The Train

Axon, the global leader in first responder technology and equipment, has a long-standing commitment to advancing public safety through innovation. They wanted to show the benefits of their product ecosystem through narrative rather than spec sheets. The Train became one of the most ambitious projects we've ever produced for them.

Put viewers directly alongside volumetrically captured actors as they navigate a realistic police encounter. Then close with the viewer's own hands on the hardware — an interactive segment where participants handle Axon's TASER system in a realistic training scenario.

I led the production, from volumetric capture through the real-time build. That meant directing performers on a capture stage and solving optimization problems within the same production.

We assembled the largest number of volumetrically captured performers ever brought into a single piece, including Axon's CEO, Rick Smith. Real locations were 3D scanned and rebuilt inside the experience to create a hyper-realistic environment. Despite that technical load, the entire production was optimized to run in real time on early mobile VR headsets, which kept it accessible to a wide audience.

The Train was showcased at numerous high-profile industry events, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police — one of the nation's largest gatherings for first responders. It set new benchmarks for the medium and deepened a partnership that kept producing work.