some striking cinematography. I plan on extracting a similar awe from the viewer by using VFX for a more surrealist quality. By implementing my unique creative vision, I will create a commercial that stands out amongst the rest.

What do you need to learn to make this film and what creative risks are you taking in making your film?

Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge what I do know. I am more than proficient in Nuke and Maya. I understand Python and VEX code. I can match/integrate live-action footage with a CG environment. I am proficient in Houdini. I plan on expanding my knowledge with height fields and particle effects within that program. There are inherent speed bumps that I will learn to work around during production.

The main technical risk is to learn new processes while achieving a photorealistic product. Additionally, the commercial is in a “one-shot format.” This is also a creative risk because the beats of the story cannot be assisted by the edit. There is an added risk of the sequences not transitioning flawlessly. This will need to be heavily considered during preproduction.

Another creative risk is the tone that I am willing to swing for. Many ‘luxe’ product commercials tend to have a grounded tone. A sprinkle of surrealism and playfulness is what I am going for. For instance, the processing chip in the Wahoo Bolt will resemble a derelict city more than a processing chip.

What are your collaborators (actors, fellow creatives, financiers, distributors) getting out of working with you on this project?

Necessary collaborators include a hand model, composer, and potentially a sound designer. They will be able to share the project for their own portfolio. I’ll be in constant communication with mentors, friends, and peers for support.

Is the film you want to make undeniable?

This commercial is undeniable in the sense that the audience will be immediately hooked and intrigued because of my creative visual language. I am confident in the story.

What are your deal breakers?

First and foremost, I want the entire commercial to be photorealistic. Any part of it will be able to go on my reel.

Secondly, I want to stay within my comfort zone to achieve this first goal. My comfort zone is utilizing my skills and knowledge while learning adjacent processes within the VFX pipeline. In the past, I have said yes to projects and learned the “how” along the way. It is a great way to learn. However, the output was not always photorealistic. My goal is to be realistic.

Thirdly, I do not want the length of the project to create an overwhelming workload. Since I will be learning new processes along the way, such as a particle effect, this is especially important.

What is the right funding and distribution model for your film? Approximate budget. What is the plan raise the funds? Why is it a realistic?

The main distribution goal is to get the project into The Rookies. Otherwise, the project will be used on my reel and shared on social media. Any funding necessities will be paid out of pocket.

Who is your audience and WHERE are they watching movies? Festivals?

The audience is recruiters, my mentors, Wahoo, and anyone watching my reel.

How do you define success for your film?

Success for this commercial is having the final output reflect the storyboards in a photorealistic manner. I want the product to use all of my skills as a generalist. If the viewer buys a Wahoo or gets on a bike, it will be a success.