Grand Theft Eco
Project Summary
I helped in the process of creating a short episodic series using Machinima: the process of cinematic production through a video game engine. Using gaming technology, I created and designed a modified version of Grand Theft Auto V for the UCLA Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS) to produce episodes about a climate-impacted Los Angeles set 25 years in the future.LENS Project Page | UCLA Newsroom Article
Time Frame: Hired 8/2022 - Present
Skills:
- Filmmaking
- Design Research
- Virtual Production
- Modding
Tools: Game Image Manipulation Program, Premiere Pro, GTA V, & Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
Mods Used: Script Hook V, OpenIV, Codewalker, Menyoo, Natural Visions Evolved, & Scene Director
Skills:
- Filmmaking
- Design Research
- Virtual Production
- Modding
Tools: Game Image Manipulation Program, Premiere Pro, GTA V, & Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
Mods Used: Script Hook V, OpenIV, Codewalker, Menyoo, Natural Visions Evolved, & Scene Director
The Team:
Led by Professors Ursula K. Heise and Danny Snelson
Art Direction by Angel Tolentino
Virtual Production by Angel Tolentino, Brenna McConnell, Danny Snelson, & Elliot Bear Yu
Cinematography by Chase Niesner & Alexander Shassetz
Sound Design by Adam Wand
Technical Advising by Angel Tolentino & Elliot Bear Yu
Script by UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability LENS Affiliated Faculty: Ursula K. Heise, Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, Jon Christensen, Comfort Uda, Spencer Robins, & Shouhei Tanaka
Led by Professors Ursula K. Heise and Danny Snelson
Art Direction by Angel Tolentino
Virtual Production by Angel Tolentino, Brenna McConnell, Danny Snelson, & Elliot Bear Yu
Cinematography by Chase Niesner & Alexander Shassetz
Sound Design by Adam Wand
Technical Advising by Angel Tolentino & Elliot Bear Yu
Script by UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability LENS Affiliated Faculty: Ursula K. Heise, Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, Jon Christensen, Comfort Uda, Spencer Robins, & Shouhei Tanaka
Contributions
As Art Director & Virtual Producer, I lead the filming of the projet. I read the script, research design elements outside of the game, advise in the technical implementation of the elements in-game, create the sets and assets in the game, coordinate/direct the in-game scene, and record it.Research
Inspired by neofuturism, solarpunk aeshetics and current LA River revitalization efforts, the vanilla map was modified with additional assets to set the film.Trip to LA River
LA River Master Plan
Design Phase
Environment Design
I reviewed the script and selected environments in GTA V to redesign using mods.Before
After
Asset Design
Some scenes required the creation of specific assets. The methods used would be to create new game objects by using mods or to re-texture already embedded game objects by using GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP).New Game Objects
Platform Bus from Script
Pedestrians with TVs Attached as Robots
Retrofitting Towers to Become Aqueducts
2D Re-textured Asset
Asset Retrieved with Codewalker Mod
Texture Edited in GIMP
Scene in Editor with New Designs
3D Re-textured Asset
Original Parrot Asset
LA Parrot Edit
Parrot within Episode One
Filming
Filming was done using a mix of vanilla and modded software. Scene Director allowed me to coordinate scenes that involved heavy character choreography while I used Rockstar Editor to record. This footage was passed onto the editors.Early Rough Cut of Scene for Episode One: The iBear in the River