L.A. Campaign: Van Nuys

In an effort to create a complete view of what Van Nuys is known for, based on my research, I made a composition that would bring every element together while making sure it looked visually balanced. You have vintage cars cruising on a blue vinyl, substituting where The Japanese Garden river is supposed to be, but the land is based on the topography of the Garden, representing nature in the valley. Also depicted are cherry blossom trees from the neighboring Lake Balboa park. The van from Fast Times at Ridgemont High is situated by the riverbank, and can be found in person at the Valley Relics Museum, where Southern California memorabilia is on display. If you look closer in the van, I've included actual LED signs from the museum. At the right corner, is a plane ready to land in the Van Nuys Airport. Spread across the illustration are people having fun, enjoying the sights to behold, showing how Van Nuys is a great place to be!

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This reel's concept was similar to the poster with the intent to apply the three substantial themes I found in my research of Van Nuys in one illustration. This time, I thought about the vertical nature of an Instagram reel, and found that a jukebox would be the perfect dimension to use while staying true to the concept. You'll find similar colors and symbols from the poster in this reel, such as the airplane in the music catalog, the hot pink car and blue vinyl, and the tree decal for a hint of nature. Another small easter egg I am partial to is the silhouette of Van Nuys City Hall at the top of the jukebox in the metal detail. For the music, I chose Ricky Nelson's "Waitin' In School" for its fun lyrics and melody, livening the illustration's atmosphere. The illustration was painted with gouache on watercolor paper, except for the record needle, hot pink car, and blue vinyl, which were made on Photoshop, and every asset was then taken into After Effects for the animation process. The loop and music were compiled on Instagram.