My Role

CONCEPT, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER & DIRECTOR

Project Description

For their PMCO Spring Split Global Finals Tencent wanted something spectacular to start the show with. So I developed, produced and directed a cinematic opener that is action packed, includes PUBG insider gags and references (a popular PUBG map comes to life) and demonstrates that PUBG Mobile is a game is a game that can be played anytime anywhere and that brings together different people from all kinds of parts of the world.

The Story

A squad consisting of four very different characters fight their way towards victory, always chased by the looming blue wall. The story comes with a twist: Subtly at first, and then, the further the story progresses, “irritations” are added. Weird sounds that seemingly don’t fit the setting, comments by the characters that seem off. When finally is revealed that each character is played by an actual person on the move through Berlin. So, the viewer realizes: It’s what happened around them in real life that had an effect on them in-game.
In the end, both worlds, the real life and in-game merge together as the squad arrives at the venue, where the event will take place.

The Production

Since the event was held in Berlin, Germany, the whole opener was shot there as well. During the 4-weeks-long pre-production our costume designer Benjamin Wiese designed and crafted the costumes for all characters from scratch, while we got lucky during location scouting, because we found this abandoned former Soviet military air base, which already looked pretty much like the scenery on popular maps in PUBG Mobile.

After two long days of shooting, two weeks of editing, visual effects, sound design and color grading work the opener had its world premiere on the 26th of July, 2019.