From the release:
Directed by Doomsday Entertainment’s Hiro Murai, the visually unique video is based on the sensual movements of Wushu martial arts, which is used to depict the complex relationship between the two lead characters.
MPC worked in close collaboration with Murai throughout, helping to create the choreographed fight sequence across buildings, epic smashes through shop windows, and a dramatic final scene where FKA Twigs is sliced in half with a samurai sword. Digital matte painting was also used throughout to build out and enhance the gritty backdrops.
The VFX team, led by MPC’s Creative Director Michael Gregory, VFX Supervisor Toya Drechsler and CG Supervisor Corinne DeOrsay, helped define the epic final sequence, including the look of the FKA Twig’s anatomy ‘post-slice’.
Gregory commented, “We carried out a test shoot beforehand to determine how the split would work and how to practically shoot it. We then modeled her in 3D and split her in two from her waist up. We re-projected the live action over the split model, creating a hollow shell for the CG to go on top.”
He added, “It was important that the sequence was not bloody or gory; instead it needed to look beautiful and otherworldly. For her new inner body, we concepted in 2D based on some key images from Hiro, and we then moved into 3D look development, with Hiro’s original vision organically morphing into something that we were all happy with.”
Watch a break down of the FKA Twigs’ slice shot:
Production: Doomsday Entertainment
Director: Hiro Murai
DoP: Larkin Seiple
Producers: Jason Cole, Danielle Hinde, Brad Weston, Anita Gou, Hiro Murai, Nate Matteson, Michael Stirton, FKA twigs
Production Service Company (UK): FRIEND
VFX: MPC
Creative Director – Michael Gregory
Executive Producer – Elexis Stearn
Senior VFX Producer – Nicole Saccardi
VFX Coordinator – John Edson
Production Manager – Sanchit Soi
Production Coordinator – Sririthika Iyer
VFX Supervisor – Toya Drechsler
CG Supervisor – Corinne DeOrsay
VFX Set Supervisors – Zdravko “Zee” Stoitchkov, Jim Radford
Bangalore Head of 2D – Siju Murugan
Prep Lead – Ragesh Ramachandran
Roto Lead – Mahendranatha Reddy
Tracking Lead – Siva Priyan Seetharaman
FX Artist – Jinguang Huang
Lighter – Mason Dash
Modeler – Christian Sanchez
Compositors – Andy Roberts, Navid Sanati, Hector Cabrera, Luis Artigas, Peter Ulukpo, Balakrishnan Ramadoss, George Gijo Peter, Nanda Kumar Perumal Pillai, Stevenson G
Prep Team – Alex J., Arulanandhan P, Jaswan Vishnu Prasath Balla Mohan Rao, Jayakumar R, Padmapriya K, Veerapandiyan Devendhiran
Rigging – Gretchen Asmar
Roto – Ravisankar S, Suvojit Ghosh
Tracking – Ankit Dheraj Toppo, Gayathri Sakthivel, Muruganantham T, Muthyalakrishnaiah Doddi, Nithin T K, Sathya Narayanan, Shridhar Bhat, Sreenivasa Aditya, Tejashwini N, Vishal Bhaskar Darkunde
Grade: MPC
Colorist – Ricky Gausis
Executive Producer, Colour – Meghan Lang Bice
Color Producer – Sasha Pace
Color Assistant – Sam Ziaie
Edit: Parallax
Editor: Luke Lynch
Sound Design/Mix: Trevor Gates