Celebrating Esports Athletes with Tesseract

Journey of the Joker: Bridging Worlds through Esports and Reality

Tesseract approached us wanting to create a series of videos to generate excitement for their upcoming gaming event. They had an extremely tight deadline, leaving us with a challenge to execute the project on time and yet not miss the LMB benchmark.

We opted for a documentary format (with a creative twist) to capture the essence of the players’ journey. The project was divided into three distinct stories, each to be completed within a month. To manage the workload efficiently, the team split into three, allowing the simultaneous production of three films in just one week.

Our goal was to create content to fuel excitement for Tesseract’s gaming event. The video aimed to speak effectively with the target audience, portraying the players as dedicated sportsmen and showcasing their skills and passion for the game.

SOLUTION

For this case study, we are going to focus on the story of ‘Joker’. The story unfolds through ‘Joker’s’ narrative and is supported by the captivating visuals of Jaipur, showcasing its vibrant streets and the lively people who call it home. The narrator takes on a crucial role, introducing us into the setting and tying together the narrative with a poetic touch. His presence helps create a connect between the audience and the story. The focus then shifts to Joker, our main character. We see his player profile and shots of him immersed in gameplay. The audience is introduced to his humble beginnings and modest home, presented in a documentary-style format that allows his simple yet compelling family to comfortably share their story. Most importantly, the story follows how Gaurav became Joker.

 Throughout the film, visuals of Joker in Jaipur are interwoven, capturing his presence in the city’s various locations. An interview with his family adds depth to the narrative, while also showcasing Joker’s many obstacles getting into esports. The film combines visuals of Joker playing the game in different places, creating a connection between the virtual world and the real world. As the story progresses, the film showcases the beauty of Jaipur through visuals of its objects, the vast skies, flourishing trees, and tranquil waters, all complemented by Joker’s narrative. Furthermore, the film portrays Joker’s experiences as he strolls through the streets of Jaipur, presenting his journey in a way that mirrors the experience of walking in the desert-like landscapes found in the game. Finally, the film concludes with the narrator offering a thoughtful conclusion, providing a satisfying end to the story.

We endeavored to create a documentary that engagingly captures our player’s story, and portrays the eSports athletes as dedicated sportsmen- creating awe, admiration, and excitement towards competitive gaming. We wanted to communicate effectively with the target audience of gamers and eSport enthusiasts. Additionally, we wanted to create excitement for Tesseract’s gaming event and promote the sponsor’s product- the IQOO 9 series smartphone.

Production-wise, we strived to deliver a fresh and distinctive visual experience, through deliberate arrangement of multiple images, evoking specific emotional responses and subjectively engaging the audience.

By capturing the protagonist in familiar surroundings, we aimed to connect the audience more deeply with his experiences, highlighting the personal significance of these locations. We wanted to convey Jaipur’s unique charm and atmosphere, through exploring landmarks and engaging with the community. Through a harmonious fusion of visuals and storytelling, we aimed to leave a lasting impact on the audience, creating a captivating and memorable viewing experience. We sought to create an impactful and compelling story that resonates with the audience, highlighting the transformative power of dedication and perseverance.

Through a harmonious fusion of visuals and storytelling, we aimed to leave a lasting impact on the audience, creating a captivating and memorable viewing experience.

To make our player’s story more engaging, we structured the story into the format of the hero’s journey. From his call to adventure, embarking on his quest, facing obstacles and many trials, meeting his allies, confronting the reason for his journey, achieving his goal, and returning home wanting to better his family’s situation through eSports itself. Although it is a short-length documentary, it is evocative of a sports biopic as it covers all the beats of a hero’s journey, which has a deep emotional impact on the audience. Moreover, it shows what it takes to be a champion!

Investing time and effort in establishing a rapport with the protagonist’s family created a comfortable and open environment, facilitating the sharing of their stories in a meaningful way. We encouraged our subject to talk about the personal and the mundane, such as how he manages his training schedule along with his day job, lending a very conversational and intimate feeling to the documentary. The host’s comfort and openness while sharing their personal story added an authentic touch to the narrative.When Joker spoke of the time he heard people chanting his name, we knew we had captured a powerful moment!

The team immersed themselves in the surroundings, to effectively capture the essence of the place. We strategically selected locations near the protagonist’s residence, ensuring proximity that enhanced the authenticity of their journey. We skillfully blended wide-angle and close-up shots, infusing them with an innovative twist to create a visually captivating composition. To effectively promote the client’s Esporting event, we actively involved the host, fostering a collaborative environment that maximized the brand’s impact. Additionally, we inserted the IQOO smartphone seamlessly and subtly into gameplay shots.

By incorporating the landscape into the storytelling process, we crafted a visually stunning and emotionally resonant conclusion, leaving a lasting impact on the audience. With precise execution of the shooting stage, we established a coherent and meaningful foundation for the subsequent editing process, ensuring an impactful final result.

We employed creative editing principles to conceptualize and convey narrative ideas, capturing the city’s vibrant energy in motion. We showcased its commuting activities, cultural nuances, historical forts, majestic palaces, and vivid colors, creating a visually rich and immersive experience. Through the voice-over, we connected the city’s history as a land where many battles have been fought, to the game of Battlegrounds. Hence, threading eSports as a continuation of the history of Jaipur and creating a backdrop for our modern warrior.

Despite the challenges posed by the gaming house’s condition, the team found creative solutions within the given time constraints, ensuring the desired sequences were captured, including during the captivating New Year’s Eve at midnight. Locations where the protagonist practices were carefully selected and showcased, capturing the essence and emotion of the surroundings, and providing a deeper understanding of their significance.

In their interactions with the protagonist’s family, we created an open and comfortable environment to overcome communication challenges arising from the mother’s traditional values. The team strategically selected and highlighted inspirational locations, supportive individuals, and personal artifacts that played a significant role in the protagonist’s journey, further enhancing the narrative.

Drone shots were utilized to capture sweeping aerial views, providing a unique and awe-inspiring perspective on the landscape, and elevating the visual experience. Adopting a structured approach throughout the production workflow maximized efficiency and creativity, ensuring the smooth execution of the project and optimizing the outcome.

The editors cleverly threaded together the various footage, gameplay, and interviews, adding visual effects and transitions that were evocative of the game. This helped in creating a consolidated video. However, we encountered challenges during the post-production phase, due to the time crunch, and not having the possibility of multiple edits.

The team strategically selected and highlighted inspirational locations, supportive individuals, and personal artifacts that played a significant role in the protagonist’s journey, further enhancing the narrative.

Result