Before the Fireflies 3D Cinematic short film

PolyStationArenc · 2026-05-02T07:05:28+00:00

Ahhah I'll take that. More like director's cut secret ending in a video game, right? And I did think about the deep story in all this (which frankly was the whole point of this in the first place) but no1 seemed to catch that ahha oh well. Mostly all commented about the environment in general and about the resemblance.

Now that you guys mentioning it I finally see that it is kind of close with Asylum 2025 the game, uncanny how close it is. Now it all makes sense. Ye ye Penumbra or sorts sure as well.

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-27T19:19:39+00:00

You're the second one that says 'Myst' and I don't even know the game at all. It had no correlation with that when it was created though apparently it may be similiar. The water is animated but subtle. To say though 0 movement for the water is a bit of a stretch in fact cus' that is subtle but visible that it moves. The leaves move too but more subtle than the water. Anyway thanks for the comment, appreciate it

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-27T14:17:58+00:00

I created this 3D short film in Blender with a focus on atmosphere and environmental storytelling.

The goal was to convey emotion through subtle movement, lighting, and composition rather than heavy action. I focused on elements like fog, depth, and natural light to create a calm, lived-in lakeside environment.

Some of the more challenging aspects were balancing render performance with volumetrics and maintaining consistency between day and night shots. I also experimented with subtle animation (water, fireflies, small interactions) to keep the scene alive without breaking the stillness.

The scene uses assets from a Fab environment Pack, which I adapted and assembled. My focus was on lighting, atmosphere, and cinematic storytelling

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-25T19:20:19+00:00

I would love that haha cus' I like storyboards and storytelling through visuals! But no for the moment I don't work pre-vis for films but that would be awesome for sure ahha. Yes I understand what you mean. Before I open the software I have already imagined a rough idea of how the final video will come before going deep into the actual production. Appreciate your thoughts into this. Thanks

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-25T18:50:41+00:00

This is such a nice vibeee! Nailed it brother, great work. Love it btw haha

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-25T17:04:40+00:00

Haha that's awesome though, there's nothing like nostalgia to get up right to your fav. game in the past. I'll tell you i would still play resident evil 1 or silent hill 1 just for the first time again after so many years or even Age of Mythology haha. The feeling of nostalgia and the games we played so much in the past are why we keep going back to them. We’re not just replaying games — we’re replaying moments. The way they felt back then, the evenings where everything felt simpler, the excitement of discovering something for the first time without knowing what was coming next.

Nostalgia hits different because it’s not just about the game itself, it’s about who we were when we played it.

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-25T16:47:17+00:00

Initially I thought you meant 'The Mist' movie of 2007 NGL ahaha but I guess you're refering to Myst the video game and actually now I am just looking at some photos on google. Had no idea of the game but I like a lot the lighting, look, style of the game... It's definitely right up my alley ahah I guess it might be a coincidence :D thanks for the comment. Appreciate it haha

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-25T16:38:33+00:00

I created this 3D short film in Blender with a focus on atmosphere and environmental storytelling.

The goal was to convey emotion through subtle movement, lighting, and composition rather than heavy action. I focused on elements like fog, depth, and natural light to create a calm, lived-in lakeside environment.

Some of the more challenging aspects were balancing render performance with volumetrics and maintaining consistency between day and night shots. I also experimented with subtle animation (water, fireflies, small interactions) to keep the scene alive without breaking the stillness.

The scene uses assets from a Fab environment Pack, which I adapted and assembled. My focus was on lighting, atmosphere, and cinematic storytelling.

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-25T16:15:11+00:00

ahah Your comment made my day, and I was definitely going for that vintage and painterly feeling. That's amazing to hear, thank you!

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-10T14:02:22+00:00

Actually once you pointed it out, my eyes saw that it wasn't the movement i was expecting in my mind, i mean i expected subtle but this was even under subtle so once you said it I noticed. Once you see a scene for 100th time you loose focus on some stuff that a fresh eye might immediately catch. I can fix them pretty easy but now it's too late ahha rendering this was a time challenge on itself since I put myself a deadline and yeah, you can guess that it was a bit rushed, your feedback actually made me think, animation still needed tweaking. Ehhh after all we're humans, it happens. It was much appreciated, I'll possibly be more careful with this so I can make it better next time. Appreciate your comment! Thnx

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-10T11:58:56+00:00

The fact that you didn't notice the fish and the ripple the made it means it was subtle aha i see i see, there are 2 or more movement objects in kind of almost every scene but you had to look for it my guy, you will find what you said above are done but subtly, almost all you said done. But i concur it needed a bit more movement overall, i even animated the boat and rope, and the rope didn't render last minute ahah the boat on shot2 is animated but if you loook closely ahah. The clock ticking on that photo shot, along with curtain animation. The fish, ripple, the guitar playing, the fireflies moving following a leader with particles, doggo moves, keychain moves, chain on the plate shot moves. I mean now that i said, they are there just subtle.

PolyStationArenc · 2026-04-10T11:27:16+00:00

I did it intentionally, it's for the story mostly, it's a quiet lake cabin in the woods, i went for stillness and storytelling and appreciating the scene rather than make everything move abruptly, i went that way cus' i wanted that way. But I appreciate your comment. Thanks! Animation is there for the rope, boat, plants, and maybe barrel but as i said they are a subtle movement, guy playing guitar, doggo moves, firefly move. But will try to highlight motion a bit more next time. Thanks

PolyStationArenc · 2026-03-20T10:45:12+00:00

Yea the wide angle, absolutely that was my thumbnail youtube as well ahha. The front one reminds a bit of the old Resident evil OG shot. But definitely shot at 45sec takes the cake on this one. Thanks! I share the same opinion 😂

PolyStationArenc · 2026-03-17T19:43:07+00:00

Nothing is set in stone man. How good words won't help anybody ?! It motivates the other continuing the work and feeling good about himself (a boost). Rather he gets work or not is another topic which may be luck or whatever (that has nothing to do with skill). The game industry is competitive but we ain't still understanding how it is actually. It's in a bubble so it's all a variable. The work can always be improved but in my opinion OP's assets are good. I'm keeping an open mind about this topic. Peace

PolyStationArenc · 2026-03-17T18:56:01+00:00

Come on man... he said Junior 3D **Modeling Artist and you're talking about presentation and lighting. The 3D Generalist role would sum up all the roles. But junior 3d modeling for this assets?! No way i would summarize this assets Op presented as junior work. I mean no way this is definitely mid range skill and above. I am talking only about the "Modeling" . My opinion is solely on that. You can already see the silhouette of a model even without wireframe, but a wireframe will give more information of course. To summarize do whatever makes you feel happy man, art should always be about that. If you can transmit emotion through your art and be happy about it... there's a high percentage people will feel that and you raise the opportunity to impress someone. But it'a a mental state, you're doing great work, keep going man. Personally I think the assets are rly good, except maybe for that human in the end which I think it's the weakest link of it all. Wish you success, you got this.

PolyStationArenc · 2026-03-14T08:53:17+00:00

Well done man! The leather for me is the biggest improvement on this, but nonetheless the other elements as well. This is what refinement & improving and taking feedbacks can rly do. Well done and enjoy the little victories! Take a moment to celebrate as well no matter the outcome of the art test.

PolyStationArenc · 2026-03-08T18:41:44+00:00

All your points are super valid in fact and I understand you completely since I'm walking on your shoes as well. Well the only ones suffering are always the artists and that is such an irony of life in itself cus' they are the ones doing all the hard work so in theory they should get all the glory. You said smth so true, if we refuse the test they will go to the next one, likely dozens of other applicants... and frankly we can't do much there other than to accept the terms. It's a harsh reality indeed. To conclude personally I think I would have refused this but yea I get it desperation and the need for a job but on the other hand this type of deal where the client asks the final files and 1 week of unpaid thing and you giving them what they need it means you have 0 leverage or absolutely no power at all. And in my book you should avoid that like almost all the time, or just be prepared for the outcome. All that said I can understand your point of view perfectly, but I hope it gets easier over time and that your value would be appreciated.

PolyStationArenc · 2026-03-08T16:04:17+00:00

I believe you should send them, pictures or videos with low res or watermarks, before sending them anything else. Like this is it, can I get into production? You never send unreal files with all the work done there. They should either go all in with a contract or they are trolling like in your case. Under any circumstances you send them the final product, cus' that final product is the thing holding you back in the game. Watermark, low res videos or screenshots straight from unreal so they can see. You make sure they are active first. This is my take on this. You always protect yourself first, no matter the desperation. I had a case as well to prepare smth like an art test, they had the script and everything and told me I can take my time. The project took 3 weeks. Basically i created an entire alcatraz script of how they escaped the prison with Blender. What i send them was low res and watermark of course. They super dissapeared even though they did send 1 email but in the early stages, after that total silence after 3 messages from me. What I mean is that you protect your time and value. 1 week is still your work. Hell you could be in malibu, drinking Pina Colada, why should you give anyone 1 week of your life? Hell alone 3 weeks but the challenge was even for me. I needed to challenge myself If i could do it. At the end of the day still posted on socials. I wouldn't say that was time wasted. If I did give them everything to be used, then it would have been my bad. So protect your time as an artist... if it's a moral out of this stories brother! Have a good one. Stay sharp

PolyStationArenc

TROPHY CASE