Join Roof Studio directors Guto Terni, Vinicius Costa, and Sam Mason on this lysergic jog through the tropical Costa Rican countryside in search of Australian electro duo Empire of the Sun performing their 80’s-flavored track “High and Low.”

ROOF and Empire of the Sun previously worked together on the Honda Civic “The Dreamer” spot via RPA, which married ROOF’s signature complex imagery with the band’s “Walking on a Dream.”

Vinicius Costa, ROOF Studio co-founder/director: “When the band approached us to create this video, we were very excited to build on our relationship. They wanted a psychedelic film with a strong connection to nature to visually, yet indirectly, represent the mind-bending journey; however, they were open to our ideas on execution.”

“Initially, ROOF sought to create the entire film in CG; however, due to the limited timeframe of three weeks, they felt it was best to combine live-action with animation in order to focus on providing more than 40 realistic CG shots.”

Guto Terni, ROOF Studio co-founder/director: “The band came to us with a clear point of view, even referencing aspects of some of our previous work. From there, we created a loose narrative based on the right balance of live-action and post-production visuals. As directors, we engage in every step of the process, from concept to storyboarding and pre-visualization to shooting, and finally, post-production and finishing.”

Costa and Terni, along with co-director Sam Mason, were on set for the band shoot in a Los Angeles studio, and the actors and extras shoot in Costa Rica. ROOF had just one week to plan and facilitate both shoots, and then two weeks to execute the CG.

Production Company: ROOF Studio
Directors: Guto Terni, Vinicius Costa, Sam Mason
Executive Producer: Crystal Campbell
Producer: Ryan Mack
Assistant Producer: Amanda Campbell
Cinematographer: Sharon Meir
Camera/Movi Operator: Robert Spaulding
Drone Operators: Logan Mack, Brad Draifinger, Nathan Trucks
Wardrobe: Jesse James
Hair & Makeup Artist: Katie Wedlund
Storyboard Artist: Stephanie Davidson
Matte Painting: Fred Palacio
Design: Vinicius Costa, Fred Palacio, Guto Terni, Sam Mason
Animation: Lucas Ribeiro, Flavio Mac, Sam Mason, Guto Terni, Vinicius Costa, Fred Palacio
Lighting/Rendering: Vinicius Valente, Flavio Mac, Daniel P Teixeira, Vinicius Costa, Guto Terni, Sam Mason
Compositing: Guilherme Ferreirinha, Chris Gereg, Fred Kim, Fred Palacio, Guto Terni, Sam Mason, John Harrison, Marcello Bortolini

Costa Rica Production Company: Costa Rica Filming Locations
Costa Rica Local Fixer: Violeta Grancelli, Manu Manohar

Los Angeles Production Company: In collaboration with BestFriend
Executive Producer: Zak Thornborough

Editors: Adam Bazadona @ Cut + Run, Guto Terni @ ROOF Studio

Color Correction: RCO
Colorist: Seth Ricart
Executive Producer: Marcus Lansdell