rough cut

Shot 1: The Pirate’s Entrance

• Asset Acquisition: To start, I wanted a pirate character who would feel right at home in a dusty Western saloon. I browsed the unreal asset store and settled on a rugged, rough-around-the-edges model that fit the character perfectly. This model featured classic pirate attire, with boots, a tattered coat, and a belt adorned with small weapons. Once downloaded, I imported the character into my project.

• Animation Selection & Tuning: The next step was to add a "walking" animation that felt natural for the saloon environment. I downloaded a walk cycle animation from mixamo. The original animation needed a few adjustments: the character’s pacing was a bit fast, so I slowed it down to convey a confident, slightly exaggerated swagger as he steps into the saloon. I also worked on the root motion, refining it to sync with the creaky saloon floor and making sure his steps had weight.

Shot 2: The Bartender and Interior

• Asset Acquisition & Interior Build-Out: The heart of the saloon is the bar, which had to look as if it’s been through years of rowdy patrons and pirate brawls. I chose a bartender model in a Western-style outfit and added props such as a long wooden bar counter, shelves filled with bottles, and period-appropriate decorations like lanterns, stools, and dusty glassware.

• Lighting & Mood: For ambiance, I used warm, dim lighting, casting rich shadows across the bar’s wood grain and highlighting the reflection of bottles. I wanted to convey a cozy, inviting, yet slightly eerie atmosphere. In future I plan to add flickering lights  to help evoke the sense of candlelit space, adding both movement and tension to the scene.

Shot 3: The Stairs and Background Environment

• Setting Up the Background: The third shot frames the back of the saloon, focusing on the staircase and decor that give depth to the scene. I downloaded stair assets along with wall-mounted decorations, including vintage photographs, a few animal skulls, and dusty saloon signs, which were added to give the saloon a Western-pirate hybrid vibe.

• Adding Background Animation: Although this shot is mostly still, I wanted it to feel alive. To achieve this, I will add minor, ambient animations, such as a slow, almost unnoticeable sway to the hanging decorations and a soft flicker to the lanterns on the walls. These subtle touches prevent the shot from feeling static and reinforce the immersive environment.

Audio & Music

• Selecting the Soundtrack: To bring the saloon scene to life, I chose a track that combines Western elements with a pirate flair, blending classic guitar strumming with subtle sea-shanty undertones. I downloaded the music track from youtube and imported it into my audio software for editing.

• Editing and Cutting the Track: Since I only needed a 15-second snippet, I trimmed the song to fit, selecting a part that ramps up to add energy. After trimming, I applied a fade-in at the beginning to ease viewers into the scene, followed by a subtle fade-out to avoid abrupt endings. I exported the final audio file in .wav and synced it with the video sequence, adjusting the volume to blend with other environmental sounds.

• Ambient Sounds: I plan to add subtle background sounds to enhance realism, like faint chatter, the clinking of glasses, and a creaky floor. These audio layers were placed strategically to align with specific actions on-screen, ensuring an immersive experience.

Final Assembly and Export

Once all assets, animations, and audio elements were synced, I rendered the cutscene in capcut, ensuring high quality for both video and sound. I exported it in a 1080p resolution to ensure clarity and smooth transitions.

Future Plans

The current demo only hints at the lively saloon atmosphere I envision. I plan to extend this cutscene by another 15-20 seconds, adding characters like dancing patrons, others seated at tables drinking, and more dynamic interactions. This will emphasize the bustling social environment, making the saloon feel like a genuine Western pirate tavern alive with activity.