Still
optimist
with you
Music Video | Full Creative Direction & Production
With You is the debut music video for electronic act Still Optimist. The aim was to create a minimal yet high-end visual language that blends sculptural CGI with restrained live-action, using subtle LED and neon-inspired graphical elements. I delivered the project end-to-end, from concept and direction through filming, editing, VFX, and final delivery. The visual system was designed to be modular and easily repurposed across social platforms and artwork.
Concept & Visual Language
The concept was driven by reduction rather than excess: a stripped-back aesthetic where the human body becomes a fragile structure—part statue, part living form. The visual narrative follows a gradual transformation, as the figure breaks free from a rigid shell into something more organic and vulnerable.
The mix of high-end CGI and minimal live footage was intentional. Instead of heavy graphical overlays, simple 2D light elements were used sparingly, acting as rhythmic accents rather than constant decoration.
Collaboration
I worked closely with the band throughout the process, particularly during editing, timing, and shot selection. The vocalist was highly conscious of framing and angles, which directly informed both the cinematography and editorial decisions. This tight collaboration helped ensure that the final result felt precise rather than over-styled.
Technical Breakdown
Live Action & Edit
Filmed and directed by me
Primary edit and first-pass masking/keying in DaVinci Resolve
VFX & Compositing
Additional masking and alpha refinement in After Effects
Extensive work required due to unevenly lit green screen, which became the most challenging technical aspect of the project
Non-standard techniques were used to blend the performer seamlessly into a deep black void, turning a limitation into part of the aesthetic
CGI & Simulation
CGI created in Cinema 4D, rendered with Octane
Particle-based fragmentation and debris simulations built with xParticles
Skin shading developed using Random Walk Subsurface Scattering to preserve organic detail and avoid a synthetic look
Pipeline
CGI shots were fully retimed in DaVinci Resolve before being composited with the live footage in After Effects, ensuring tight synchronisation between physical performance, CGI motion, and music.
Editing & Narrative Structure
The edit follows the musical structure closely.
The minimal 2D light and graphical elements are primarily reserved for the chorus, where they elevate the emotional peak of the track.
Outside of these moments, the visuals remain restrained, allowing for a subtle development curve as the figure transitions from a static, statue-like presence into a more liberated state.
This restraint was key to maintaining tension and avoiding visual fatigue.
Monochrome Approach
The black-and-white look was both an artistic instinct and a technical necessity. On one hand, it reinforced the sculptural, timeless quality of the imagery. On the other, it helped manage keying imperfections caused by uneven green-screen lighting. The final look sits deliberately between abstraction and realism.
Deliverables
Master music video
Social-media cut-downs
Promotional GIFs
Instagram grid layouts
Facebook assets
Album cover artwork
Learnings & Retrospective
With hindsight, the project would have benefited from:
More evenly lit green-screen setup
Higher-end camera body
Better lens choice for cleaner separation and depth
Despite these constraints, the limitations shaped a stronger, more focused visual identity.