This was my final for the Desktop Video course in the spring of 2007. The assignment was to create a 30-second commercial blending real-world footage with digital assets, using Final Cut Pro and its related tools. I chose to make a faux trailer for a Back to the Future-themed video game using a modded version of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City — equal parts satire, tech tinkering, and creative problem-solving.
• Project Title: Back to the Future: Vice City
• Course: Desktop Video Final Project
• Date: Spring 2007
• Length: ~30 seconds
• Tools: Final Cut Pro, screen capture software, modded Xbox, GTA: Vice City mod
Leaning into the absurd (and awesome) idea of a time-traveling Delorean in Vice City, I used a modded original Xbox to access and capture gameplay featuring the iconic car. This formed the digital half of the project.
For the real-world component, I filmed practical footage with my roommate during a snowstorm on a remote Fargo road. Both of us drove separately at cautious 10–15 mph for safety, and despite the low speeds, I used editing tricks to make it feel dramatically faster. One highlight: I attempted (and eventually succeeded at) spinning my car on the icy road to simulate for the reaction to the other car time-traveling.
The final sequence stitched together gameplay, stylized real-world driving, hand-animated effects, and custom audio. I manually drew hundreds of frame-by-frame animations to simulate the "time travel" visual on my roommate’s car. Since the original audio was unusable due to wind, I designed the entire soundscape using stock and sampled effects to build drama.
The project received high praise from classmates and the instructor for both creativity and technical execution. Looking back, it’s absolutely cheesy, but at the time, it pushed me to combine editing, practical effects, game capture, and hand-drawn animation into a polished short-form spot.
• Video Editing & Pacing
Multi-source syncing and speed ramping in Final Cut
• Digital Asset Integration
Capturing and incorporating modded gameplay
• Manual Animation
Frame-by-frame FX to simulate time travel
• Sound Design
Full foley and audio replacement
• Creative Direction
Concepting, planning, and executing a full production solo
• Safe Filmmaking Practices
Coordinated filming during a storm with safety protocols in place
“Future’s History” is a student project created for educational purposes as part of the Desktop Video Final at MSUM in Spring 2007. This project includes references to and assets inspired by Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (© Rockstar Games) and Back to the Future (© Universal Pictures). All trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. This project is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rockstar Games or Universal Pictures.