Those Who Dare - Game Trailer

Video Editor | Unreal Engine Cinematic Artist | VFX & Sound Designer | Creative Producer

Overview

This cinematic trailer was designed to immerse tabletop gamers and GMs into the world of Those Who Dare. From initial brief to final export, I produced the entire video combining live-action footage, Unreal Engine renders, 3D modeling, and full post-production.

Creative process

I began by scripting a voiceover narrative that would guide the viewer through both real-world and in-game perspectives. I planned and shot live-action footage with careful lighting and composition, then transitioned into cinematic Unreal Engine sequences. Every visual was shaped to match the tone of the game from modeling props like the book and cards to animating and rendering custom environments.

Collaboration

Throughout production, I delivered consistent updates, incorporating client feedback across multiple stages. Using a version-controlled approach, I ensured the vision stayed aligned while building momentum with each draft. The final trailer delivered a polished, impactful promo that the team could proudly share across platforms.

Concept & planning

The project began with a clear mission: create a trailer that speaks to both players and Game Masters. I developed a narrative structure and tone that aligned with each audience’s expectations, heroic and exciting for players, thoughtful and imaginative for GMs.
Using a detailed shot list and visual reference boards, I planned out the entire trailer structure ahead of time, defining the flow of voiceover, IRL footage, and Unreal Engine transitions.

live-action shoot

To capture the tabletop scenes with the cinematic polish they deserved, I brought onboard videographer Zach Dix, whose work adds an elevated visual edge to every production.
Together, we filmed key narrative moments including slow-motion card reveals and player interactions with careful attention to lighting, composition, and pacing. Each shot was crafted to blend seamlessly with the Unreal Engine sequences that would follow.

Zach is a trusted creative partner I regularly reserve for professional projects. You can view his work here.

Unreal Engine Cinematics

Once filming wrapped, I customised existing or built new scenes in Unreal Engine to match and extend the trailer’s visual world.
Environment assets and characters were from either my existing licensed library or the Unreal marketplace assets.
Animations were retargeted, props like the cards and books were modeled in Blender, and everything was timed to flow naturally from the voiceover and IRL footage. All of the lightning, visual effects, camera shake and camera movements were done in Unreal Engine 5.4.

Post-Production

Editing took place in Adobe Premiere, where I combined IRL footage with Unreal renders, blending them together using color grading, visual FX and smooth transitions.
I recorded and cleaned the voiceover, layered immersive sound design, and added cinematic music that supported the pacing and transitions.
Every detail was tuned to feel like part of a cohesive, high-impact scenarios that can take place in the world of Those Who Dare.

Delivery & Feedback

Throughout the project, I delivered milestone versions with clear notes for feedback. Each update included timecoded options or alternate takes to make the revision process easy.
By the end, the final trailer reflected both the original brief and the collaborative decisions made along the way.
The result? A trailer that captures the tone and promise of the game it represents.

Learn more about Those Who Dare here.

“As an indie game dev it was great working with Wayne. He took our vision and and turned it into something amazing. We had never made anything like this before and Wayne made it easy every step of the way, with clear direction and plenty of communication. What he made has been amazing to help introduce our customers to our game, giving them an imaginative cinematic concept. We've gotten so much positive feedback on the trailer he made and we would love to work with him again on future projects.”

LUKE JAMES
Founder | Designer
www.friendsofthetable.com