PLANET X FX | creative visual effects
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Betrayal
'Betrayal' (‘Overspel’) is a twelve-part psychological thriller on the Dutch television network VARA. Planet X FX, together with Donald Roos from Bureau.Donald®, designed the styling of the series: the leader, the logo, the titels and related materials such as the DVD packaging and the DVD menu.
The concept for the styling of ‘Betrayal’ originated from the series content and is oriented upon the connections and relationships between the characters.
After the basis for this structure was established together with director Frank Ketelaar and producer Robert Kievit, various animation tests were done to determine the timing and the momentum of the leader. The placement of visual elements, such as a ring being removed from a finger and hands holding each other but switching to different people, was painstakingly created in relation to the lines and titles.
The background for the leader is a recurring visual element with ‘blooming’ lights suggesting a city. The city is an important and conspicuous décor. This element of the style was therefore made to recur in other styling aspects.
The brace ( } ) was chosen as a symbol for connections in the series. The brace is a well-known connecting mark and it visually makes connections between the characters. A long line starting at the beginning of the intro runs almost literally as a thread through the leader. At some points the line forms frames that refer subtly to the photography of the main character Iris. The elements within these frames are typical love affair subjects and come from a shoot that Iris gets commissioned to do in the series. Because the line breaks from time to time and makes new connections and links, the complex interconnectedness and structure of the series are underlined.
Planet X FX worked together closely with designer Donald Roos (see photo).
A small graphic test to investigate the connections with the titles and braces. Certain linkages come together and break up again, but the brace is never used as such in the final leader. Instead braces grow into new lines or they break up existing connections.