Sk8-bit — Live Action Cinematography for Visual Effects
In 2024 I had the privilege of working as cinematographer on Sk8-bit, the first live-action VFX short film produced by the UTS Animal Logic Academy in Sydney. The project brought together an extraordinary group of emerging filmmakers, artists, and designers, combining live action cinematography with high-end visual effects to create a playful, high-energy short film.
About the film
Sk8-bit is a two-minute short that merges live action cinematography with visual effects. Shot on location at the UTS Ultimo campus, the film follows two 90s style robot skater slackers. These animated robots are integrated into the real environment. The short was released on 20 November 2024 and is available to watch on YouTube and Vimeo.
My role as cinematographer
As the Director of Photography, I was responsible for designing a visual style that served both the energy of the skate sequences and the technical needs of a visual effects pipeline. Stylistically the film needed to look like a 90’s skateboard video, reminiscent of hand held video cameras with fish eye lenses.
Camera movement: We used a mix of handheld and gimbal work to capture fluid motion and kinetic energy while keeping plates steady enough for seamless VFX integration.
Framing and composition: I approached each shot with an eye toward how the robot characters would later be animated into the frame, balancing dynamic action with clear, open compositions.
Lighting: The shoot relied on natural daylight, which I shaped and supplemented to ensure consistency across shots — a crucial consideration for visual effects compositing.
Collaboration with VFX
Working alongside the Academy’s VFX and animation teams was one of the most rewarding aspects of the project. Every camera and lighting choice had to anticipate the needs of the artists who would later bring digital characters into the live world. This collaboration pushed me to think beyond traditional cinematography and into how image capture becomes the foundation for storytelling in visual effects-driven filmmaking.
Reflections
Sk8-bit gave me the chance to explore how live action cinematography supports visual effects storytelling. As a cinematographer, I enjoyed the challenge of finding the right balance between the highly stylised 90s look and the smooth precision needed for VFX and tracking, all while keeping the end goal — a convincing blend of live action and VFX — in focus.
Watch the film
You can watch Sk8-bit on YouTube or Vimeo.