Responses by Ronnie Koff, creative director, Imaginary Forces.
Background: This is an introduction to the AppleTV+ show Dark Matter, a thriller series based on the novel of the same name by Blake Crouch. The title sequence is both a showcase for the cast and creators, as well as an invitation into this large-scale drama.
Design thinking: The title sequence explores the various themes of the show. It’s an infinite puzzle box, always changing with new barriers, obstacles and hidden paths. We showcased the lead characters, Jason and Daniella, moving like ships in the night, trying to connect but never quite making it. The camera takes on some crazy angles, giving the whole sequence an eerie feeling of not quite knowing where you are in space.
Challenges: Telling this story in a single camera move, without any cuts. How do you maintain engaging and unexpected motion with a fluid singular camera move? Additionally, how do you time 26 credits to seamlessly fit in a 70-second sequence?
Favorite details: The procedural shader we made for the concrete surfaces. It automatically randomizes blemishes and imperfections on any primitive shape you apply it to, enabling every object to look different without having to create a new shader each time.
Visual influences: The original Twilight Zone really shaped what we wanted the audience to feel from our title sequence, to capture that eerie, unsettling tone you get from watching the show. I remember a specific episode where a man wakes up to find everyone he knows is missing. Turns out, he’s just living in a giant train set, and this massive hand of a child is placing pieces down. That image of the giant hand always stuck with me from the time I was a kid. I also love the golden-hour vibe in Star Trek: The Original Series, specifically in the episode “Amok Time”. The orange-hued light and palette brought a warmth that was clearly staged to look outdoors.
Specific project demands: It’s always a challenge to have 26 credits in a sequence that all need to have equal presence in a 70-second sequence.
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