The leader for Modern Love Amsterdam is based on the original leader of Modern Love. The pictures tell the story of all different kinds of love everyday and everywhere.
For the Dutch version we used the photos of multiple Dutch photographers. To mention a few: Saskia van den Boom, Desiree van den Boogaard, Carla Kogelman/Eike den Hertog, Isabell Janssen, Bob Witteman, Bas de Meijer, Wianda Bongen, en Marjolijn Maljaars.
Modern Love Amsterdam, episode 3 'The Big Questions' is a great example of how virtual production with the use of LED backgrounds can solve multiple productional challenges in one sweep. Shot at ReadySet Studios Amsterdam, in-camera VFX were used extensively to create a virtual outdoor environment in winter with mist and bespoke Christmas decorations.
The production's schedule was set for a shoot in summer. In fact: on and around the longest day of the year, scenes were planned that would ideally require the longest night. Apart from that, the director and creative crew sought a specific look and feel in atmosphere in which mist would be ever present throughout the exterior scenes. Together with outspoken production design, requiring control to create more subtle, understating Christmas decorations, all seemed to point to shooting in a controllable environment that virtual production (or ICVFX) could provide.
Set in the picturesque village of Marken, occupying a peninsula on a lake (and therefore has a lighthouse), also has characteristic wooden houses that adds to the dreamy atmosphere of the episode.
To allow the crew control over the necessary factors mentioned before, the decision was made to create a virtual version of the village's centre. Having a responsive, real-time Unreal scene of the actual location, meant the dop could still make dynamic (hand-held) shots and last-minute adjustments to light and other elements that define the final result in-camera.
Photogrammetry is the art and science of extracting 3D information from photographs. The process involves taking overlapping photographs of an object, structure, or space, and converting them into 2D or 3D digital models.
Next to advanced virtual 3D scenes, Modern Love Amsterdam 'The Big Questions' also required scenes taking place inside a bus. One of the challenges was getting the full size city bus into the studio and in front of the LED-wall to play back pre-shot plate footage of an early morning sunset.
In-camera reflections and light interactions are preferred over chroma-key solutions whenever possible and realistic occurrences such as fogged windows to enhance the wintery setting are complex and time-consuming to achieve with VFX techniques.
Love always wins, no matter how confusing the time we live in is. The makers have opted for special, authentic stories in which the characters all search for love in their own way. Each episode is inspired by a column of the same name published by The New York Times.
For episode 3, The Big Questions, scenes were shot at a Virtual Production Stage (ReadySet Studios) that could not have been realised convincingly otherwise. Click the Virtual Production / ICVFX tab for more info.
Planet X Title Design created the leader for the first Dutch Amazon Original “Modern Love Amsterdam”. The leader was based on the same concept as the American version; photos are used to tell the story of love in all its diversity.
Ouassim Echarradi
Raymond Meijer
