From LIDAR to lights up: Behind the curtain of Clockwork Films’ Oasis opening video
When the team at Clockwork Films was tapped to produce the opening film for this year’s Oasis Ball, they knew they had to create something worthy of its 700-plus audience and glitzy “On Broadway” theme. Enter directing duo Cowboys, who brought with them a bold vision: to reimagine WA’s advertising icons as backstage characters caught in the chaos and charm of opening night.
Set in a fictional theatre moments before curtain call, the film plays like a meta-narrative, layering the Ball’s key messages into a cinematic world of stagehands, divas, and last-minute nerves. The narrative culminates with the curtains rising in our final scene, just as they did in the room, seamlessly launching the night.
One of the biggest creative and logistical challenges was shooting thirteen unique scenes, each with their own cast, in just a day and a half. The solution? Photogrammetry. Clockwork Films sent a small team into His Majesty’s Theatre to scan the entire premises. From there they were able to build a 3D model, and were able to map compositions, block performances with digital stand-ins, simulate lighting setups, and time out the entire film before they’d even gone back into the venue.
3D Modelling of His Majesty’s Theatre with avatars.
cowboys crafted the script to suit a mix of seasoned performers and industry legends new to the screen. For longer scenes, cue cards were cleverly hidden in props or baked into the set, making it easy for our cast to deliver lines naturally and confidently.
Katie Trew, Clockwork Films WA’s EP, said: “Thanks to the legends at Panda Candy and Fable, we were lucky enough to collaborate with live musicians on an original score. The Clockwork team were blown away by the generosity of Perth’s production community, who donated their time, gear, and talent to bring this vision to life.”
The result? A backstage world that feels expansive, connected, and completely alive, just like the industry it celebrates.
2 Comments
Legends! Love the end product, thanks for having me on set!
Was so much fun, and a great example of the production here in town. Talent excluded, of course!