A cinematic edge: visualization meets filmmaking at Ten Over Media
Ten Over Media’s creative formula of blending disciplines
Meet the duo
In the ever-evolving world of architecture and visualization, Ten Over Media has carved a unique niche in the world of visual storytelling by blending unique filmmaking techniques and advanced visualization with Lumion. Founders Mathieu Anfosso and Rémi Anfosso, leveraging backgrounds in architecture and filmmaking respectively, are consistently pushing the boundaries of traditional visualization methods.
We reconnected with the duo to discuss their journey, their innovative use of Lumion through the years, and the ethos behind their intricate projects.
Could you briefly share your backgrounds and how Ten Over Media came to be?
Mathieu: Rémi and I built our careers separately—he in film and I in architecture—before eventually reconvening to form Ten Over Media, where we've focused on production by fusing filmmaking and visualization ever since. We’ve been using Lumion since 2015, and it has played a key role in our evolution.
Rémi: As Mathieu mentioned, I spent over 10 years in the film industry before joining Ten Over Media. My film background has undoubtedly played a role in shaping our journey. Today, Ten Over Media exists across two continents, with me based in Paris and Mathieu in California. I often travel over there to collaborate with the team, especially when it comes to big projects. Throughout the years, Lumion has been a vital tool that enabled us to get where we are today and what we do now.
47 North, Ten Over Media
Visualizing possibilities
Was there a pivotal moment that sparked your collaboration?
Mathieu: The pivotal moment for us came in 2017, during a project for a California resort. I was tasked with creating a 4-minute 3D marketing video to introduce the property, but I struggled to make the video engaging and felt unsure about holding the audience’s attention. I reached out to Rémi for advice, and after discussing the property, he suggested joining the project as a film director.
Bringing him on board completely transformed the workflow. He identified details and storytelling elements we hadn’t considered, which turned out to be the highlights for the client. This collaboration showed us how a narrative approach could elevate visualization, reshaping the way we approached projects and setting a new standard for our work.
Ten Over Media VFX Breakdown
How has your work evolved over the years?
Rémi: At Ten Over Media, our unspoken motto is breaking the industry rules. When I first entered the field, I didn’t know the established rules, so I had no choice but to push boundaries. Over time, our work naturally shifted towards more lifestyle content, as that’s what clients increasingly wanted. This content, especially in video, is the most challenging to create, involving live action shots and effect integrations. Initially, we didn’t have the tools for that, but as demand grew, we began to push the limits of the software, and it was well received. Now, creating lifestyle content is central to what we do, as it meets clients’ needs and resonates with their audiences.
Mathieu: We’ve also become more involved in the marketing industry, particularly property marketing. This allows us to create more robust products that fit within their marketing ecosystem and deliver what their customers expect. The response to our work, especially the lifestyle content, has been incredible. Naturally, integrating Lumion into our process has been essential.
Can you think of a particular project where Lumion played a big part?
Mathieu: One I instantly think of is the Minnesota Zoo project we did right around the time Lumion introduced ray tracing. They were launching a new elevated trail by repurposing an old model as part of their rebranding, and needed a nationwide campaign for the opening. The challenge was that the project was filmed during Minnesota’s snowy winter, but the trail was opening in summer. We couldn’t shoot the summer scenes, so we decided to use footage from the zoo and recreate the missing visuals in 3D, rendering everything in Lumion. This project showcased how we could seamlessly blend real footage with 3D visuals, helping us bring the campaign to life.
Rémi: The goal of this film was to guide the viewer's eye, making sure they focus on specific elements. For example, while you can spot people in the background, the attention is directed elsewhere. We used Lumion as a supporting character in the story, enhancing the overall narrative rather than showcasing everything in 3D, which is common in the industry. It was a fun workflow because the design team focused on massing, while the film team worked on rough drafts for the shots, ensuring we didn’t waste time on details that wouldn’t be visible in the final film. This approach created a more efficient process.
Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail Commercial
Rémi Anfosso
Head Filmmaker, Ten Over Media
Lumion has been a vital tool that enabled us to get where we are today and what we do now.
Your projects are incredibly layered and complex. What are the key challenges in the process?
Rémi: Challenges vary greatly depending on the project. Once we overcome a particular obstacle, it often becomes the foundation for the next project. However, large-scale locations tend to be the most complex. Managing multiple files and layers can make navigation harder, requiring adjustments to the workflow to maintain a seamless camera experience.
Beyond that, creating lifestyle content and real-life integrations remains particularly challenging due to the time-intensive nature of the process. We have yet to find a faster, more efficient approach, making this one of the biggest hurdles for me.
Mathieu: Traditional architectural projects involve managing a lot of data across multiple disciplines—architecture, landscape, interior design, and branding. The challenge is integrating all these elements into a cohesive representation, often requiring a fresh start for each new project.
Lumion helps by enabling us to represent these aspects accurately, especially with features like ray tracing and advanced materials. This gives clients confidence that what they see is what they’ll get. It’s also sparked new conversations with clients who are seeing all aspects of their project integrated for the first time. While their reactions are positive, it often leads to revision requests to their consultants to achieve cohesion. The main challenge is delivering content that not only represents the design but is simultaneously engaging, easy to understand.
Mathieu Anfosso
Founder, Ten Over Media
Lumion sparks new conversations with our clients when they see all aspects of their project integrated for the first time.
Was there a time you presented a project in a conceptual way?
Mathieu: We worked on a project called 47 North, where the initial 3D renderings by the architect received heavy pushback from the community. The client brought us in to help mitigate this backlash. We quickly realized that the 3D renders might have felt too unrelatable and cold, so we decided to move away from 3D and instead used hand-drawn sketches to present the property in a more human, conceptual way.
These sketches softened the presentation, helping the community connect better with the project. By showing street scenes and amenities in this style, we were able to bridge the gap between the initial vision and the community’s concerns.
No limit to creativity
Inspired by Ten Over Media's unique work? Get creative with a free with a 14-day Lumion Pro trial.
What's your outlook on AI and how does it fit into the future of filmmaking?
Rémi: Big studios are embracing AI because it's cost-effective, while many creatives oppose it because it puts originality at stake. Some use AI for tasks like scriptwriting, which can result in generic content, removing creativity. This raises a question: if machines can predict our tastes, does that mean we aren't as original as we think? In our case, we use AI to streamline tasks like texturing and lighting, which enhances efficiency. However, in filmmaking, there’s significant pushback, particularly in Hollywood, where AI is a divisive topic.
Personally, I think we’ll see two types of filmmaking: one driven by human creativity and the other by AI, with each serving different audience needs—one offering what people expect and the other pushing boundaries.
Mathieu: Last year, I had a discussion with marketing professionals how everything is starting to look and sound the same, especially with AI-generated content. While it’s more affordable and accessible, it’s also making things blend together, and over time, people can easily spot AI-generated work since it’s predictable. It’s becoming less innovative and more formulaic, which, while making it more accessible, can harm the industry by reducing creativity and compromising on quality. As more people get familiar with AI, they'll develop a trained eye to recognize what's AI and what's not. It's similar to how, a few years ago, people were amazed by low-quality 3D renders because it was novel, but now, as 3D content has become more accessible, the public easily recognizes it and expects a much higher baseline standard. We may be heading toward a similar evolution with AI.
Building narratives
Mathieu and Rémi Anfosso’s journey with Ten Over Media has taken storytelling to a whole new level by blending architectural visualization with cinematic storytelling. Their narratives bridge the gap between technical precision and emotional connection, setting a high bar for the industry.
Inspired by their unique use-case? With Lumion, you too can push the boundaries of visualization, creating immersive and impactful presentations.
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