MPC complete post work on BBC Ones' ‘Hustle’ trailers

Ron Scalpello of BBC Broadcast has directed a series of trailers (1 x 60 seconds, 1 x 40 seconds, 3 x 20 seconds and 3 x 5 seconds) for Abbott Mead Vickers promoting the new BBC One drama ‘Hustle’.
Visual Effects and postproduction were carried out at MPC.
The series concentrates on a group of charismatic confidence tricksters in the business of making money. The trailers themselves introduce the five main characters; Albert, Stacie, Ash and Danny with each person’s particular traits being described by Mickey, (their colleague) during the 60 second trailer.
The main challenge for MPC was the interaction of frozen graphics with moving elements for the main sequence. This shot includes static people, motionless champagne spray and a suspended cloud of fifty-pound notes. A moving Mickey interacts with his frozen counterparts and the champagne cork, which is depicted in slow motion, shoots across the table. As introduction, Mickey presents each of the frozen characters, fixing the rose in Albert’s lapel, putting his arm around Stacie, taking the cigarette from Ash and moving the cork to hit Danny’s head.
The time slice shots show 90-degree 3D camera moves around the frozen elements.
These were shot by Tim McMillan of Time-slice films using proprietary techniques. The time slice is 2K resolution with the live action as PAL.
The frozen cast was then composited onto the penthouse’s background by MPC lead inferno artist, Simon Trafford. Similarly, the cork and suspended money were shot in front of a blue screen and subsequently composited in around the cast.
The actors were then overlain and finessed in order to cover any movement.
An animated trail was added to the moving cork in order to reflect its journey across the table.
The project was digitally graded by Mark Horrobin on Spirit Datacine.
(GB)