Fortnite
Cinematic Layout Artist
In 2021 I got the opportunity to join the Fortnite Live Events team as a Cinematic Layout artist. In this role I got to closely work along side very talented developers from many departments, disciplines and studios. Epic's layout artists were incredibly welcoming and shared a great deal of knowledge and practices, helping me develop my cinematics skills.
Fortnite Live Events
Fortnite Live events are one off events that serve to tell episodes of the Fortnite story, host virtual concerts or presentations for other IPs such as Star Wars.
Responsibilities
Cinematography - Placement of camera and animating camera movements.
Layout - Placement of characters, environmental props, and interactables.
Greyboxing - Setting up sequence structure for event. Kitbashing in character animations, effects and audio that is appropriately representational of finalized work.
Major Tools
Tools used:
Unreal Engine 5: Sequencer
Adobe Premiere Pro
Fortnite Live Event-Chapter 3 Finale-Fracture
This event was a bit of a departure from traditional events. It had few cinematic gameplay moments and was more a playground for players, where we regularly dropped in more islands that expanded the play area and activities. For this event our sequence structure was set up with container sequences, holding each new phase of islands brought in. This was done to reduce production time needed for re-timing animations and sequences. Contributions I made on in this event were camera animation for cinematic moments, HD rumble animation, "greyboxing" the event based on storyboards and concept art for our first-playable milestone, continuous iterations on timings and cinematic animations, and ensured continuity was maintained through out the 35 minute event.
Responsibilities & Contributions
Set up compartmentalized sequence structure.
Kitbashing character animations, visual effects and audio.
Animating cameras, environments, haptic HD rumble, props, and visual effects to create cinematic moments.
Maintained continuity through out the 35 minute event.
Greyboxed event with reference materials, storyboards and concept art.
Fortnite Live Event-Chapter 3 Season 2-Collision
For this event I set up the sequence structure, dividing it into sections based on story beats and compartmentalized areas of work for different disciplines such as VFX, Animation, Audio and Gameplay. Previsualized event based on a storyboard, using an existing library of art assets, animations and SFX. Animated cameras for in-game cinematic shots. Imported Character and prop animations into scenes. Edited VO to proper alignment with character animations and moments. Animated HD controller rumble.
Responsibilities & Contributions
Established sequence structure.
Previsualized cinematic shots using existing library of assets.
Imported character and environment animations from Maya into Unreal.
Iterated on cinematic shots and maintained narrative flow.
Fortnite Live Event-Chapter 2 Finale-The End
For this event, I was responsible for animating cinematic cameras for real-time cinematic shots, editing dynamic cameras blended into gameplay, environmental animations, and solving minor bugs.
Responsibilities & Contributions
Animated cameras for cinematic moments
Animated environment set pieces and props
Blended cinematic cameras into gameplay moments