Challenge Accepted with Dr Disrespect for WOT Blitz case study

Client: Wargaming | WOT Blitz

Talent: Herschel Beahm IV aka Dr Disrespect

Location: LOOK AD ME Studio, Irvine, CA

LOOK AD ME Services:

Full service photo and video production

Celebrity rider/logistics + wellness management

Crew hiring, payroll, and on-set coordination

Photo, video, and BTS capture

Complex production design with VFX

On-set VFX supervision & DIT playback

Sound, lighting, grip, teleprompter support

Post-production and VFX

Platform: Global Campaign | World of Tanks Blitz (digital campaign, in-game integration, and music video release)

Project Overview:

The commercial with collaboration with Dr Disrespect was made for 8 years anniversary of World of Tanks Blitz game. 

The commercial was directed by Rollo Hollins. Rollo’s plan was to “ introduce the World of Tanks Blitz Arena in such a way that it grabs a wide audience and takes them on a journey that not just introduces them to the WOT Blitz Arena, but lodges it in their mind. An 80’s retro gaming arcade filtered through the brash visual style and design cues of Dr Disrespect but elevated beyond Twitch streaming, beyond home-grown effects into something more intriguing, more cinematic, and more inviting – a world that pulls us into the World of Tanks Blitz.” 

The Challenge and Solution:

We had a very interesting and challenging task for our VFX team managed by Vlad Smakov (Huestone studio) – to recreate the spirit of arcade games. We decided not to deceive the viewer in any way, so the games were made in the original low resolution, which was then projected on a pixel grid like in the old CRT monitors. We used the resulting image as a texture on a curved 3D screen. This helped us realize any ideas for camera movement and macro shots without losing details. Therefore, viewers who will watch on large 4K screens can even see the phosphor dots. 

We also had an unusual experience of remote collaboration. It was made with production designer Gena Tumelevich, who created and managed the set remotely. The set was built at LOOK AD ME studio by set art director Kevin Boylan. Such experience did not affect the quality of production. There was created very good communication between the director, cinematographer, and other creative team members. The production designer presented his vision in the form of a 3D sketch which was created specifically for our studio with all shapes, sizes, textures, and detailed explanations of how to build it. It was done very professionally, fast, and looked very creative. 

The clients were able to watch and manage everything remotely.