Project
Project
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ORION - ACT 1
Orion - Act 1
Year
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2025
2025
Category
Category
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Creator
Director
Cinematographer
Editor
Producer
Creator
Director
Cinematographer
Editor
Producer
Synopsis
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An original cinematic experience set in a mythic world shaped by memory, sacrifice, and silence. Orion is a visual poem that invites interpretation and rewards reflection.
The Film
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Orion
“Orion was born from a desire to reconnect with childlike creativity. I created this alone in the early phases — in isolation, without rules, without external validation. It started as a series of cinematic paintings, then became a full real-time experience. The first act is what you see here — and it’s just the beginning.”
— Ash Thorp
Process
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The Foundation
“Over 125+ original cinematic paintings built the world of Orion. These images became the foundation for design, tone, and story.”
"Before a single frame moved, the entire world of Orion was painted into existence."
"These images are more than concept art — they are the DNA of the film."
Process
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3D Asset Creation
Before the paintings could come to life, I sculpted, textured, lit, and shaded each object, prop, vessel, and character. Every element in Orion was carefully crafted and considered — built with intention — before the entire workflow transitioned into Unreal Engine.
"From concept to execution, Zhoslen led the Unreal transition — every asset, every moment, translated with care."
Process
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Unreal Workflow
Once the core designs were established, our small but exceptional team came together to translate the vision into Unreal Engine. Every asset — from characters to environments — was carefully brought into the engine, where we rebuilt the world piece by piece. What began as still paintings became fully realized, living scenes. Together, we handled everything inside Unreal: rigging, animation, lighting, camera, and rendering — all with shared precision and intent.
Process
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Motion Capture
Using a Rokokomotion capture suit and their powerful software, I was able to embody Orion — bringing movement and emotion to the characters who once lived only in my paintings. Performing these roles in real time and watching them move through the world I had imagined was truly unforgettable — a defining milestone in the production.
"The moment I stepped into the suit and became the characters, everything shifted — they went from still to spirit, and the world became real."
Process
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Animation
I was incredibly fortunate to collaborate with two remarkable artists — Andre, who built a rock-solid rigging system tailored for our characters, and Abruel, who handled the animation side with precision and care. Once the mocap performances were recorded, Abruel meticulously cleaned and refined the data, preparing it for review and helping me shape the final takes. Their combined efforts brought the characters to life inside Unreal’s Metahuman framework with nuance and realism. I’m deeply grateful to have had their support on this journey.
Process
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Lighting + Rendering
It’s incredible how powerful today’s tools are — and from the very beginning, I knew I wanted to use Unreal Engine’s Lumen system exclusively. Coming from a path-tracing background, I was curious to see how far I could push real-time lighting while keeping the workflow light and responsive. It wasn’t without challenges, but the payoff was worth it. We committed fully to working inside Unreal using its latest tools, and as a team, we did everything we could to push the engine to its highest cinematic potential — always prioritizing atmosphere, tone, and emotional resonance over technical perfection.
"Simone’s music made the film breathe. His score turned moments into meaning."
Process
Process
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The Takeaway
My hope is that the audience feels transported — immersed in a world far from their own. That, to me, is the power of pure cinema. With all of my work, I aim to bring the experience to 80%, leaving space for the viewer to complete the final 20% — to project their own feelings, memories, and meaning onto it. That’s where lasting impact lives. I hope the team and I were able to take you somewhere else entirely — even if just for a moment.
"Orion is more than a film — it’s a mirror. A reflection of the unknown parts of ourselves that emerge when we create without compromise. I hope it invites you to dream, to question, and to feel something real."
Credits
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Special thanks to Epic Games and the MegaGrant program for believing in the vision. And to my small, mighty team — you know who you are.
If you'd like to help bring the rest of this journey to life...
contact: info@altcinc.com.
The Orion Team:
Ash Thorp – Director, Creator
Zhoslen Makoev – Tech Artist + CGI Artist
Daniel Mille – FX Artist
Andre Antunes – Rigging Artist
Samuel “Abruel” Moreira – Unreal Animation Specialist
Aeph – Original Score
Carmine Luvone – Additional Score Recordings
Parallel People (Nick Chotkowski + Daniele De Virgilio) – Sound Design