Technologies developed alongside movies. Virtual production means tools and techniques that help to enhance creativity.
Virtual production makes the movie image more immersive.
These methods have existed since the 30s. Lillom was one of the first movies to use VP. The rear projection technique made chase scenes more believable.
Clever camera usage is not the limit. Let's learn how virtual production works in the following article.
Virtual production is a wide term. It combines tools and techniques to create immersion. VP mixes real sets with virtual environments. Many elements can be parts of virtual production:
While some are old, they still serve as a virtual production means.
Modern virtual production sticks to several core elements. The following tech enhances modern films:
This list is not exhaustive. Yet, these are the most common VP technologies.
Traditional filmmaking resorts to using natural locations, scenery, and camera angles. A director can use a helicopter for a bird`s-eye view. Still, it is traditional filmmaking.
Modern virtual production has optimized filmmaking. The process has become more streamlined.
The first obvious benefit of virtual production is stage cost reduction. Creating a virtual environment with an LED screen is easy.
Besides, creating digital decorations is much cheaper than making a full-fledged movie set.
Many movie ideas must shrink to see the world. Virtual production expands the horizons of possible and allows bolder movie making.
Creative enhancement does not mean pure science fiction. Virtual production recreates historical settings. It can replicate old filmmaking techniques. It makes the creation of a specific vibe much more accessible.
VFX specialists can adjust the look of the scene on the go. Directors also have more direct control over the final look of the scene. All involved people can see immediate feedback and adjust the scene's mood.
Post-production becomes more streamlined when filmmakers complete most of the work on stage. Virtual production allows for visualizing scenes in great detail, improving collaboration between specialists. In the end, post-production becomes easier and cheaper.
Filmmakers' prowess is the main component of any production, including virtual ones. Yet the right tools are important, too. Learn more about what hardware and software make movies outstanding.
High-definition screens (LED screens) are a staple of modern movie production. The same is true for stages of extended reality (XR stages).
The idea is to use screens with a depth of field and high resolution as a set background instead of green screens. LED volume technology in a film creates more immersive sets. The main features are the high fidelity of the image and correct lighting.
XR stages take the concept a step further. They make 3D scenes in which a character can move without the restrictions of a real place.
The rapid development of GPUs enhanced virtual production even more. Unreal Engine and Unity have matured enough to produce high-quality visual effects. Their usage on the film stage has become quite widespread.
AI can contribute to massive scenes and detail fine-tuning. Complex tasks like crowd simulation or scene extension are always a challenge. Cloned images ruin the immersion. Viewers often notice when filmmakers use tricks to create a grand scene.
AI can remove this boundary. It can round the edges of massive scenes, generating details that are lacking.
Modern visual storytelling often includes non-human characters and unrealistic scenes. Filming outer space or underwater depth is tricky. Virtual production and virtual cinematography, in particular, can ease this challenge.
A virtual camera can move through impossible angles. This is possible due to the realistic surface simulation. It can show the viewers the scene a director has in mind.
Virtual production in a film helps bring animated characters to life. Motion capture technology transfers actors' movements and mimics to digital characters. This, in turn, expands the horizons of movie storytelling.
The idea of virtual production is fascinating. Yet, it is not a fantastic concept. Many popular modern shows and movies have applied these technologies. They also gained commercial success.
The Mandalorian was one of the first shows to use virtual production full-scale. Many scenes used LED screens as backgrounds. The VFX team also used Unreal Engine for filmmaking, realistic explosions, and smoke. The Mandalorian proved that virtual production can be beneficial for small-screen shows.
The setting of the sci-fi saga "Dune" has been mesmerizing filmmakers for decades. Dune: Part Two (2024) brought part of the original book charm due to virtual production. Unreal Engine helped create vast sand dunes. Virtual cinematography showed Gideon prime. It is a unique piece that lacks precise descriptions in the books.
Mass audience adores superhero movies for unmatched spectacle:
These are the fruits of virtual production.
Superhero movies showed that grand budgets can push virtual production to the limit. As a result, they will deliver exceptional results.
Advanced technologies are available not only for the best virtual production studios. Indie creators can also enjoy them. Astartes is a renowned sci-fi mini-series that uses virtual production. It demonstrates that even a small-scale movie can be outstanding.
Virtual production is the next big step in filmmaking. Yet, it is still not perfect. Several challenges prevent virtual production from going mainstream.
These challenges chart future tech development.
The current challenges are only temporary setbacks and not the limit. Virtual production will evolve further, and we can project how movies will look soon.
Some of the concepts need a proof test. The others become the reality of filmmaking.
