Making maps for telly is more complex than it looks! Especially when you aren't allowed to use any existing map images. Things like zooming in smoothly 1000x closer, while keeping full resolution, getting the level of detail just right (but not distracting!) and blending between those levels smoothly as you zoom... and not forgetting to keep it atmospheric and on-theme.

For this 2024 true crime series I worked with director Sam Taplin to develop a moody but informative style that showed both the connections being discussed within mafia circles, and Ross's journey as he investigates.

This video and especially the images below also show some alternative looks I worked on but opted out of using. In the end I used purely map imagery that I'd created myself (saving the company paying for/crediting map images) using Illustrator, Procreate, Photoshop and even a little Fresco - and just used After Effects to animate in 2.5d. The true-3d renders you see here (done in Cinema 4D) weren't developed very far in the end as we found them unnecessary... but I included them to show a bit of the development process!

Series produced by Honey Bee TV for Sky History.