AE Layers Vs 3d space

hey all-

I'm animating a pov shot of a vehicle going through a forest in 3d space.

This means that the camera is moving on a 3d plane, twisting and turning along a winding road, as it passes trees (perpendicular planes in 3d space).

The problem I'm having is that, regardless of 3d space, AE renders the layers one after the other- so that if I have the winding road layer on top of the tree layers, the road is always on top, no matter what actually might be blocking the road from the camera in 3d space.

Trying to compensate for this has gotten me into a mess of precomps w/collapsed transformations- Trying to sandwich the road between two comps of trees, and mask out the trees where needed.

But the Pov camera makes the perspective constantly change.

Any ideas from anybody?

Have I dug myself into a hole?

r

www.richrama.com