The VFX Journey of Ladbrokes 1-2-Free

Despite its ending, we can all agree that the Euros was an exciting and beautiful game - and this is what Irresistible Studios very own rostered director collective Octane brought to their film, in partnership with Ladbrokes. Epic footballing moments are displayed on a cinematic canvas, set in a richly textured CG stadium, designed in Irresistible’s very own post-production hub!

A busy day spent at a green screen studio capturing footballers performing on artificial grass, later transformed into stunning 3D environments. Octane captured the scenes at 500 frames per second using a high-speed camera. This technique allowed them to document every thrilling moment in perfect detail and embellish specific actions - think sliding tackles, bicycle kicks, and airborne interceptions.

Stepping up to the challenge, the lighting and VFX team had to make sure the characters felt like they were embedded within a stadium, in the CG world. A stylised lighting setup was instrumental in facilitating this, mimicking stadium lighting and aligning with what the Irresistible Studios VFX team were building.

Led by in-house VFX supervisor and compositor, Peter Welton, the team used industry standard compositing software, Nuke, to camera track, key out, and separate the players from the green screen - laying out the foundation for a breath taking digital environment. They breathed life into the CG world, infusing the stadium with thousands of football fans clapping, cheering, and waving flags. The scene was further enriched with volumetric lighting, atmospheric effects, glowing LED billboards, lensing artefacts, and crowd camera flashes. The directing team’s attention to detail was impeccable, focusing on elements such as motion blur, depth of field, and the colours of the crowd jerseys.

Jude Bellingham’s epic bicycle kick goal against Slovakia in the Euros was unforgettable. This superhero-style goal, featured in the film, is given extra power with the rotation added in sync with the player - a great nod to the phenomenal goal that left England fans awe-struck.

Octane has crafted a film that radiates footballing excitement and spectacle through a silky smooth journey of amazing football moments. Utilising their expertise in VFX and animation, the directing collective has an exciting future ahead, where they can explore the balance between real and heightened moments through production design, engaging performances, and momentous camera transitions.

It's not only an exciting time for Octane, but also for Irresistible Studios, which has been making great strides in post-production and animation. Recently, they moved to Clerkenwell Green and introduced state-of-the-art post-house facilities - a promising future for the team.