Visual Effects Case Study: “Count to Zero”

“Count to Zero” tells the story of a man who is running out of time and gets the opportunity for a second chance. The second half of the music video dives into a clock As you can see from the complete video below it uses the metaphor of the internal workings of a clock to express the themes of fate and time.

The second half of “Count to Zero” was shot entirely on a green screen which meant every shot in that sequence (60+ shots!) became a VFX shot added to our pipeline. Since the sequence takes place inside a clock, it became clear to us from the beginning that we needed to create a mechanical background that not only felt like a clock from first glance, but also needed to move like a clock. The spinning gears in the background rotate every second, much like an actual clock keeping time. This amalgamated to separate CG backgrounds for each band member, as well as a master shot CG background that all are in sync with each other. 

Foxtrot X-Ray was involved with “Count to Zero” from the beginning. While filming, both CEO Paul DeNigris and Comp Supervisor Gabe Vigil were on set. This meant everything was shot on set to be easier to work with in compositing, and thus less expensive in the overall post-production budget. On set notes were communicated from the shoot day to artists immediately, and VFX work was able to start within hours of leaving the set for the day. Our worldwide artists could start work immediately! Overseeing VFX from start to finish like we did with “Count to Zero” ensures a cohesive vision that is easier to execute.

Other projects featuring similar effects by Foxtrot X-Ray include 7 Days: Blood Moons, Superstar, and The Faceless Lady.

To discuss how Foxtrot X-Ray can create memorable VFX for your projects, schedule a meeting with our team of professionals today.