In 2024, Will Smith returned to music with an emotional performance of “You Can Make It” at the BET Awards. Set against a brutalist wasteland stage, the live performance became one of the night’s most iconic moments blending fire, rain, stormy skies, and raw energy. I was brought in by Luke Halls Studio, in collaboration with The Squared Division, to design and animate the stage visuals across several key sections of the song.
I was responsible for creating visuals for Intro Verse 1, Chorus 1, Verse 2 and Piano Outro. The goal was to reflect the emotional journey of the track. From darkness to light, with visuals that felt raw, elemental, and cinematic.
Using Cinema 4D / Redshift, After Effects, and Premiere, I crafted a series of looping and atmospheric animations that played across the LED screens behind Will and the choir. The storm sequence and 3D red moon were especially rewarding. For the clouds, I composited massive layered assets from various stock footage sources, carefully graded and animated to blend seamlessly. The result was a rich and immersive environment that gave the stage real depth. The visuals followed the evolution of the performance:
A red eclipse rising behind the stage.
Volumetric storm clouds layered from stock and custom effects.
Flashes of lightning and rain during Will’s pivotal second verse.
A symbolic moment of sunlight breaking through, signaling hope.
And finally, a dramatic back wall text reading: “Dance in your darkest moments.”
