What is Virtual Production?
We'll look at some aspects of virtual production, examples of its use, development prospects, and ways to participate in it.
Virtual Production Techniques
The most popular style of virtual production involves using virtual gaming worlds as part of filmmaking. To speed up production and create realistic visual effects, the virtual and real worlds are combined, typically in real time.
Using many different sets in a film can be expensive, especially if travel is required to deliver them. With virtual production, these sets can be created in virtual space much more easily. Additionally, virtual sets can be quickly changed in terms of layout, lighting, etc. Many different film sets can be shot in a single studio equipped with a video wall that brings virtual spaces into the real world.
The video walls used in video production are very large—much larger than a regular TV. They often occupy an entire wall or multiple walls, and some studios even use them on a virtual "sky."
These virtual sets are rendered in real time using tools like Unreal Engine and Unity. These software development tools allow the studio to track camera movement and change the view in real time, making the screens appear in perfect perspective.
By combining the real and virtual worlds, directors can create a wide variety of scenes, even fantastical worlds for sci-fi and fantasy films. These shots are created ready to use, without needing techniques like "blue screen," which often yields less natural footage.
With well-designed virtual sets, the background blends seamlessly with the real world, enabling very convincing locations without leaving the studio. This also helps make the world more realistic for actors. Even the best actors struggle when they have to perform in empty blue rooms.
In virtual production, actors can feel much more immersed in the world they are playing, which helps them perform at their best. Such techniques have been used in film for a long time, albeit with simpler setups. In old films, backgrounds were projected onto a screen behind the actors.
This was a common technique for scenes like driving a car, where the background is less critical. That older technique had some limitations that virtual production helps overcome, such as the need for actors to avoid blocking the projected background.
Other technologies that can also be considered part of virtual production include face capture, motion capture (mocap), augmented reality, and more. Additionally, the industry is constantly finding new ways to adapt filmmaking to new technologies.
Why Is Virtual Production Becoming So Popular?
Virtual production has become increasingly popular in recent years, and its use will only expand further. What makes virtual production such a popular tool?
One of the main reasons for this popularity is how advanced the technologies used in production have become. Real-time rendering technologies have become increasingly realistic, and screens have become larger, sharper, and cheaper. The simple fact is that large-scale virtual production was simply not possible just a few years ago!
Another reason is the large number of productions created every year. Hundreds of series and films are shot each year, and quality standards remain high. Studios always strive to improve the visual aspect of their films while staying within a reasonable budget. Virtual production helps save time and money, making it much easier for studios to achieve their goals.
For these and other reasons, virtual production benefits everyone. It makes films more accessible for studios, makes production more versatile for creators, and also creates beautiful end products that fans can enjoy.
What Are the Disadvantages of Virtual Production?
We've covered the advantages of virtual production, but there are some drawbacks too.
First, virtual production is not suitable for every shot in every film. For example, this technique is not well-suited for shots requiring a lot of movement, because the camera cannot move beyond the video walls.
It is also not ideal for small spaces like interiors, although it can be used.
Another area where virtual production poses challenges is post-production. While virtual production reduces the amount of visual effects work needed, it also lacks flexibility after the footage is captured. CG element designs are not as easy to change later as they would be when working with a "blue screen."
Another drawback of virtual production is that it can be very expensive for smaller productions. Although there are some "do-it-yourself" ways to use virtual production, they do not offer the same versatility as industrial-grade equipment.
Small film studios cannot always justify the cost of the necessary equipment.
The Future of Virtual Production
Virtual production has proven to be a very useful tool in recent years, and it will only improve in the future.
Live rendering technologies are only getting better, as seen in many recent video games.
Techniques like ray tracing are becoming faster and easier to render in real time, enabling even more convincing virtual worlds, and therefore more convincing virtual productions.
Another future potential is the increasing accessibility of virtual production tools. Just think that 40 years ago, digital cameras were only available in the most high-tech scientific labs, and now we all carry high-definition digital cameras in our pockets. Things like LED walls may become even less expensive, allowing smaller productions and even amateurs to participate in the project.
Finally, there are many other potential uses for new technologies in virtual production. For example, this process could be extended to audio, with entire soundscapes rendered in real time.
Perhaps in the future, films will be entirely virtual, requiring virtually no post-production.
Another future possibility is that AI technology will be used to quickly create realistic sets in record time. This may seem far-fetched, but maybe one day Hollywood will have convincing robot actors!
Participating in Virtual Production
Virtual production is a fairly multifaceted process, and many different roles are involved. Virtual environment artists must first create the film's world. This is typically done under the guidance of the art department.
If you are at all familiar with video game development, you know that creating a virtual world is no easy task, and it can require many artists, including modelers, animators, and even a remote development team.
Roles
On set, almost everyone can be involved in virtual production. However, the most active will be people like the cinematographer and the director. Technical specialists are also needed on set to configure...