The Giants immersive
immersive experience
2025
Project Type
Immersive experience
Location
Bassins des Lumières, Le Cube, Bordeaux, France
Role
Co-direction, Visual production
Production
General Strike
Culturespaces Studio
Duration
10 minutes
Location
Bassins des Lumières, Le Cube, Bordeaux, France
Role
Co-direction, Visual production
Production
General Strike
Culturespaces Studio
Duration
10 minutes
THE GIANTS is a unique immersive experience that transports the audience to the heart of Australia's ancient forests, to enter a dizzying world of excess: home to some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world.
The experience is structured around the life cycle of trees, from the moment they are born, breathe, feed and even communicate with each other, underground or through the air. And along the way, these trees create the water we drink and the oxygen we breathe.
Combining science and poetry, spectacular cinematography and computer-generated images obtained by 3D scanning of these great Tasmanian primary forests, THE GIANTS illuminates the invisible forces that animate the trees around us and offers the audience the opportunity to lose themselves in these sublime distant places - from the Valley of the Giants, home to the 'Australian Redwoods' to the 65-million-year-old forest of the Tarkine/takayna in Tasmania.
The experience encourages the public to see trees from a different perspective and, we hope, inspires them to protect them.
THE GIANTS is a collaboration between the Melbourne-based studio General Strike and the artist Alex Le Guillou.
The experience is structured around the life cycle of trees, from the moment they are born, breathe, feed and even communicate with each other, underground or through the air. And along the way, these trees create the water we drink and the oxygen we breathe.
Combining science and poetry, spectacular cinematography and computer-generated images obtained by 3D scanning of these great Tasmanian primary forests, THE GIANTS illuminates the invisible forces that animate the trees around us and offers the audience the opportunity to lose themselves in these sublime distant places - from the Valley of the Giants, home to the 'Australian Redwoods' to the 65-million-year-old forest of the Tarkine/takayna in Tasmania.
The experience encourages the public to see trees from a different perspective and, we hope, inspires them to protect them.
THE GIANTS is a collaboration between the Melbourne-based studio General Strike and the artist Alex Le Guillou.
THE GIANTS
Australia’s ancient forests
2023
Project Type
Sequences for a documentary film
Production
General Strike, Matchbox Pictures
Location
Tasmanian forests
3D forest scanning
Leonard Hambrecht & Arko Lucieer
Terraluma, University of Tasmania
Role
Point cloud optimization, visual production
Tools
Unreal Engine, Notch, After Effect
In cinemas April 20, 2023
www.thegiantsfilm.com
Sequences for a documentary film
Production
General Strike, Matchbox Pictures
Location
Tasmanian forests
3D forest scanning
Leonard Hambrecht & Arko Lucieer
Terraluma, University of Tasmania
Role
Point cloud optimization, visual production
Tools
Unreal Engine, Notch, After Effect
In cinemas April 20, 2023
www.thegiantsfilm.com
Fall 2021, GENERAL STRIKE directors Laurence Billiet and Rachael Antony contacted me about collaborating on their new film project "The Giants".
“THE GIANTS EXPLORES THE INTERWINED FATES OF TREES AND HUMAN IN THIS CINEMATIC PORTRAIT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FOLK HERO AND GAY ICON BOB BROWN WHO TOOK GREEN POLITICS TO THE CENTER OF POWER.
FROM SEEDLING TO FOREST ELDER, WITNESS THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BOB BROWN INTERTWINED WITH THE STORY OF AUSTRALIA'S ANCIENT TREES.”
My participation in this project was to create multiple contemplative or informative sequences to illustrate different behaviors of trees (growth, communications, interconnections, protections, water circulations...). The sequences would then be inserted into the documentary among the real sequences in order to propose a new vision of the forest.
Official trailer: https://youtu.be/OOYYQgzVx70
Official behind the scene: https://vimeo.com/811122682
(more details on the process below)
“THE GIANTS EXPLORES THE INTERWINED FATES OF TREES AND HUMAN IN THIS CINEMATIC PORTRAIT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FOLK HERO AND GAY ICON BOB BROWN WHO TOOK GREEN POLITICS TO THE CENTER OF POWER.
FROM SEEDLING TO FOREST ELDER, WITNESS THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BOB BROWN INTERTWINED WITH THE STORY OF AUSTRALIA'S ANCIENT TREES.”
My participation in this project was to create multiple contemplative or informative sequences to illustrate different behaviors of trees (growth, communications, interconnections, protections, water circulations...). The sequences would then be inserted into the documentary among the real sequences in order to propose a new vision of the forest.
Official trailer: https://youtu.be/OOYYQgzVx70
Official behind the scene: https://vimeo.com/811122682
(more details on the process below)
EXCERPTS COMPILATION
captures
PROCESS
In collaboration with the directors we categorized the different sequences and I created visual scenarios for each behavior or concept to illustrate. We also thought about the atmosphere to give to each place to be consistent with the images captured on location.
In the end I exported about 85 sequences and variations in 4K resolution, to let the team choose the best framing during editing.
For the creation of the sequences, once the point clouds were processed and optimized, I used real-time creation tools like Notch and Unreal Engine. This way I could experiment visually much faster and keep spontaneity throughout the creation phase.
During the first stages of the conception, we exchanged a lot with Laurence Billiet to talk about the different places captured and their specificities.
I had the chance to work with the University of Tasmania to process the Lidar data captured from the ground or by drone. I also collaborated with the teams on site during the shooting phases to capture images to reconstruct models via photogrammetry.
A lot of experimentation, both technical and visual , processing on point clouds and exchanges with the directors to succeed in finding graphic treatments adapted to the behaviors and associated with the narrative of the film.
In the end I exported about 85 sequences and variations in 4K resolution, to let the team choose the best framing during editing.
For the creation of the sequences, once the point clouds were processed and optimized, I used real-time creation tools like Notch and Unreal Engine. This way I could experiment visually much faster and keep spontaneity throughout the creation phase.
During the first stages of the conception, we exchanged a lot with Laurence Billiet to talk about the different places captured and their specificities.
I had the chance to work with the University of Tasmania to process the Lidar data captured from the ground or by drone. I also collaborated with the teams on site during the shooting phases to capture images to reconstruct models via photogrammetry.
A lot of experimentation, both technical and visual , processing on point clouds and exchanges with the directors to succeed in finding graphic treatments adapted to the behaviors and associated with the narrative of the film.
Process captures
Artificial visions
visual explorations
The cycle Artificial Visions, is a series of research and contemplative audiovisual experiences that propose a reflection on our environment and the way we perceive reality. These researches present nature through imaginary places and invite the audience to observe the process of analysis and reinterpretation of the natural environment through the use of technology.
The experiences propose smooth movements in imaginary landscapes formed by points and geometrical forms.
Using real-life 3D scans as raw material, the sequences alternate between scientific visualizations and abstract paintings inspired by nature.
On a more global level, the studies of this cycle use several techniques of capture ( Lidar 3D scanners, photography, video) with different types of processing (real-time or precalculated) and for several media (screen, immersive experiences, pen plotter printings..).
These researches are part of a long term project and are therefore destined to evolve.
Here are some projects exploring this approach: Horizon, New Land, Ingenuous, Woods Walk, Forest, Flame, On The Track.
Other experiments are also visible in my visual experimentation space.
Prints in differents formats are available to order here.
Root For Nature
“We are interconnected”
immersive experience
2024
Project Type
18 minutes immersive experience
Location
Oasis Immersion, Montreal
Role
Main visual concept, Art Direction, Motion graphics
Tools
Notch, After Effects
Location
Oasis Immersion, Montreal
Role
Main visual concept, Art Direction, Motion graphics
Tools
Notch, After Effects
Part of “Root For Nature” exhibition presented at Oasis Immersion Montreal in partnership with
National Geographic and David Suzuki Foundation, “We Are Interconnected” is an
18-minute immersive experience presented from
March 2024.
Oasis Studio commissioned Alex Le Guillou to imagine and realize the entire experience. In partnership with Azu Tiwaline for the musical composition, the audiovisual work presents a personal artistic interpretation of the notion of interconnection in biodiversity.
Oasis Studio commissioned Alex Le Guillou to imagine and realize the entire experience. In partnership with Azu Tiwaline for the musical composition, the audiovisual work presents a personal artistic interpretation of the notion of interconnection in biodiversity.
HORIZON
immersive experience
2021
Project Type
Immersive experience
Location
Oasis Immersion, Montreal, Canada
Role
Concept, Visual production
Duration
4’35
Tools
Notch, After Effect, Photography
Music
Jonathan Fitas
Photos
C. Pomerleau Gridspace Studio
Oasis Immersion
Video shooting
Jean-Philippe Dagenais
Location
Oasis Immersion, Montreal, Canada
Role
Concept, Visual production
Duration
4’35
Tools
Notch, After Effect, Photography
Music
Jonathan Fitas
Photos
C. Pomerleau Gridspace Studio
Oasis Immersion
Video shooting
Jean-Philippe Dagenais
Horizon is an immersive audiovisual experience exploring the perception of reality and the representation of dreams and memories.
The experience is displayed at OASIS Immersion (oct 2021- september 2022), a new permanent immersive space located on the first floor of the Palais des congrès, Montréal, in a space of more than 2,000 m2. It features inspiring immersive exhibitions based on current trends, people and places, both locally and internationally.
“Between order and chaos, the movements of elementary particles compose different visions that flow and mix to form abstract landscapes and natural phenomena inspired by the sky and the sea.”
The experience is displayed at OASIS Immersion (oct 2021- september 2022), a new permanent immersive space located on the first floor of the Palais des congrès, Montréal, in a space of more than 2,000 m2. It features inspiring immersive exhibitions based on current trends, people and places, both locally and internationally.
“Between order and chaos, the movements of elementary particles compose different visions that flow and mix to form abstract landscapes and natural phenomena inspired by the sky and the sea.”
PROCESS
