Week 5

This week we focused on refining the details across all shots as we completed our first render pass ahead of our mentor meeting. The feedback we received was extremely valuable and helped us clarify our priorities moving forward.

• Feedback

  • Sheet textures should feel softer

  • Lessen the visible constraints on the sheet for shot 4

  • Shot 6 should have the comforter settle before cut away

  • Cloth in Shot 6 also have less visible constraints

  • Shot 7 lighting needs more contrast, look more photographic

  • Remove ease in/ out of camera moves, less jerky

  • Shots 1 and 2 need more lighting and lookdev work

With the weeks quickly counting down, our team identified Shots 1 and 7 as our hero shots to establish clear priorities. We chose these shots because we feel they best showcase the product and communicate what makes the brand unique.

I continued refining the bed sculpt by adding finer details to the model. We felt the original sculpt base was too stiff, so Mia provided a still mesh exported from our comforter sim to use as a new foundation. Using this, I added more detailed wrinkles inspired by the staging seen in Boll & Branch’s ads.

Alongside the updated model, Ella focused on improving the materials, particularly in Shot 7, to enhance the softness of the bed. We also worked together on the lighting and set dressing to make the room feel more complete.

Ella is taking on the lighting for Shots 1 and 2, while I’m taking Shots 4, 5A and 5B, 6, and 7. As a team, we made the decision to cut Shot 3. We thought it felt disjointed from the rest of the sequence. With that in mind we have been focusing on maintaining cohesive lighting across all of our shots. Shots 1 through 4 take place in our “void set,” with the pillow falling in Shots 4/5A acting as a transition into the bedroom set for the remaining shots.

After completing the initial render pass last week, Zach and I reviewed our Arnold render settings to determine the AOVs needed for compositing. We decided to render a depth, position, and normal passes along with diffuse, specular, and subsurface passes for each light in the shot.

We also completed our live-action shoot over the weekend. Given the limited time remaining this quarter, our mentors advised us to be prepared to cut the live-action portion of Shot 7 if the integration proves unsuccessful. As a team, we agreed that we are flexible on this decision and willing to remove it if necessary in order to prioritize the overall quality of the project.