Author: Brian Tolle

  • Architecture &
Interior Design

    Architecture & Interior Design

    My visualizations for Architecture and Interior Design communicate your creations to your clients and the public at every phase of construction – from site selection to door knobs.

    Architectural and Interior Design visualizations are built at scale from your Revit, SketchUp or CAD files. I can work with your workflow, whatever it may be.

    Present your work in context with exact GPS coordinates, adjacent structures and accurate lighting for any time of any day.

    © Susie Douglas

    Visualization for Every Project

    Every projects starts in TwinMotion. This is where your projects files are converted to a format that can be rendered, finishes are assigned to all of the elements and lighting is set up. Your team can quickly iterate the look and any options you may have with the design.

    Create images and videos for your website, basic walkthroughs and full presentations to communicate the projects options and goals.

    When your project needs a bespoke solution, it moves into Unreal Engine to create interactive presentations, AR applications, and film-quality movie renders.

    Show your work in context, but only show clients what’s appropriate for the current phase of work. Keep the details sparse with sketch-inspired renders while you’re exploring, and see finishes and fabrics with photorealistic images when it’s time to focus on the details.

  • Virtual Film Production

    Virtual Film Production

    Big LED walls!

    Final VFX In Camera!

    Real Time Compositing!

    Film at any location!

    Save on travel!

    Save CO2!

    Save the world!

    You’ve heard the VP hype.

    The reality is that Virtual Production is still Production. You may spend less days filming on location, but you still need to create those locations both virtually and practically. You still need skilled crew, talent, creatives, and crafty.

    On your production, VP might simply be tracking and capturing camera data for post VFX. Or tracking plus a single LED panel outside the window so the actors can open the curtains while on a stage. Or maybe it’s massive virtual sets and locations on a massive LED capture volume.

    Let’s take a look at your breakdown to see how VP might be right for you.

    I can help you find the places where VP might make sense for your production, plus create and execute a production plan that will have all of your colleagues asking how you possibly captured that image on that budget.

    How MIght VP be RELEVANT to
    your Production?

    Does your script breakdown include any of the following?

    • Scenes Inside a Moving Vehicle
    • Dialogue Close-Ups at Expensive Locations
    • Set Extensions
    • Views Outside Windows
    • Virtual Creatures or other Composited Elements
    • Locations that don’t exist in the physical world
    • Your Talent standing in front of a massive LED wall while graphics play behind and around them
    • Full CG animation

    Do you have expensive locations that may need pick-ups?

    • Plan ahead to re-create filmed sets and locations for virtual pickups that intercut seamlessly with production footage.
    Previz
    Techviz

    4 flavors of VP

    To suit the needs of any given production or sequence there are four main flavors of VP.

    1. Soundstage – Location – Full CG

    Add camera tracking to your camera package to preview creatures and set extensions in-monitor during filming on any location or stage.

    For fully CG content film on a soundstage with practical camera equipment and crew. Scale your CG world, animate the characters anyway you want, but film them with a human crew using practical cameras.

    Capture camera and set data for use in post VFX.

    2. Green Screen

    Film on the same chroma stage you always do, but add camera tracking!

    Preview lineups for virtual sets and characters in-monitor with Real Time Compositing on a Chroma stage.

    Capture camera and set data for use in post VFX.

    Film in-camera VFX to final pixel with real time compositing when lighting and reflections aren’t crucial.

    3. Reflections and Lighting on LED Volume

    Do you need to capture reflective elements on your talent, but don’t want to commit to capturing final pixel in camera? Capture on an LED stage with rough CG elements! Get lighting and reflections on your actors, then comp in a traditional post workflow.

    Capture camera and set data for use in post VFX.

    4. Final Pixel In-Camera VFX on LED Volume

    Jump into the void and capture final pixel in-camera VFX on an LED tracking volume. This is a commitment.

    This process must start during your script breakdown to have any chance of being successful.

    To capture final pixel in-camera VFX a production must allow – in pre-production – as much time to create the assets needed for filming as they would traditionally schedule for the assets to be created in post, plus time for them to be tested on the volume with the production cameras.

    Previz
    Techviz
    Real Time Compositing

    LED Stage Environment Types

    The images on an LED stage should be the ones best suited to the sequence you’re filming. There is no one best option. From stills and video to 3D representations of real and imagined environments, choose the right tool for your goals.

    2D Still

    The most cost effective option to create in-camera visual effects, 2D still images are a good option for stills photography, especially tabletop images of smaller objects.

    2D Stills are not a good option if they will be prominent in frame or if parallax is needed in the background.

    360 Video

    360º video is a great tool to create seamless driving dialogue sequences. Free the camera from the hood mount to follow the story inside, outside, and around the vehicles as the characters drive.

    2D video, including 360º video is not able to create parallax and might best be thought of as the evolution of rear-projection processes.

    3D Environment

    Unleash the full power of an LED tracking volume with a fully immersive 3D environment presented in Unreal Engine. Adjust virtual props and lighting in the environment during production.

    3D Environments are the most expensive option. Price varies widely from kit-bashed to bespoke.

    Photorealistic full 3D real time environments can take vast amounts of time and resources, while simpler styles can have quite nimble timelines and budgets.

    Unreal Real Time Environment

    VP Workflows

    VP workflows shuffle work that would traditionally happen in POST up to PRE. Consider your virtual environments the same way you consider physical locations and sets. In some workflows final VFX assets must be completed before principal filming can begin.

    If your production plans to capture final pixels in camera, be sure to start your VP plan even before the breakdown of your project. Let’s chat!

    LED
    Final Pixel

    LED
    Reflections

    Green
    or Full CG

    Traditional
    Post VFX

    Practical
    NO VFX

    STORYBOARD – Explore visual language for project in an fast, iterative process using 2D images

    PREVIZ – Determine motion and editorial language of project with basic 3D models and animation

    STAGEVIZ – Plan the connections of virtual environments and practical sets

    TECHVIZ – Create a plan to ensure the previz camera moves can be filmed within the restrictions of your production equipment and stage

    FINAL ASSETS – The screen-ready assets needed to create the final-pixel VFX.

    VP TESTS – Testing the Virtual and Practical set elements to be sure that they are performant and workable on stage.

    VFX INTEGRATION – Traditional post integration of VFX with filmed elements, including compositing, rendering, camera tracking, rotoscope.

  • A Small Case of Ennui

    A Small Case of Ennui

    Currently in DEVELOPMENT

    A Small Case of Ennui is a short comedy film that you can walk into.

    Watch it on a screen as a traditional 2D film, or YOU become the camera as a spectator to the performance in augmented reality.

  • Archviz

    Pre-rendered movies and stills for contractors and architects create ultra realistic representations of new construction and renovations – allowing you to experiment with physical spaces before they’re built.

  • Lady Vase

    Lady Vase

    To view models in AR, visit on an iOS device.

    Tap image to view models in AR.

    Vase by Joe McGovern.

  • The Truck

    The Truck

    To view models in AR, visit on an iOS device.

    Tap image to view models in AR.

    Photogrammetry model of my childhood coin bank.

  • Balmy Alley Garage

    Balmy Alley Garage

    To view models in AR, visit on an iOS device.

    Tap image to view models in AR.

    These two panels from Balmy Alley are a test of large-scale models using normal maps for detail on a low poly-count model. This original model was a modest 400,000, but the lo-poly is 40,000.

    This is just one garage with two murals in an alley filled with murals (in a neighborhood filled with murals). 

    Find out more about the alley and it’s artwork:

    Brian Tolle claims no rights to any artwork captured in this photomodel.

  • Pink Cherub

    Pink Cherub

    To view models in AR, visit on an iOS device.

    Tap image to view models in AR.

    Photogrammetry model of a cast plaster cherub that was found sitting on a street light in the early 90’s. The plaster is pink, and has faded un-evenly over the years.

  • Filmography

    Filmography

    A collection of reels from Matchmove, Previz, and Animation Matching gig work at various VFX post houses around the San Francisco Bay Area.

    Camera and Animation Matching, and Previz.

    Camera and Animation Matching, and Filmed Plate Integration with CG Elements.

    Camera and Animation Matching and Filmed Plate Integration with CG Elements, projects while at Tippet.

    YEARFILMTASKSCOMAPANY
    2017AsuraMatchmove ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    DownsizedMatchmove ArtistWhiskytree, San Rafael
    Bolden!Matchmove ArtistWhiskytree, San Rafael
    2016Rogue OneMatchmove ArtistWhiskytree, San Rafael
    Dawn (TV Pilot)Layout ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    League of GodsLayout ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    2015Gods of EgyptLayout ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    Ted 2Layout ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    2014A Million Ways to Die in the WestLayout ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    The CrossingLayout ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    Cosmos – TVLayout ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    2013Geico – MaxwellVFX Data / LayoutWhiskytree, San Rafael
    Thor 2Layout ArtistWhiskytree, San Rafael
    2012After EarthLayout ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    Twilight – Breaking Dawn 2Layout ArtistTippett, Berkeley
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog DaysLayout ArtistCFE, Burbank
    2011LincolnVFX Data WranglerFramestore, London
    Ghost Rider: Spirit of VengeanceLayout ArtistEvil Eye, San Francisco
    Captain AmericaLayout ArtistWhiskytree, San Rafael
    2010ThorLayout LeadWhiskytree, San Rafael
    PriestLayout LeadSpy, San Francisco
    2009PriestVFX Data WranglerCreative Cartel
    AvatarLayout ArtistSpy, San Francisco
    TsunamiLayout LeadPolygon VFX, San Rafael
    Red Cliff 2Layout SupervisorThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    2008UntraceableLayout SupervisorThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    The SpiritLayout SupervisorThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    LegionVFX Data WranglerThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    Iron ManLayout SupervisorThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    You Don’t Mess with the ZohanLayout SupervisorThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    Red Cliff 1Previz ArtistThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    2007Live Free of Die HardLayout LeadThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver SurferLayout LeadThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    Planet TerrorLayout LeadThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    The Last mimzyLayout LeadThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    2006Night at the MuseumLayout LeadThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege TaleLayout LeadThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s ChestLayout LeadThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    The HostLayout LeadThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    Superman ReturnsLayout LeadThe Orphanage, San Francisco
    2005The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl 3-DLayout ArtistThe Orphanage, San Francisco
  • if you love something, set it FREE

    Once again available on Amazon video, “All the Others Were Practice” is now available FREE to Amazon Prime members. And, if you don’t have a Prime membership, it’s available for just 99¢ to RENT or BUY.

    Plus, “All the Others Were Practice” is still available to RENT or BUY for as low as 99¢ on iTunes and vimeo.

    Join Jôrge on his quest for the one guy who doesn’t want to set him free. Now on your favorite streaming platforms.