Invisible Set Extension (Pre-Production) -1
09/06/2026 - 23/06/2026 Week 8-Week 10
Valenz Jycee Primadi / 0373407
Digital Matte Painting / Creative Media / School of Design
Project 1
LECTURE
Invisible Set Extension (Pre-Production)
Movie Research
Godzilla x kong: New Empire
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a science-fiction monster (kaiju) film directed by Adam Wingard and serves as the sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong. The movie is part of the MonsterVerse franchise and focuses on the alliance between Godzilla and King Kong against a new threat hidden within Hollow Earth.
Fig 1.1 Godzilla x Kong : New Empire
Introduction
I chose Godzilla x Kong because it is one of my favorite movies, and I find its environments particularly inspiring. The film features visually striking locations, especially the scenes depicting Kong's home. I was inspired by the surrounding environment, including the scale, atmosphere, and environmental details, which influenced the development of my own concept and design.
References (SPOILER AHEAD !!)
References MoodBoard First Scene
For my first composition, I decided to create an environment set in an ice biome. While Godzilla is not typically associated with frozen landscapes, I remembered several scenes from the films where Godzilla emerged from the ice. In addition, some versions of Godzilla are portrayed as originating from prehistoric or Ice Age environments. These scenes inspired me to explore a frozen setting for my design, allowing me to create a unique environment while remaining connected to the Godzilla universe.
Fig 2.1 MoodBoard First Scene
assets :
- Ice Berg
- Mountain
- Skull
- Snow
- Ice spike
References MoodBoard Second Scene
For my second composition, I was inspired by the landscapes within Kong's realm. I found the environment unique because some scenes feature mountains that appear to replace the sky, creating an inverted world. I also liked the dense forests, giant rock formations, and the remains of enormous creatures, such as massive skeletons, which create a mysterious and prehistoric atmosphere.
Fig 2.2 MoodBoard Second Scene
assets :
References MoodBoard Third Scene
For my third reference, I was inspired by the temple scene where Mothra is awakened through an ancient ritual. I found this scene especially memorable because it takes place inside a large cave with a hidden temple. The combination of the massive cavern, ancient architecture, and mystical atmosphere inspired me to create a similar environment for my own composition.
Fig 2.3 MoodBoard Third Scene
assets :
- Mountain
- cave
- Lava land
- Iwi temple
Style Guide Asset
I studied these three scenes and selected several environmental assets that best matched my concept. These references served as a visual guide for my photobashing process, helping me plan the composition, atmosphere, and overall design.
Fig 3.1 Style Guide Asset Ice Biome
Fig 3.2 Style Guide Asset Rock Biome
Fig 3.3 Style Guide Asset Temple Biome
Sketches
I created multiple sketches to explore different compositions and perspectives before selecting my final three compositions. This process helped me evaluate which layouts best conveyed the environment and visual storytelling.
Fig 4.1 Sketches
3 Ideation
Since I have a total of three reference scenes, I selected these three ideations to further develop into photobash digital matte paintings: an Ice Biome, a Rock Biome, and a Temple Biome.
For the first concept, I planned to create a scene set inside a cold ice cave. The environment features the fossilized remains of an ancient creature, piles of snow covering the ground, large ice walls, and icicles hanging from the cave ceiling.
For the second concept, I was inspired by a vast open landscape. The scene features a large fossil resting in a lake, surrounded by numerous mountains, evoking a grand, ancient atmosphere.
For the third concept, I wanted to place the temple inside a cave. The temple is surrounded by water and large rock formations, with decorated pillars featuring intricate carvings that emphasize its ancient and mysterious appearance.
Fig 5.1 3 Ideation
Camera Movement
For the camera angles, I created a different composition for each concept, although some are quite similar. I am still experimenting to find the most effective angle after the photobash stage.
Fig 6.1 Camera Movement 1
Fig 6.2 Camera Movement 2
Fig 6.3 Camera Movement 3
Improvement On the Concept
Since I was not fully satisfied with my initial concepts, I decided to keep the same overall ideas while improving them by adding more environmental details and refining the composition to create a stronger and more visually appealing scene.
I adjust the sketch of the concept
The first concept was refined by improving the overall composition and enhancing the level of detail to achieve a stronger visual hierarchy and a more cohesive design.
Fig 7.1 Improvement of First Concept
The second concept focused on refining the visual style while repositioning environmental elements, including the rock formations, to improve composition and environmental storytelling.
Fig 7.2 Improvement of Second Concept
The third concept explored a new skull placement and a larger environmental scale. Although I faced challenges during the concepting process, I will continue iterating to achieve the desired composition and sense of scale.
Fig 7.3 Improvement of Third Concept
FEEDBACK
Based on the feedback I received, there were no major changes required to the overall concept. My lecturer felt that the core idea was already well established. The main focus moving forward is to further develop and refine the design during the photobashing stage, where the environment, materials, and visual details can be explored in greater depth.
Experience
Project 1 introduced me to the workflow of digital matte painting, from gathering references to developing a cinematic environment through concepting. While finding suitable references was relatively easy, turning those references into a unique and well-composed concept proved to be much more challenging. This project helped me understand that concept development is a crucial stage before moving into the final matte painting.
Observation
During the concepting process, I struggled the most with composition and visual direction. I found it difficult to determine how the final environment would look and how it could eventually support a 2.5D matte painting workflow. There were many moments when I felt that my concepts were incomplete or lacking a strong focal point. Because of this, I spent a significant amount of time experimenting with different layouts, adjusting the placement of assets, and revising the composition until the overall scene felt more balanced and visually engaging.
Findings
Through Project 1, I learned that creating a successful matte painting begins with a strong concept rather than simply having good references. The iterative process of trial and error allowed me to improve the composition and better understand how environmental elements work together to create depth and visual storytelling. Although I initially struggled and was not fully satisfied with my concepts, continuously refining them helped me achieve a stronger final outcome. This project also taught me to be more patient with the creative process, as developing a convincing environment often requires multiple revisions before reaching a satisfying result.
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