APEROL
TRANSLATING MY SUNNY STILLS TO VIDEO
Oxenfree and I wanted to collaborate on a test shoot—a playful, dynamic experiment where I could translate my colorful, sun-soaked aesthetic into motion. They suggested adding an extra cherry on top by shooting at the Vu Studio in Orlando taking advantage of their virtual production.
Most of my work revolves around distilling a concept into a single, striking still image. Now, the challenge was to extend that storytelling into motion—using camera movements, angles, and transitions to create a layered, immersive visual experience.
Oxenfree suggested specific camera rigs and movements they wanted to play with, which helped feed my creative thinking. To provide some much needed structure and predictability to the process, I approached the video by sketching out key moments punctuated by percussive elements and transitions within the musical piece I selected. This built out the number of shots we needed and how those would flow together.
THE SKETCHES/ANIMATIC
I turned to DaVinci Resolve to build our visual roadmap—starting with the music. The soundtrack isn’t just a layer—it’s the heartbeat, driving the rhythm and reinforcing the tone and personality.
By syncing transitions to percussive and musical shifts, I determined how many clips we’d need and how they’d fit together.
I began “sketching it out” in Davinci Resolve with simple transitions of solid colors, then pictured those color blocks representing clips highlighting the location and visual story of crafting a refreshing Aperol Spritz—before landing on a dreamy, sun-soaked hero shot. Bit-by-bit I replaced the color blocks with sketches to demonstrate the aesthetic, propping and styling for the project as a whole.
SHOOT DAY
With a tight shoot day at Vu Studio, every second counted. Our nimble crew moved fast—adjusting, refining, and executing with precision.
I led the creative direction and prop styling, working alongside Miki Knowles, our fearless food stylist, who orchestrated every detail—transforming ingredients into something impossibly fresh and crave-worthy. Meanwhile, our assistant, Wyatt Junnila, was a force multiplier—jumping between setups, smoothing details, and keeping us all on pace.
The Oxenfree crew had the video setup dialed in—fine-tuning each clip and methodically knocking out the shot list. With minutes to spare, we wrapped—every single shot in the bag.
In post, the Oxenfree team took it to the next level—layering in special FX and sound design that made this piece sing.
THE RESULT
In post, the Oxenfree team took it to the next level—layering in special FX and sound design that made this piece sing. Take a peek at how the final result compares to the animatic.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Shot at Vū Orlando, where the screens aren’t just backgrounds—they’re portals. The setting? Whatever we imagined. The challenge? Mastering a playground with limitless possibilities.
