Emmy Awards 2023: Detailing the Unseen Visual Effects by Barnstorm for Ted Lasso
Barnstorm VFX Nominated for Emmy Award for Ted Lasso's Visual Effects
The Barnstorm VFX team has been nominated for an Emmy Award for their work on Apple TV+'s hit series, Ted Lasso. Five members of the team – Bill Parker, Compositing Supervisor; Lenny Wilson, CG Supervisor; Brian Hobert, Compositing Lead; Kenneth Armstrong, Compositing Lead; and Ying Lin, Compositor – have been recognised for their contributions to the show's visual effects.
One of the most prominent visual effects on Ted Lasso is the creation of stadiums and crowds, which are a mix of computer-generated (CG) imagery and practical performances. The team's approach is to ensure that every game is a narrative, with the crowds reacting specifically to the action on the field.
To achieve this, the Barnstorm VFX team has employed several techniques. They use Mocha Pro and Silhouette to streamline their workflow and save time. This season, they have taken their efforts a step further by conducting 3D captures of individual crowd members using volume scanning to record real movement and emotion. These recordings can be repositioned and re-lit to better match their environment, offering the best of both worlds between real and digital performances.
The team's compositors are expected to have a thorough understanding of planar tracking and the ability to track and roto small things in a pinch. Mocha Pro is a key tool in their daily workflows, used for tasks such as creating masks or planar tracking, allowing artists to complete final shots without needing to kick work back up the chain.
Silhouette, on the other hand, is used by Barnstorm VFX's rotoscoping vendors for roto tasks. The results can be QC'd internally or tweaked slightly if needed. Having a generalist mindset, with a broad skillset, helps the team work efficiently and communicate effectively.
In most shots, the only real things are the players on the field, and they are shot on an open practice field, requiring extensive roto and comp. The team adds digital LED hoarding, advertisements, and sometimes a digital ball to the shots. Mocha Pro helps compositors be more self-sufficient and is a valuable tool for solving problems creatively.
While specific examples or descriptions of visual effects work involving Mocha Pro in Ted Lasso Season 3 are not documented in the provided search results, Barnstorm VFX is known for their high-quality VFX work and likely used Mocha Pro for these purposes. For more detailed case studies or examples, one might find them in industry interviews, behind-the-scenes featurettes, or VFX studio press releases.
The Barnstorm VFX team is proud of their work on Ted Lasso and feels the visual effects are getting better with each season. They are looking forward to continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible in visual effects for television.
- Despite their successful work on movies-and-tv shows like Ted Lasso, the Barnstorm VFX team is also keen on exploring opportunities in other areas of entertainment, potentially delving into creating visual effects for sports broadcasts.
- beyond football matches in European leagues, the team is interested in experimenting with visual effects for other sports, aiming to enhance the viewer experience across various sports disciplines.
- Recognizing the significance of collaborations and diversity within the industry, the Barnstorm VFX team is open to joining forces with sports organizations and leagues, using their expertise in visual effects to bring a unique, immersive experience to sports fans worldwide.
