James Frost Soars with Unreal for RÜFÜS DU SOL “Alive” Music Video

“When I was sent the track, I immediately understood why; the song had this energy that was sheer momentum, and visually it spoke to me on this level.

“What if the environment is so photoreal that it pulls the viewer into believing they are traveling through these incredible landscapes. Then, to suddenly reveal it as a digital asset. What would that world look like?”
The latest evidence of Unreal Engine’s nascent take over of CG production (and a good chunk of live-action), this trance-inducing film is the result of director and music video innovator James Frost reteaming with Australian trio RÜFÜS DU SOL.
Posted on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 · Leave a Comment
Frost previously worked with RÜFÜS DU SOL on the immersive video for “Underwater”, a 360 video project showcased at Coachella’s 2018 Antarctic Dome.

James Frost's Soaring Music Video for RÜFÜS DU SOL

James Frost: “When I started discussing the video with the guys several months ago, the recurring idea was this concept of analog vs. digital and a sense of freedom.
“I was aware of Unreal and the work done on several high-profile TV series as environmental plates. Still, I thought, what if we were actually in the environment instead of secondary to the scene.
James Frost's Soaring Music Video for RÜFÜS DU SOL

Team Leisurely: Danny Robson, Irene Ku, Cameron Webley
Commissioner: Devin Sarno
Production: Film400
Director: James Frost
Producer: Dan Kent
Creative Director: Katzki
Digital Artist/Unreal Engine: Claudia Brand & Joey Hunter (Entropico)
Digital Artist/Wireframes : David Parker (JANE Studios)
Post Producer: Rich Rama (JANE Studios)
Editor: Nicholas Wayman-Harris
Technical Support: Alistair Thompson, Rachel Stones @ Epic Games, Natasha Kilibarda, Sharon Lord, Staci Yamano-Kent
James Frost's Soaring Music Video for RÜFÜS DU SOL
“Obviously, it would not have been possible to travel the world shooting remote landscapes, and I really wanted to find a way to explore the digital side. That’s where Unreal Engine came in.

Color: Company 3
Colorist: Matt Osborne
Color Producer: Blake Rice
“As a result, I wanted to create something where we sensed we were utterly free from restraint. In light of what the world has just gone through the last 18 months, it almost felt like the need to create a visceral piece of work.