NBA: Disappearing Act

Clippers point guard Chris Paul goes up in smoke as MPC Los Angeles delivers a magic trick in post for the NBA. Directed by Pony Show's Spike Lee, the showpiece integration of 2D and 3D work sees the player reappear in a restaurant booth where NBA all-timer Magic Johnson and Lakers guard Steve Nash are watching the rest of the action on TV. To create the vanishing effect, MPC artists painted Paul out of stock game footage and restored the background, essentially inventing images that had previously been obstructed by the basketball player’s frame. The entertaining action comes out of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.