The Last Dance
This experimental project explored emerging AI-assisted design workflows by creating promotional material for a fictional rally racing film. The work combined traditional photomontage techniques with Adobe Photoshop Beta’s newly integrated Gemini Nano Banana AI functionality, demonstrating how generative AI tools can support narrative visual development and cinematic concept design.
The Challenge The project required developing a complete fictional film concept with compelling narrative, casting, and visual identity while testing new AI-integrated design tools. The challenge involved creating photorealistic promotional imagery that would convincingly represent a non-existent film production, requiring seamless integration of existing automotive photography with AI-generated elements to produce cohesive cinematic marketing materials.
The Solution I developed “The Last Dance,” a fictional rally racing drama centered on aging legends returning to competition. The narrative follows Vincent Manetti (Sylvester Stallone), a faded 1980s rally legend who emerges from retirement at the deathbed request of former team director Siegfried Becker. Becker’s dying wish is for Manetti to prevent the collapse of his racing team, now under the uncertain leadership of his son Walter (Daniel Brühl). Manetti reluctantly reunites with former co-driver Franz Richter (Arnold Schwarzenegger), and together the sexagenarian duo faces family resistance while proving they still have something to demonstrate on rally’s unforgiving stages.
The visual execution began with a base photograph of the 2017 Ford Fiesta WRC, which served as the foundation for AI-assisted photomontage work. Using Adobe Photoshop Beta’s Gemini Nano Banana integration, I created fictional photoshoot scenarios combining the rally car with generated cinematic elements. The workflow demonstrated how AI tools can accelerate concept visualization while maintaining creative control over narrative and aesthetic direction.
The project documentation includes multiple process stages, showing the evolution from base photography through AI enhancement to final composite imagery, illustrating the technical workflow and creative decisions throughout development.
The Impact The completed project produced promotional-quality imagery for a fictional film while demonstrating practical applications of AI-integrated design tools in narrative visual development. The work explores the intersection of traditional photomontage skills with emerging generative AI capabilities in creative workflows.
Design Software: Adobe Photoshop Beta (Gemini Nano Banana AI Integration) Base Material: 2017 Ford Fiesta WRC photography Project Type: Fictional film promotional materials Documentation: Multi-stage process visualization
