Artificial Light, by shotbystanley, explores the emotional fallout of a hyper-connected world where real human interaction has been replaced by glowing screens and fragmented attention. The video follows characters caught between numbness and rediscovery, slowly reconnecting with their physicality and each other through ritual, movement and light.
I was brought on board to create a visual layer that would support and enhance this narrative: crafting subtle yet expressive VFX that suggest the absorbing pull of screens, as well as animated graphics and a poster that captured the duality of digital isolation and human reconnection.
The aesthetic needed to feel cinematic, clean and symbolic, blending digital techniques with emotional warmth, and keeping the technology visible but never overpowering the story.
Process & Techniques
To bring the screens to life and emphasize their emotional weight in the narrative, I leaned on a combination of subtle visual effects that felt organic and integrated. For the glowing light emitted by the devices, I worked with Red Giant’s Optical Glow, using two passes: one broad and diffused to bathe the scene in ambient light, and another sharper pass focused on the highlights, creating the illusion that the screens were actively influencing the characters.
The more surreal moments (particularly the scenes where the characters’ faces appear to be absorbed into the screens) were achieved through a mix of displacement maps, particles, and the Pixel Sorter plugin, which I used to create directionally blurred mattes. These matte layers were combined with blending modes and glow to simulate a visual “pull” toward the digital void, all while maintaining clarity and mood.
Typography & Poster Design
Alongside the VFX, I designed the poster and title animations for the project. In the poster, the typography aimed to echo the central tension of the video: clean, structured sans-serifs for a controlled, almost clinical feeling — then distorted by a screen to reflect digital disruption and emotional unease.
Regarding the animation, the typefaces shift quickly, like the messages on our screens, reflecting digital disruption and the way it invades our lives. The goal was always to support the story’s themes visually without drawing attention away from the performances or direction.
Healing Through Process
This project came to me at a time when I was recovering from a difficult period, and getting back into a creative process like this: solving visual challenges, experimenting with new techniques, and collaborating with such a thoughtful team; helped me reconnect with my work in a more grounded, personal way.
Endless thanks to director Kelly McKay, to Diego Gardo for the trust and support throughout the process, to Víctor Candela for the wonderful edit and friendship, and of course to shotbystanley for the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful piece.
Artificial Light was selected and screened at the Berlin Music Video Awards, and I couldn’t be prouder of how far it’s travelled (and how far it will go).
Credits
Casting
ANITA GERLIH @_onitto_
AISHA KALYMZHANOVA @wild_kasha
LUCA MONTI @monti_banks
MARIIA KONONENKO @besjuchka
MIKHAIL FABIANO @mikhailfabiano
NINA CELINE @argschiach
GONZO ESTANISLAU @vult.ven
CAMI WEBER @webscami
DARIA MELE @dariamele
REA BESTMANN @bez.nam
FELIX TRUNK @felix_trunk
JOHANNA FELDHEGE @ccchrystallffff
MAEDI USEFI -
FARAH BOUTAOUI @farahbouraoui
JULIAN AGBRO @chineduonome
SOPHIA AGBRO @whoisiphe
ARI PALMA @cineari
CHARLY BRIEDE @charlybriede
AMY MOON @amymoonmusic
FLAVIA BAVARESCO @djbavaresco
Director: Kelly McKay @thekellymckay
Concept: Kelly McKay & Diego Gardo
DOP: Diego Gardo @yodiegogardo
Producer: Emma Ball-Greene @emmaballgreene
Casting Director: Elisa Tutu @elisa_bmj
Production assistant: Tim Wolf @timwolv
1Ac Enrique Arribas @enrike.arribas
2Ac Sonja Madani @sonjamadani
Gaffer Ari Palma @cineari
VFX: Alberto Martín Paz @am.paz_
Graphics: Alberto Martín Paz @am.paz_
Colorist: Adriá Porta @adriaphtc
Editor: Victor Candela @v.candela.mz
BTS by Enrique Arribas @enrike.arribas
Artist: shot by stanley @shotbystanley
Special Thanks: Grace Nicholas, Charlotte McCormack
