Working with Daughter.Studio, Mill+ created this stylish spot for Rolls Royce and their latest Ghost model. The Mill’s VFX team utilized 4K Signature Glass Effects from Lens Distortions to create a highly stylized aesthetic.

Cinematic Editing with Matt Komo
Komo’s been a long-time user of Lens Distortions® effects and most recently used our glass overlays and sound design libraries prominently in his film from Sequoia National Park.
Read on for some backstory on this project and an in-depth look at some of Komo’s editing techniques. In the tutorials below, he shares some very clever use cases for visual effects and a full breakdown of how he did the sound design in his Sequoia project.

I love traveling and have been to quite a few places but some of my most memorable experiences have been from road trips. You go into them with no expectations and a general plan, then you let life unfold itself and you document it. We definitely got lost a few times exploring around, haha, but that’s what makes these trips so fun.
Every film starts with an idea, a story you want to tell. A shot list is always made with the end edit in mind. Because the flow of the film needs to be seamless it’s extremely important to not only get shots that connect with one another but also progress the story forward. With that being said, there is also an element of improvising. Its the delicate blend of planning vs impromptu filmmaking that makes a travel film.
We had a decently light setup for the shoot. Our main camera was a Sony A7riii with a few different lenses; a 16-35mm 2.8. a 35mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4, and a 50mm 1.4. For the vlogging sections I used a Sony RX100 MK V and the drone shots were captured with a Phantom 4 Pro.
I stick to the Adobe Suite of products. Everything is cut in Premiere Pro, this is where the story and flow come together. For adding any special effects I will use After Effects, and then all my voiceover work is recorded in Audition.
Learn Komo’s overall approach to VFX and some of his best tips on editing for visual impact.
A step-by-step breakdown of how Komo did the sound design for his Sequoia National Park film.
Sound is everything. It’s so important in taking your visuals to the next level. I always say a visual on its own lives in a 2D space, but with sophisticated sound design, you can transport that image into a 3D world.
I love effects when they are used tastefully. Meaning, if they help enhance your image or are used in a way to progress your story forward I’m all for it. Its when they are littered into every other cut that it will begin to distract the viewer from the story you are trying to tell.
Learn something new every day and experiment. Your style will evolve, but more importantly, you’ll find it through putting out a volume of work. Make sure you love the process, its a long road and the ones who stay in it and succeed are the ones who genuinely love what they are doing. It’s like that with everything though, not just filmmaking.
Making films and telling stories, it’s a great lifestyle to live and should be enjoyed.
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Over $3,000 of cinematic products and unlimited music starting at
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YEAR
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