SCAD x The Mill NY update 2

SCAD X THE MILL NY

9/7/20245 min read

Pitch Presentation

Final Pitch Idea

After exploring two initial concepts, we've settled on our final idea for the pitch. The story features Leonardo da Vinci, alone with his nearly finished black-and-white masterpiece. His gaze falls upon a single red Skittle among the colorless ones on his palette. Intrigued, he places it on his canvas, and immediately, vibrant colors—reds, purples, oranges, yellows, and greens—spread across the artwork. As he steps back, he realizes that the red Skittle has brought his world to life.

Slogan: "Skittles: Paint the Rainbow, Taste the Rainbow."

This concept illustrates how Skittles can infuse color and vibrancy into both art and life.

Skittles official website

Final Product Selection and Research

After finalizing the product and concept, I conducted some research on Skittles through their official website to gather more insights about the brand. This will help ensure our commercial aligns with the product’s identity and messaging.

Brand Concept:

Playful and colorful
Brings joy and creativity
Offers a rainbow of experiences

Product Concept:

Skittles as a magical, transformative candy
A burst of fruity flavor and excitement
Inspires fun and imagination

Research & Development: Analyzing Similar Commercials

We’ve begun researching and analyzing previous Skittles commercials, as well as similar projects like M&M's ads. This research will help us understand effective approaches and techniques for our own commercial, ensuring we bring a fresh and compelling perspective to our concept.

Story Development: Black and White to Color Concept

After reviewing previous and similar product commercials, we began refining our story. Our goal is to emphasize how Skittles bring a sense of playfulness and color into our lives. To achieve this, we've decided to use a black-and-white concept that transitions into vibrant colors, symbolizing the impact of Skittles.

I was particularly inspired by a video I watched, which demonstrated how effective visuals can enhance this transformation.

Final Story and Visual Development

After refining our ideas, we’ve finalized the story and visuals, leading to the creation of our storyboard.

Story Overview: Da Vinci sits alone in his studio, staring at his nearly finished black-and-white masterpiece, frustration evident on his face—something is missing. His eyes wander to his color palette, where a single red Skittle lies among the black-and-white ones. Curiosity piqued, he picks it up and places it on an empty spot on the canvas. Instantly, the painting erupts into vibrant colors—bold reds, purples, oranges, yellows, and greens spread across the canvas, transforming his creation. He steps back, satisfaction washing over him as he realizes the red Skittle has brought life to his art and his world.

"Skittles: Paint the Rainbow, Taste the Rainbow."

Storyboard Artist: Lin Lin

Previsualization (Previs) Development

After completing the storyboard, we began working on the previs. We combined real footage with flipbook animations in Houdini to create a rough preview of how the final shots will look.

Shot Division and Responsibilities

After finalizing the storyboards, we discussed the shot divisions. I will be responsible for:

Shot 3: When the color spreads out from the red Skittle in the center, accompanied by pyro effects using Particle Advection and Pyro to create a spreading motion.
Shot 6: Skittles falling off the canvas toward the camera, using RBD and vellum/flip simulations to reveal the inside of the Skittles.
Shot 7 (TBD): Splashing paint on the canvas before the slogan appears, using flip simulations. I’ll need to conduct more research before finalizing this shot.

Research & Development in FX

After understanding my responsibilities, I began focusing on R&D for FX. I’m currently researching and gathering references to achieve the desired visual style.

Reference - shot 3

Particle Advection test by Kulin Mehta

Pyro moving with a spreading motion

Reference - shot 6

Reference Research and Practical Tests

After finding some references from commercials that clearly demonstrate the desired shot and effects, I’m now seeking real-world references to ensure the visuals look as realistic as possible. Additionally, I have crushed some Skittles to study their internal structure and how they appear when broken. This will help in accurately representing the details and texture in the final animation.

Testing RBD in Houdini

After identifying some reference material to guide our visuals, I tested RBD in Houdini for Shot 6. This helps ensure that the simulation for Skittles falling off the canvas.

I found a tutorial that, while not an exact match for Shot 6, might be useful in deciding whether to use Vellum or fluids to achieve the best visual outcome. I’ll use this resource to determine the most effective approach for simulating the Skittles' break and internal details.

For the final shot before the slogan, I’m considering a paint splash effect to reveal the text, and this idea came from Saw. Although I haven’t worked with fluid simulations before, I believe this approach has potential for a dynamic result. I’ve also found some references to guide this effect.