Roleplay Sessions

A polished, high-key corporate aesthetic begins with a clear understanding that the product is the hero. The cinematography should support and elevate the product story without ever competing for attention. The challenge was to create a bright, refined image while retaining sufficient contrast, depth and texture to keep the visuals engaging and visually dynamic.

Shooting within the company’s headquarters provided a strong starting point. The library offered rich, warm tones, while the main office introduced cooler colours and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. I developed a warm, saturated and vibrant palette that drew from these existing environments.

Movement was also a key consideration from the earliest stages of pre-production. Corporate films can quickly feel static, so we introduced movement as a way of adding energy and production value. A Steadicam operator was used for select moments within the office sequence, creating a fluid, cinematic quality, while a slider provided subtle movement to the interview.

To elevate the production value, I chose the ARRI Alexa Mini LF, a camera renowned for its exceptional image quality, dynamic range and natural rendering. Its ability to capture nuanced colour and detail provided the perfect foundation for a premium corporate aesthetic.

I paired this with Zeiss Supreme Prime lenses for their clean, precise rendering and cinematic character. Their combination of sharpness, depth, beautiful bokeh and controlled highlight roll-off allowed the imagery to feel polished and contemporary while retaining a distinctly cinematic quality.

Synthesia is a London-based AI company specialising in synthetic media and AI-generated video. The production centred around the launch of a new product, Roleplay Sessions, designed to demonstrate the capabilities of Synthesia’s platform through a combination of live-action filmmaking, graphics and animation.

From the outset, it was clear that the visual approach needed to account for how these elements would come together in the edit. During pre-production, we mapped out which shots would incorporate graphic treatments and designed the shot list accordingly. This meant considering framing, negative space and camera movement in advance, ensuring the live-action footage provided a strong foundation for the additional visual elements.

A key production challenge was the limited availability of CEO Victor Riparbelli, meaning every minute on set needed to be carefully managed. Extensive preparation in pre-production allowed us to move quickly between setups, with the crew briefed and ready to capture each shot efficiently. The shoot required a highly considered approach, balancing the need for flexibility with the importance of maximising our limited time with the protagonist.

The result was a streamlined and efficient production process that allowed us to capture all the essential material while retaining the flexibility to respond to spontaneous creative opportunities on the day.