RITUALS Annual Kickoff
- Client
- RITUALS
- Agency
- FX Agency
- Role
- Art Director
- Year
- 2023
Overview
RITUALS' first ever Virtual Live Event had to feel live for 1,600+ Store Managers worldwide. We built a virtual studio where they logged in, took a seat, and reached the host through chat and emoji visible in the space. I designed the branding around the iconic cherry blossom tree and directed the environment art and cinematography.
The kaleidoscope
Each event’s theme is captured in a key visual. For this one, I designed a cherry blossom kaleidoscope. The kaleidoscope acts as a mirror, a symbol of self-reflection and strategy, while the cherry blossom represents the ever-growing RITUALS, a nod to the cherry blossom tree found in every RITUALS store.
Virtual Studio
Built in Unreal Engine, the studio put a greenscreen host live inside the 3D environment. A motorized dolly gave us crane and tracking shots, and that movement is what made the space feel as real. The environment echoed a RITUALS store with the cherry blossom tree in permanent bloom. Capping the audience at 200 seats (with viewers dropped in when they asked a question) kept it full but never crowded.
Behind the scenes
Live virtual production runs on coordination. Pre-recorded segments carried the transitions, giving us a breather and time for technical fixes. Five linked computers ran the studio between them. As Virtual DoP I handled live camera switching, aligned each new shot with the team, and coached the greenscreen cast to stand naturally in a set only the audience could see.
