Create an epic scene in Cinema 4D

Mondlicht Studios take us through the pipeline of a key shot in ‘Elevation’ –a project created for the Motion Design Awards

ELEVATION Watch the incredible ‘Elevation’ short and find out more about the studio’s project at mondlicht-studios.de/mda

The two-minute video ‘Elevation’ became not just a project, but a praise of creativity and the motion design community. After all the unfortunate events of 2020, Mondlicht Studios and the Motion Design Awards came up with an idea to create a project to inspire designers worldwide. One of the key impacts of 2020 is our relocation more into the digital world. So, in the video, the digital and the real world are combined and both influence each other, pushing creativity through the boundaries of ‘new normal’.

In this tutorial, Mondlicht Studios demonstrate how they created one of the most remarkable video shots. The team show the process in a step-bystep guide, and share several handy tips and tricks to enhance your pipeline and efficiency.

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01  CREATE A MOODBOARD

Everyone knows how important it is to create a moodboard, but not so many artists usually do. With the project’s fantasy landscape and plot, a moodboard is vital. Looking for references, we had to think about every detail of the shot, from the rocky environment to the costume design. The project, in general, was inspired by the dark atmosphere of David Fincher's movies and this specific shot by the severe beauty of Iceland landscapes.

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02  INITIAL SKETCH

Not everyone can boast excellent drawing skills, but this step is not about beautiful images. It's a fast and easy way to create a scheme of your composition.You can test different ideas within minutes without opening a 3D program. If building a similar shot,you may prefer to leave the hero and the stele at the centre, but play with the surrounding area and adjust it to your taste.

03  OPEN CINEMA 4D

To create the base for the shot and its composition, you can use the basic instruments of Cinema 4D. Cubes and other simple objects are more than enough to build a good foundation for future work. Add the figure to the shot at this stage – it will allow you to adjust the hero's position and feel the scale much better.

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