TIMVAN

Client

Astro Project

Timeline

2 Months

Services

VFX/Compositing

Unreal Engine

Asset Creation

Simulation

Technical Artist

Website

Astroproject.io

Year

2022

TIMVAN

Digital production specialist

Who ever would have ever thought to mix Snoop Dogg and Larry David into one character?

In this project, I collaborated with Jesse Wellens and James Defina to create a spoof of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm TV show, featuring a new character called Larry Dogg. Snoop Dogg loved the idea and greenlit it alongside his NFT collection, "Astro Donuts." I generated 500,000 unique artworks for the Astro Project NFT project, with 11,111 pieces available for public minting on Opensea. Additionally, I joined the Unreal Engine team as lead VFX artist, working on various aspects like simulations, rigging cars, material blueprints, and troubleshooting in UE5. I also created and rigged key assets including Snoop Dogg's blunt, burrito, donuts and artwork for the food trucks. To leverage a more time-efficient workflow in Unreal Engine, we made use of Epic Games’ Metahuman rigs and Astro Project’s in-house Vicon motion capture system. The custom characters were pose-morphed from Metahuman rigs and the Vicon captures were retargeted to the Metahuman skeletal meshes. Throughout this project, I gained extensive knowledge in the Unreal Engine pipeline. It has been an exciting experience, and I'm thrilled to be part of Astro Project's early beginnings. Looking forward to the growth and evolution of James and Jesse's company and hopeful for future exciting projects together.

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Directors - Jesse Wellens and James Defina

Unreal Engine Artists - Parker Chatham, Jarrod Chatham, James Defina, Tim van Niekerk

Asset Creation and VFX - Tim van Niekerk

Color - Gabe Sanchez

Environment Design - Sierra Division and Leartes Studios

Character Design - Hossein Diba

Technical Artist - Yusef Ghatavi

Mocap - Snoop Dogg, Jesse Wellens, James Defina

Project

roles

Simulation

Pyro simulation of the the food truck explosion

Asset Creation

3D modeling and texturing of Snoop's blunt, burrito, the donuts, as well as branding of the food trucks.

Rigging

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Car rig and animation of the Lincoln in the drive through scene as well as miscellaneous maya -> unreal engine pipeline support.

Generative Art

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I was given the challenge of creating 10,000 unique renders of donuts, with varying traits from the donut skin itself, to the frosting and sprinkles. I ended up creating 500,000 unique pieces of art in a month timeline.

It's a fire!

As the creator of the VDB explosion simulation, I undertook the challenge of bringing a food truck explosion to life. This visual spectacle wasn't just about a fiery burst; it was about capturing the essence of the moment and making it a memorable experience for the viewers. In my arsenal was Embergen, a powerful tool that allowed me to shape and sculpt the explosion's dynamics. The artistry lay in crafting each burst, each flicker of flame, to resonate with the intensity of the scene. With precision and creativity, I manipulated parameters until the explosion embodied the visceral impact the scene demanded. Maya and Arnold became my canvas for rendering. With careful consideration of lighting, shadows, and the interplay of elements, I ensured that the explosion merged seamlessly with the surrounding environment. This wasn't just about simulating an explosion; it was about crafting a moment that transported the audience into the heart of the chaos. In the realm of After Effects, I took on the role of a maestro, conducting the orchestra of visual elements. Compositing was the art of finesse – the final step in transforming a simulation into a spectacle. Layer by layer, I blended the explosion into the scene, enhancing its impact and ensuring it resonated with the narrative's energy.

3D modeling and Design

As a 3D artist, I undertook the task of modeling, texturing, and rigging the blunt to simulate the burning process. The challenge wasn't just replicating a blunt; it was imbuing it with life, authenticity, and a touch of artistry. The journey didn't end there. The burrito and donuts, seemingly simple objects, became versatile tools for storytelling. I modeled and textured these elements to perfection, ensuring they seamlessly integrated into the narrative. Little did I know, these objects would serve as the building blocks for a generative art project that would redefine creativity.

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Rigging a car

My journey commenced with a remarkable tool: the Ultimate Adjustable Car Rig in Maya. This tool formed the foundation of bringing the classic Lincoln to life, and I meticulously configured the rig to capture the essence of vintage suspension dynamics. The goal was clear – to infuse the car with the distinct charm of old school luxury. The heart of the Lincoln's charisma lay in its suspension. With precision, I engineered a suspension system that embraced the "loose" quality emblematic of a classic car. This system wasn't just a technical aspect; it was the marriage of engineering and artistry that conveyed the era's feel and vibe. To harness this potential, I exported the skeletal mesh and FBX animation separately. This strategic separation empowered me to fine-tune animations within the Unreal Engine environment, ensuring seamless integration and easy revision control.

Astro Donuts

As the NFT artist at the heart of this project, my expertise bridged the gap between creativity and technology. Collaborating closely with Astro Project and Snoop Dogg, we embarked on a journey to redefine fan engagement and artistic expression. My role extended beyond brushstrokes and pixels. It required a mastery of code and design, a fusion of two seemingly disparate worlds. With the goal of minting 11,111 unique NFTs, a JavaScript program under my guidance became the instrument that brought art to life. 500,000 trait combinations were meticulously crafted through this program, each click unveiling a symphony of possibilities. As the NFT artist, I was entrusted with curating the traits, weighing their significance, and guiding the program to produce 11,111 distinctive digital keys. It was a dance of creativity, where lines of code wove narratives that resonated with fans. The donuts that emerged were more than just digital images; they were a testament to my artistic sensibility and technical finesse. Traits converged, guided by my hand, into creations that carried the essence of the music video. Every brushstroke was a pixel, and every pixel had a story. The Ethereum blockchain became the gallery where my artistry was displayed and preserved. Each NFT was more than an image; it was a token of ownership, a gateway to a realm of exclusivity. My role extended to ensuring that the artistic integrity was upheld as these tokens found their home on the blockchain.