Interview : Vincent Reverdy

Kickstartboom brings you an exclusive interview with Vincent Reverdy an Event Experience Designer @ Connected Productions. In october Vincent and Connected Productions put together this piece for Luncesta. Looks like it was a fun night in the city and people got a really great show.

KSB // So tell me about your self? How did you get involved with 3d projection mapping?

VR // I am an experience designer who’s been working in the field of special events for the past 9 years. I started working for Colin Cowie Lifestyle and then created my company in 2003.

I’ve always been interested in projections and more recently with the concept of projection mapping. One of my first event pitch included a large static projection on the façade of a New York hotel and this was 9 years ago so I have always been somewhat linked to this industry and always interested in learning about the latest techniques used for projection.

KSB // What interests you in the field? How long have you been doing this for?

VR // I have always been drawn towards the idea of transformation. Transforming spaces and environments while the participant is immersed into the space and thus part of the transformation is something that is very appealing to me. I believe that, as human beings, we create our own reality and my game is to transform it and give life to something we tend to refer to as lifeless.

KSB // Who organized the event, and how did you get selected?

VR // We were retained by an agency to conceptualize, produce and implement the projection. I was told that (4) companies bid on the project and we were the one selected based on the concept that we proposed.

We organized the whole project including getting people there for the final projection.

KSB // How did you practice setting this up and making sure everything would fit properly, lighting?

VR // n a first instance, we “mapped” the building and created a 3d model of the facade. The mapping was then tested, and adjusted. We used a server on the day off to make sure that everything would align properly.

KSB // What tools did you use for creating the video as well as the projector (projectors?)

VR // The video was created using 3d programs such as 3ds max and cinema 4d, and then put together in after effects. We had (5) 3D animators worked on this under the lead of Roland Womack.

We used (2) Christie’s projectors 35k lumens for the projection (they are the highest lumen projectors on the market).

KSB // Who did the sound design for this?

VR // Matthew Young @ Landau Audio Design

KSB // Can you explain how the idea came about and what inspired it?

VR // We were given the moth as the central character and we came up with a story around it.

KSB // What was the most difficult part of the process?

VR // To fit within the predicament of the brand while making an experience for the people.

KSB // What did you enjoy the most?

VR // Seeing the animation projected on the façade on the day of the show.

KSB // Can you explain how long it took to setup did you have a chance to do a practice round prior to the big night?

VR // It took us 7 weeks from the day we signed the client to the day of the show (we signed on September 9 and did the projection on October 28). It all started with a moth and we created the story around it.

With regard to the set-up, we did it the night before but ran into some power issues and we were not able to test our content till the day off the show (2 hours prior). It was pretty stressful but we managed to make it happen. With those large projection work, with many parameters that come into play,

KSB // How many people were involved in total?

VR // We had (4) 3D designers under the lead of Roland Womack, (1) lead projectionist, (1) server lead, (4) production crew, (1) sound designer, our technical director, our production director and myself, so about 17 people worked on the project.