The Big Budget Look with Student Project Resources
▶ Find Inspiration and develop your ideas with Frame Set:
https://go.frameset.app/3QFEmUS
▶ About This Episode:
Director Leon Liehr joins Dylan Hahn to break down a spec commercial featuring Headspace that was made as a student project. Leon shares how a small team used location choices, practical effects, and VFX to create the illusion of ceilings closing in, all within a three-day shoot. They talk through previs, lighting strategy, in-camera solutions, and the process of aligning a spec piece closely enough to a real brand that it gets their attention.
▶ Sources:
• Watch "Get Some Headspace"
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnXWjH3HDSA
• Connect with Leon Liehr
• https://www.instagram.com/leon.liehr/
• https://leonliehr.com/about
• View on Frame Set:
• https://frameset.app/search/brand/headspace/get-some-headspace
▶ "Get Some Headspace" Credits:
• Cast: Egzona Fetahaj (@1999visions)
• Director: Wolf Lass (@wolflass)
• Producer: Anton Fischer-Appelt (@antonfrischerapfel)
• Producer: Hasem Al Jajeh (@the.sun.kid)
• Production company: Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
• (@filmakademie_bw)
• DoP: Leon Liehr (@leon.liehr)
• Edit: Tillmann Seiffert (@_tillmann.s_)
• VFX: Sören Schmidt-Clausen
• VFX: Melisa Öztürk
• Set design: Nina Heinrich (@nxnosch)
• Music: Jannik Ost
• Sound Design: Jonathan Dönges (@jonathan_dngs)
• Color Grading: Johan Nurmilehto (@johancolorist)
• Costume: Abir Sofi (@ab1r.sofi)
• Styling: Luana Voigt (@luxnx_02_)
• AL & 1st AD: Benjamin Annuß
• Tech Specs:
• Arri Alexa Mini LF - Open Gate
• Zeiss Supreme Primes
• 3x Skypanel X + Hyper Optic
• Panther Dolly + Vario Jib
▶ About The Reframed Podcast:
“Reframed” is a filmmaker podcast that poses fresh and insightful questions to filmmakers. It offers a compelling look behind the scenes, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of the film industry and the creative minds that drive it.
▶ Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:31 Welcome Leon Liehr
02:05 This Was Actually a Student Project
03:52 Choosing Locations & Making It Feel Real
06:02 3-Day Shoot Breakdown
06:31 The Gym Scene
10:18 The Elevator Illusion
13:32 Kitchen Scene – Controlling Light
16:44 The Top Down Shot
20:52 The Practical Ceiling Build
24:54 Building the Fake App
27:34 The Final Shot Breakdown
31:03 VFX Data & Planning
34:26 Crew & Making It Work
37:08 Office Scene Execution
43:12 Previs & Testing
46:18 Turning a Spec Into Opportunity
48:43 Working for Free
53:09 Thank you Leon Liehr
https://go.frameset.app/3QFEmUS
▶ About This Episode:
Director Leon Liehr joins Dylan Hahn to break down a spec commercial featuring Headspace that was made as a student project. Leon shares how a small team used location choices, practical effects, and VFX to create the illusion of ceilings closing in, all within a three-day shoot. They talk through previs, lighting strategy, in-camera solutions, and the process of aligning a spec piece closely enough to a real brand that it gets their attention.
▶ Sources:
• Watch "Get Some Headspace"
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnXWjH3HDSA
• Connect with Leon Liehr
• https://www.instagram.com/leon.liehr/
• https://leonliehr.com/about
• View on Frame Set:
• https://frameset.app/search/brand/headspace/get-some-headspace
▶ "Get Some Headspace" Credits:
• Cast: Egzona Fetahaj (@1999visions)
• Director: Wolf Lass (@wolflass)
• Producer: Anton Fischer-Appelt (@antonfrischerapfel)
• Producer: Hasem Al Jajeh (@the.sun.kid)
• Production company: Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
• (@filmakademie_bw)
• DoP: Leon Liehr (@leon.liehr)
• Edit: Tillmann Seiffert (@_tillmann.s_)
• VFX: Sören Schmidt-Clausen
• VFX: Melisa Öztürk
• Set design: Nina Heinrich (@nxnosch)
• Music: Jannik Ost
• Sound Design: Jonathan Dönges (@jonathan_dngs)
• Color Grading: Johan Nurmilehto (@johancolorist)
• Costume: Abir Sofi (@ab1r.sofi)
• Styling: Luana Voigt (@luxnx_02_)
• AL & 1st AD: Benjamin Annuß
• Tech Specs:
• Arri Alexa Mini LF - Open Gate
• Zeiss Supreme Primes
• 3x Skypanel X + Hyper Optic
• Panther Dolly + Vario Jib
▶ About The Reframed Podcast:
“Reframed” is a filmmaker podcast that poses fresh and insightful questions to filmmakers. It offers a compelling look behind the scenes, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of the film industry and the creative minds that drive it.
▶ Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:31 Welcome Leon Liehr
02:05 This Was Actually a Student Project
03:52 Choosing Locations & Making It Feel Real
06:02 3-Day Shoot Breakdown
06:31 The Gym Scene
10:18 The Elevator Illusion
13:32 Kitchen Scene – Controlling Light
16:44 The Top Down Shot
20:52 The Practical Ceiling Build
24:54 Building the Fake App
27:34 The Final Shot Breakdown
31:03 VFX Data & Planning
34:26 Crew & Making It Work
37:08 Office Scene Execution
43:12 Previs & Testing
46:18 Turning a Spec Into Opportunity
48:43 Working for Free
53:09 Thank you Leon Liehr
Frame Set
Helping filmmakers with creative development.
Frame Set's YouTube channel is dedicated to creating videos that inspire, empower, and equip filmmakers of all levels — helping them feel less alone, more connected, and ready to apply what they learn to the...