Catatonia

Spring 2024

Led visual concept development and art direction for a neo-noir short film set in an apocalyptic city, blending 2D illustration and 3D environments to craft a cinematic narrative about a detective entangled in an off-world conspiracy.

Role & Objective

•Served as Lead Visual Artist and Concept Designer for a narrative-driven short film exploring a gritty, futuristic cityscape.
•Aimed to build a cinematic storyworld where a detective unravels a murder mystery connected to an off-world conspiracy.
•Focused on merging 2D illustration and 3D environments to create an innovative visual language for the film.

Actions Taken

•Produced extensive concept art to establish the neo-noir tone, using moody lighting and textured details in Adobe Photoshop and Procreate.
•Collaborated with 3D animators to translate 2D artwork into dynamic scenes in Blender, ensuring visual consistency.
•Developed a layered visual language that seamlessly blends illustrated and 3D elements for atmospheric storytelling.
•Applied animation and post-production effects in After Effects to enhance transitions and cinematic impact.
•Refined visual pipelines to integrate 2D and 3D aesthetics, overcoming challenges to achieve a cohesive film look.

Results & Impact

•Delivered a visually compelling short film praised for bringing the neo-noir city to life with cinematic detail.
•Successfully merged 2D and 3D media, creating a distinctive visual style that amplifies narrative depth.
•Strengthened skills in cinematic storytelling and pipeline development for hybrid visual projects.
•Established a reusable workflow for integrating 2D and 3D assets now applied to future filmmaking projects.