SYNOPSIS
Initially conceived as an animatic, Everyday details the events surrounding the detonation of the first atomic bomb at the Nevada Test Site. Since completing the animatic, I’ve expanded upon this project, adding key art, elevations, and more.
Doom Towns were simulated neighborhoods constructed by the FDAC and the AEC in order to help study the effects of a nuclear detonation on the typical American home. Before modeling the house, I created this piece of key art to demonstrate a key moment in the animatic, with the mannequin placeholders (styled by JCPenney) unaware of what’s happening to them beyond the house.
I modeled the house in Blender based on photos and videos taken at the test site prior to the detonation so I could have a properly scaled model to develop my elevations on. Most of the photos I could find of the interior were taken after the detonation so I referenced the key art I did as well as Sears pre-fabricated homes.
Research for this project took me to the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas, NV. Since the subject matter is sensitive, I wanted to take measures to ensure that it is handled with care in this project. Here, I was able to see the impacts of nuclear testing, both on American culture as well as on the people and places directly involved with the testing.