Hack the Bank

Introduction

The goal for Hack the Bank was to design a cinematic opening sequence for an cyber event that could also double as a course introduction. The premise: participants—referred to as cadets—enter a high-tech vault simulation, using logic and coding to uncover vulnerabilities and “hack” through multiple stages of a digital defence system. The challenge was to balance narrative tension and educational purpose while ensuring the tone remained futuristic, intelligent, and age-appropriate.

Process

The production began by crafting a motivating script that framed the entire event as a mission rather than a game. Each line of narration was aligned to Veo 3 scene prompts, keeping the flow dynamic while ensuring that every shot felt independent and cinematic.
Visuals were designed to convey progress and escalation—from the sterile calm of an untouched vault system to an accelerating sequence of neon data lines racing through the network.

Each 8-second scene was created independently, but transitions such as “fade to black,” “camera zoom into code fragments,” and “light trails continuing into the next shot” were used to create visual continuity once the clips were stitched together in Premiere Pro. The soundtrack and timing were tuned to build a sense of momentum, aligning perfectly with key phrases like “the vault is live” and “prove yourselves.”

Challenges and Solutions

The largest challenge was Veo 3’s inability to recognise continuity between renders. Because every clip had to stand alone, it could not “remember” previous vault designs or camera angles. To overcome this, each scene description included exhaustive environmental detail—colour palette, lighting direction, holographic tone, and camera motion—so every generated segment maintained visual consistency.

Another issue involved the AI automatically generating countdown numbers or text when the term “race” or “timer” was mentioned. This was solved by rephrasing prompts to focus on visual metaphors—like energy lines racing or systems pulsing—rather than literal timers.

Conclusion

Hack the Bank succeeded in combining cinematic storytelling with the excitement of competition, turning a coding challenge into an immersive digital mission. The final product inspired curiosity, teamwork, and a sense of urgency while staying true to the educational purpose of cyber defence. It stands as a strong example of how structured prompting and careful editing can transform independent AI-generated shots into a cohesive, professional-quality experience.