LockPick OPERATOR REVEAL TRAILER

Creative Lead: Rachel Jandak

Bringing Élodie "Lockpick" Micheaux to Life

The Brief: Drive MWIII Pre-Orders on Sony Platforms by showcasing the unique aesthetic and narrative of the Lockpick Operator.

Considerations:

Leverage Lockpick’s unique lore as a lock-picking mastermind and bomb-disposal expert.
Create a unique narrative-driven way to showcase bundle content.
- Utilize a distinctive music track.
- Include interesting and diverse backdrops.
How can we make this trailer feel distinct/unique versus past operator assets?

V1 Script & Storyboard

In my first draft, I delved deeply into Elodie's backstory, emphasizing the heartbreak of losing her brothers to war. It packed an emotional punch, but the overall tone felt a bit too heavy. After discussing with stakeholders and the creative team, we all agreed that using the safe as a recurring visual and audio motif was a brilliant way to build tension and intrigue throughout the piece.

V2 Script

Building on the safe as a visual and audio motif, I crafted the V2 script to highlight Lockpick's confident and charming personality. Working closely with Dana Shaw, Sledgehammer Games’ Senior Narrative Designer and the original creator of the Lockpick character, we developed several ways to bring Lockpick’s playful and confident personality to life.

INT. SAFE ROOM - DAY

Low angle on a large safe. Armed guards stand in front of it.

LOCKPICK

When they speak of me...

EXT. ENEMY COMPOUND - DAY

Close up on LOCKPICK’s braid as she walks.

LOCKPICK

They warn to lock your doors.

INT. SAFE ROOM - DAY

Slow push in on the safe. The guards are gone. Fade to black.

EXT. ENEMY COMPOUND - DAY

Fade back in. The guards are hunting LOCKPICK. She looks over her shoulder.

LOCKPICK

C’est mignon—

The guards spread out, searching for her. One turns a corner and notices a device with a red blinking light.

LOCKPICK

That’s cute.

BOOM. The device explodes. LOCKPICK intercepts a fleeing guard, eliminating him.

INT. SAFE ROOM - DAY

The room shakes with the closest explosion yet. The guards look between each other, uneasy as dust falls from the ceiling.

EXT. ENEMY COMPOUND - DAY

LOCKPICK slides down a rappel wire into the building, debris falling around her, and hits the ground running. Alarms blare as enemy forces move in.

INT. SAFE ROOM - DAY

LOCKPICK walks towards the unguarded safe as enemy forces surround her. She easily opens the safe and retrieves her stolen weapons. She locks, loads, and turns to face the enemies hunting her. Shots ring out. Cut to black.

LOCKPICK

I’ve never met a lock...

Walking over the defeated corpses of her enemies, LOCKPICK escapes the compound through a blasted-open doorway, wreathed in flame.

LOCKPICK

I couldn’t break.

END CARD

V3/Final

I collaborated closely with our design, editing, audio, studio, and capture teams throughout the entire production process to craft an explosive reveal trailer that puts storytelling front and center. After finalizing the script, I worked directly with voice actor Linsay Rousseau to capture Lockpick’s tone perfectly, ensuring every line synced with the on-screen action. Likewise, I worked with our audio designers to select the music, and alongside our editor to incorporate it into the trailer, ensuring it heightened the emotional impact and augmented the project’s narrative vision.

AUDIENCE RESPONSE & RECEPTION

Overall, the response to the trailer was fantastic. Fans loved the narrative focus and praised Lockpick’s distinctive character as well as the action and music. The video premiered during the 2023 Call of Duty NEXT event and received high praise both internally and externally.

Call of Duty YouTube Channel Video Views: 104k

IGN YouTube Channel Video Views: 35k

Call of Duty YouTube channel #CODNext Views: 658k

IGN Call of Duty NEXT Livestream Views: 224k