ZAC BROWN BAND (EXOSPHERE) - LOVE & WAR
THE STORY
A frozen door holds trauma crystallized in time, its icy surface concealing fire within. When it explodes, ice becomes flame itself, our coldest wounds fueling transcendence. A boy emerges with wings of light, ascending from wounded child to divine protector. Below, skeletal demons climb desperately toward an opening in the clouds where the cherub guards his angelic mother. This captures Zac Brown's Sphere experience: overcoming childhood demons through fire and transformation, emerging as both warrior and guardian, forever changed by the battle between love and war.
THE PROCESS
The Exosphere presented a unique challenge. Ben Hurand envisioned distilling the show's entire narrative arc into a compelling short-form piece that would bring the band's "Love & War" album artwork to life. Unlike the interior Sphere's immersive wraparound canvas, the Exosphere's exterior spherical LED surface required a fundamentally different approach. Working within these constraints, I designed around a single focal point and streamlined camera movement: encrusting the iconic door motif in crystalline ice, shot by Eowyn Mishawn, then pushing through it to reveal Zac's transformative journey from wounded child to divine protector, capturing the essence of the two-hour show in one powerful visual statement.
STUDIO: PRODIGAL PICTURES
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: BEN HURAND
DESIGNER / ART DIRECTOR: JOSH CHILDERS
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: EOWYN MISHAWN
CREATIVE LEAD: BEN HURAND, BRIAN CALYORE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: GRANT JULIAN, DANNY YOUNT
PRODUCER / CO-PRODUCER: EOWYN MISHAWN
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: JENNIFER WILLCUT, MIKE TOUSEY
HEAD OF PRODUCTION: JESSE LOONEY
VFX SUPERVISOR: MATTHEW GUZZARDO
POST SUPERVISOR: RUBEN PROENCA
POST COORDINATOR: KIMBERLY AIKMAN, DANNY “FANEEBO” BARA
EDITOR: DAVID NITZSCHE, MYLES MANTZARIS, JAKE YOUNT
AE COMPOSITORS: BRIAN CALYORE, JOSHUA LEE, BEN HURAND
C4D ANIMATORS: SIMON CHAN, JOSH LEE, BRIAN CALYORE, PATRICK CLARKE,
ISAAC TARACKS, RYAN CLOSE
HOUDINI ANIMATORS: ALEX VAN DYNE
CHARACTER ANIMATORS: PAT CLARKE, ROSANNA DAVILA VELASCO, MIKE DINOCCO
3D MODELERS: JOEL SOLOMON BEAIRD, JOSH CHILDERS
TECHNICAL / PIPELINE: NICK JANECKI, AKIRA THOMPSON, ANTHONY THOMAS, PEEDGE FABROA, GRAHAM HERBSTER
PRODUCTION SUPPORT: ESTHER P ROMERO, GREG ANDERSON
EXOSPHERE FINAL
LOVE AND WAR | (PROMO: 30-60 SEC FULL SCRIPT)
SETUP (ACT 1: FROZEN WOUNDS)
(SETUP) Camera approaches an ancient door standing alone in darkness, its ornate frame completely encrusted in crystalline ice, symbols of childhood trauma frozen in time
(CLIMAX) Hairline cracks spread across the frozen surface as golden light pulses from within, the ice beginning to glow with imprisoned fire
(RESOLUTION) The entire door frame trembles, ice and fire merging in impossible contradiction
CLIMAX (ACT 2: TRANSCENDENCE)
(SETUP) The door explodes violently open, ice instantly transforming to raging flame, revealing the silhouette of a young boy backlit by an inferno
(CLIMAX) Wings of pure light burst from the boy's back, his human form ascending and transforming into something divine
(RESOLUTION) The cherub rises through spiraling flames, wielding a scythe of radiant energy as fire circles him like a protective halo
RESOLUTION (ACT 3: THE DEMON SLAYER)
(SETUP) Smoke and ash part to reveal the depths below, twisted skeletal forms climbing desperately over each other, clawing toward heaven
(CLIMAX) The cherub hovers in a protective stance before an angelic mother figure who radiates peaceful light, his scythe ready against the demons' advance
(RESOLUTION) Divine light floods the scene, celestial and demonic imagery resolve into title card: "LOVE AND WAR" / "ZAC BROWN BAND" / "COMING TO THE SPHERE MAY 2025"
LOVE & WAR COVER ART