I was part of a team tasked to re-image the majestic Elgin Theatre as it might have been in 1913. In all its Vaudeville glory, prior to years of decay and then ‘modernization’. Over a few months we designed a a 3D animated architectural fly-through of the original theatre using historic photographs to create three dimensional rooms exactly as they were over a hundred years ago.
Some projects are life changing. “Enter the Elgin” was a 3D animated fly-through of Toronto’s Elgin Theatre, recreated from historic photographs as it stood in 1913, built frame by frame in our 3D animation product from Alias called MAYA. The Toronto International Film Festival Opening Gala featured this film showing what this famous Vaudeville house looked like over a century ago. It was equal parts historical research, virtual architectural reconstruction with 3D animation, and cinematic craft.
The film opened the festival’s screening of Margaret Atwood’s original “The Handmaid’s Tale” adaptation and went on to screen at SIGGRAPH, where it held its own against the best animation being produced anywhere in the world at the time. That kind of standard doesn’t happen by accident.
This is where my obsession with video storytelling started, and it hasn’t let up since. If that sounds like the kind of dedication your project deserves, reach out, we exist to make our clients famous.
Our process
Using old photos and inspecting the Elgin in person, we designed each scene as a complete three dimensional space. We then flew a virtual camera through the rooms to create a ghost like feel of being in the Elgin giving the audience the feeling they were flying through time.
Over two months, day and night, frame by frame, almost 4,000 images to create the two minute final film.
In its heyday the theatre played host to such greats as George Burns and Gracie Allen, Sophie Tucker, Milton Berle and Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.
With the decline of vaudeville, the Elgin continued as a movie house, gradually slipping into decay and disrepair with the passing of each decade. In 1984, a $29 million restoration began.
These two minutes opened for Margret Atwood’s original film adaptation of THE HANDMAID’S TALE, which was not well received.(30% Rotten Tomatoes!).
This was the first time I learned how time consuming it was to plan and construct a story. More importantly, it planted the seeds for the life I have, and love, today.
