Watch the ground

On a dirt BMX track, a rider trains by himself, facing both the course and his own limits. This duel is about to take shape. The ground trembles, cracks… and hurls the rider into a fearsome race.

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Inspiration

Watch the Ground originated from a student 3D short film I made years ago, a time when I spent countless hours cycling. The sensation of speed, the fear of falling, the constant awareness of the ground and the sensations it evokes, remain etched in my memory. This short film is a modern reinterpretation of that idea: visualizing the invisible struggle between a cyclist and the terrain, where every meter can become an adversary. But the technology of the time limited my vision... AI allowed me to finally create the image I envisioned.

What the Film Does

The film transforms the dirt track into a living enemy: a creature of dust, stones, and vibrations that emerges beneath the cyclist's wheels.

Watch the Ground depicts a cyclist's inner struggle against their own limitations, materialized by a terrain that comes alive. The viewer experiences speed, danger, and adrenaline in a short, intense, and almost sensory sequence.

How ​​We Made It

The film combines 3D and AI:

  • A concept inspired by an old 3D student short film, revisited with AI. 3D is used in pre-production and as animatics to guide the AI.
  • Traditional 3D to structure the environment, stabilize shots, and anchor the action.
  • Production relies primarily on AI tools such as Photoshop and Nano Banana for image processing and ComfyUI, Wan, and KlingAI for animation.
  • Compositing to perfect the coherent cinematic rendering.

The creative process blends 3D pre-production and AI generation to maintain complete control over shots and action while leveraging modern tools.

Challenges Overcome

  • Maintaining a consistent visual style for AI-generated shots.
  • Following the animatic while maintaining control of the AI. Creating a "crocodile made of earth."
  • Finding the right balance between realism, abstraction, and visual poetry.
  • Transforming an old student idea into a more polished and professional work.

Achievements We Are Proud Of

  • A unique pipeline blending 3D and AI.
  • Successfully maintaining absolute control over the AI's creation to produce a true film with continuous action from shot to shot, not just a trailer.
  • Capturing the true feeling of impending danger. Getting as close as possible to the earth, the speed, and the danger.

Lessons Learned

  • AI can be a powerful tool, but it requires strong art direction to maintain consistency.
  • Revisiting past projects can reveal their full emotional potential.
  • Combining personal experience with modern technical tools creates unique artistic value.

Next steps for Watch the Ground?

  • Develop a longer film with a complete narrative arc.
  • Improve the 3D/AI pipeline.
  • Develop a 3D/AI animated series.
  • Create a making-of documentary and detailed training materials explaining the AI/3D creation process.

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