Unreal Engine Cinematic Scoring Video – Behind the Scenes

The Clock

This project began with a feeling rather than a plan. I’ve always been drawn to the dark, surreal atmosphere of Alice: Madness Returns, especially the opening scenes in the old asylum. There’s something fascinating about places that feel both alive and forgotten at the same time. That was the mood I wanted to capture – a space that feels abandoned, quiet, and just a little unsettling.

Building the Scene

I started by browsing through assets on the Unreal Marketplace and Fab until I found an old mansion environment that had potential. From there, I rearranged nearly everything, moving walls, furniture, and details until the space began to breathe. The goal was to make it feel natural, like it had a story, but without overexplaining anything.

Once the layout worked, I began shaping the light. Lighting is always where the mood starts for me. I built it layer by layer – first the main light from the window, then small accents to catch dust and texture in the air. I added particle effects to bring motion into stillness and set up the camera path to slowly move through the space.

The Study

The hallway light gave me the most trouble. I wanted it to feel eerie, as if something unseen was shifting beyond view. It took a lot of testing until it felt right. Along the way I started adding small details – a moving picture frame, a spider crawling in the background. They’re easy to miss, but I like hiding small things that make the world feel alive.

The Hallway

Chasing the Light

The hardest part was the hallway. I wanted a spooky, slow light movement that hinted at something unseen. Getting that right took a lot of tweaking.There are also a few small details hidden in the scene — a moving painting, a spider crawling through a shadow. They’re easy to miss, but I love when a scene has secrets.

Finishing the Piece

When the render was done, I brought everything into DaVinci Resolve to edit and color-grade the shots. I wanted the transitions to feel like breathing – slow and heavy. Then I added the music and the short voice-over. The voice gives the piece a quiet human touch, like someone whispering from inside the scene.

“Can You Escape the Ticking Clock?” became a small, atmospheric experiment about time, silence, and the strange calm that comes before fear.