Kris Vankay - Freelance Filmmaker
Although I specialise in acquisition roles such as camera operating and directing photography. I have built up extensive experience in other areas of production over my career.
I regularly work in post production as a colourist and editor. As an independent film maker I also make animated films and motion graphic titles.
I have run motion image units for large international entertainment companies and am adept in production and pre production skills. I can manage and run productions as well as draw up story boards and schedules for creative communications.
My creative skill set has given me the pleasure of not only working in motion image for screen but also in areas of graphic design and video design for live performance.
Below are a few examples of some of those works.
Animation
This is an example of a quick turn around 2.5D animation.
The client needed an explainer video outlining their post Covid-19 safety policy. They specifically wanted something on the quirky side that would be appealing to a target audience of children and adults alike.
This is an animated trailer promoting a touring educational initiative.
The approach was intended to engage a younger audience and inspire them about a subject they may otherwise not have shown interest in.
This is an animated synopsis for the play Macbeth.
Aimed at a younger audience this piece was created as an online reference resource. It has a cinematic approach with a simple execution and gives an overview of what the play is about.
A 3D animated trailer promoting an educational initiative. This was intended to act as a tease and garner interest in the project which it did well. Animation proved a really successful medium for connecting with younger people.
The following are a selection of frames from another animation I created highlighting a different art style. This was digitally hand painted with select elements having hand drawn texture wrapped over 3D geometry.
Motion Title Slates
These are motion title slates for two separate online channels owned by the same client. They needed a distinct style that would appeal to the two very different target audiences.
Dreamtime is a digitally painted and animated sequence for a bedtime story-telling channel aimed at younger children. Chatterbox is an After Effects sequence for a chat show aimed at teenagers.
Theatre and Installation Video Design
Sunday In The Park With George
This production of Stephen Soundheim’s acclaimed musical from the Theatre de Chatelet in Paris was heavily reliant on video design. The set was almost entirely projected. Working under the creative prowess of Tim Baxter and William Dudley I was the Matte Painter and Compositer for the central and main set. Based as a recreation of the famous George Seurat painting I had to imagine the wider surroundings and create a virtual environment within this style that would parallax and match the physical set movements and changes within the show. This production won awards for its set design and I’m really proud of the central role I played.
Gretel
The Emily Quash production of Gretel is a dark take on the classic fairy tale. Universally praised it was a visually driven experience that utilised video projection throughout to solidify its potent atmospherics. I was the Video Designer for this piece and created a succession of moving digital paintings that served as the back drops throughout the entire piece. Projected on to five custom cut projection surfaces that evoke the shapes of the forest the projection was deeply integrated into the set design (by the talented Chris Johns) with actors moving freely between the panels to enter and exit the stage. The projections utilised many approaches including frame by frame hand drawn animations the intent was to generate a fairy tale illustrative aesthetic without pulling focus from the performance on the stage.
Gretel Example Reel
These are a few snippets from the Gretel production back to back. Its always about the experience in the audience and these were designed to integrate with the lighting and sound design of the piece. Nevertheless these give an idea of what was being projected.
Branding and Corporate Image Design
My design work is not limited only to the motion image space. I have worked with many different companies over the years on still image creation in the corporate and commercial space. These projects have ranged through any number of applications including logos and branding, posters, leaflets and campaign images to name but a few.
Below are examples of recent commissions in this space.
Campaign Imagery
This is the base image for a recent campaign I have designed. Conceptually the company wanted an image based around a Phoenix symbolising them rising from the ashes of the 2020 lock down. This is a vector based design that was used to create leaflets, posters, banners and merchandise.
Corporate Messaging
This image was commissioned by a high level executive coaching company. It was used in both marketing and communicative materials. It is a digital painting of a woman tight rope walking towards a sunrise over the London skyline. It is loaded with conceptual ideas that resonate with the company message around navigating ones career.
Look Development, Concept Design
and Pre Viz
I often produce conceptual design imagery for clients in the early stages of a projects development. I use story boarding heavily in my pre production work and offer it as a service in its own right. Concept Design and pre viz work developed from my storyboarding work. Below are a few sketches from some of these projects. Rough and ready this work is often not destined for anything larger than thumbnail viewing, for the most part these are rapid turn around sketches to generate talking points in the very early stages of a project.
Merchandise Design
Another area of design that I work in is merchandise. I create imagery specific for print on merchandise which is an increasingly popular optionnot only for corporate clients but also for other online content creators and online channel owners. Merchandise is another avenue of revenue for Youtubers and I am always happy to collaborate.
Education
I have often found it difficult to offer work experience due to the nature of my work and the insurance considerations that come along with filming with younger people as crew.
As a result I have developed lecturing and workshop services which I feel reach a larger number of young people and are ultimately more valuable for their learning.
I have done a number of lectures at colleges and have set up and run film based workshops. If you have an institution that you feel would benefit from this please do get in touch.
Below is an image of a set I designed, built, pre lit and then ran a series of ‘Game Of Thrones’ themed workshops from.
