F1 25 Reveal Trailer
Electronic Arts
Role: Lead Editor
Client: Codemasters
Production Company: Electronic Arts
With rookies rising and shocking moves shaking up the grid, this F1 season was bound to be eventful. I joined as Lead Editor to help the creative team bring their vision to life, collaborating with live-action director Giorgio Bruni to craft a defining moment around Lewis Hamilton’s surprise move to Scuderia Ferrari. This was a career-defining shift, and we wanted to maximize its impact.
This project came with unique challenges — we were producing the earliest reveal trailer in franchise history, involving multiple external vendors, all while stepping up creatively. Early on, I worked closely with creative and production teams to develop ripo edits based on potential music tracks, shaping the narrative before the live-action shoot.
One major hurdle was coordinating with Realtime UK, the team behind the Braking Point story mode cinematics. Since they prioritized key sequences for the reveal, we had to identify essential shots well in advance to ensure they were delivered on time. After extensive planning, we streamlined our approach to a single shoot with Lewis himself—a 30-minute window that required precise execution.
We partnered with Fortemus Films to design a bespoke set that reflected Lewis’s lifestyle beyond the track. On the day, Giorgio Bruni (Director) and Stefan Yap (DOP) led the live-action shoot while I focused on:
– Camera angles for seamless transitions between gameplay and live footage.
– Scripted dialogue for Lewis to deliver directly to the camera.
– A well-structured ripo, ensuring a smooth, efficient shoot.
The crew was phenomenal, capturing nearly everything we needed within our tight timeframe. Keeping in constant contact with Giorgio, I helped maintain a well-oiled production, and immediately after the shoot, I integrated the proxy shots to keep leadership involved — mirroring the successful workflow from NHL 25.
Here’s a look behind the scenes of the F1 25 Reveal Shoot:
After the shoot, we continued working closely with Giorgio and Fortemus Films to refine the edit structure and determine the in-game capture needed to tell our story. I directed the capture team, ensuring the visuals matched the cinematic quality of our live-action footage.
However, our timeline was significantly impacted by ongoing back-and-forth between brand and creative teams, leading to edits across 16 different music tracks — the most I’ve ever had to manage in a single project. Once we locked in a direction, it was a race to the finish line.
To elevate the final piece, we partnered with Source Sound, who crafted a custom mix and layered SFX that seamlessly tied together the live action, cinematics, and gameplay. Their work added the final polish, bringing the high visual fidelity of the piece to life.
Despite the challenges, the final product came together well. Like last year, the lessons learned were just as valuable as the trailer itself. Moving forward, streamlining feedback loops and letting the creatives do what they do best will be key to maximizing impact. And for me the live-action shoot with Lewis Hamilton will be a hard thing to beat. As a lifelong F1 fan this was a dream come true for me and something I’ll never forget.
