With the help of game technologies, how we produce film, TV, and video is changing rapidly. If you have yet to hear of virtual production, let me explain. In simple terms, it combines traditional techniques with digital innovations whilst leveraging real-time game engines such as Unreal Engine. It is used to make games such as the phenomenally successful game Fortnite. And in recent years the hit Disney plus series, The Mandalorian.

What started out as impacting big-budget productions, such as Avatar and The Mandalorian, has been increasingly expanded and democratised. It is transforming the film, TV, animation, broadcast, and live events industries by providing new possibilities for creating and delivering content. For example, filmmakers and content creators can use advanced technology to create immersive virtual environments as the backdrop for live-action or animated scenes. You now regularly hear or see content made using virtual production from independent filmmakers to advertisers to broadcast news and more.

 What’s the reason for the upsurge in Virtual Production?

We need to look at some of its significant benefits to answer this. And there are many. One of the most compelling benefits of virtual production is that it allows filmmakers to create complex and realistic environments that would be difficult or impossible to create with traditional sets. Using virtual sets, filmmakers can create worlds limited only by their imagination without extensive location scouting, construction, and set design.

Secondly, it provides a more efficient and cost-effective way of creating content. With traditional filming methods, much of the work happens in post-production, where special effects and other enhancements are added to the footage. With virtual production, many of these effects can be added in real-time, allowing for greater creative control and faster turnaround times.

Thirdly, it allows for greater collaboration between departments, such as visual effects, production design, and cinematography. By working together in a virtual environment, we can empower departments to iterate and test faster and more often. And ultimately to create more quality shots.

Examples of virtual production

Here are five (5) examples of where virtual production has been used:
1. The Mandalorian: In making the popular Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, virtual production was used extensively to create the show’s stunning and immersive environments. The filmmakers used a combination of virtual sets, LED screens and motion capture technology to create realistic worlds and backdrops for the live-action scenes. It allowed them to shoot in a controlled environment and save time and costs on location scouting and set construction. The result was a visually stunning show praised for its innovative use of technology. And one that continues to do so with the latest series recently released on Disney Plus.
2. The Lion King: The 2019 remake of the Disney classic, The Lion King, utilised virtual production and photorealistic animation to bring the story to life. The filmmakers used motion capture technology to capture the actors’ performances, which were then translated into realistic animations of the animal characters. The virtual sets and environments were also created using advanced computer graphics technology to give the film a realistic and immersive look.
3. Caledon FC commercial: In a commercial for the South African soccer club, Caledon FC, virtual production was used to create a dynamic and engaging advertisement. It used a motion capture system to capture the movements of the soccer players, resulting in a more realistic representation of them. The virtual cameras were controlled in real time by a camera operator using a motion capture system, which allowed for dynamic camera movements and angles. Lastly, real-time rendering was used to create the final images, which allowed for quick iteration and adjustments to the scene.
4. FOX NFL Sunday: FOX Sports used virtual production in their NFL Sunday broadcasts to create immersive and dynamic environments for their studio shows. They created interactive graphics and animations using virtual sets and augmented reality technology that enhanced the viewer’s experience. For example, they could display player statistics and replays in real-time or create virtual stadiums and fields to analyse plays and strategies.
5. Cory Strassburger’s Xanadu: Cory Strassburger’s short film, Xanadu, is a prime example of virtual production in filmmaking. Strassburger used a combination of motion capture, virtual sets, and advanced computer graphics to create a surreal and visually stunning world for his film. The entire film was shot in a virtual environment, with the actors performing on a motion capture stage and the sets and environments created using advanced computer graphics. It allowed Strassburger to create a unique and immersive experience for his audience that would have been impossible to achieve with traditional filmmaking techniques.

Virtual production tools and technologies

Virtual production involves various tools and technologies to create immersive and realistic environments. Here are some of the powerful tools used in virtual production:
1. Motion capture: Use Motion capture technology to capture actors’ movements and translate them into digital animations. This technology has been going through many changes in recent years. It started out requiring placing sensors on the actor’s body and recording their movements using cameras. This method is still used but has now been supplemented by the use of AI which has enabled capturing motion without the need for sensors or motion capture suits.
2. Virtual sets: They are digital environments created using computer graphics. Manipulate these sets in real-time to create different camera angles and lighting conditions.
3. Augmented reality: Use augmented reality technology to overlay digital elements onto real-world environments. It is often used in television broadcasts to display graphics and animations in real time.
4 Virtual cameras: Virtual cameras are used in virtual production to capture footage of the digital environment and characters. It allows the camera operator to move the camera in real-time and see the results on a monitor. Virtual cameras can also be programmed to follow specific paths or movements.

One of, if not the leading enablers of virtual production has been Epic Games, the makers of the real-time game engine called Unreal Engine, a popular game engine used in virtual production. This tool allows filmmakers to create high-quality digital environments and characters that can be animated and manipulated in real time. Unreal Engine (UE) also features advanced lighting and shading tools that can create photorealistic effects.

UE is one of the most widely used tools in virtual production due to its advanced capabilities and user-friendly interface. It allows filmmakers to create immersive environments with realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. Unreal Engine also features a vast library of pre-built assets, such as textures, models, and animations, which can be used to create complex scenes quickly.

In addition to its graphical capabilities, Unreal Engine includes a robust scripting system that allows developers to create custom functionality and interactions. This scripting language, Blueprint, enables artists and programmers to work together to create complex interactions and gameplay mechanics.

Virtual production relies on various tools and technologies to create immersive and realistic environments. Unreal Engine is just one of many tools.

In conclusion, virtual production revolutionises how we create film, TV and video content. It offers flexibility, efficiency, and creativity previously impossible with traditional production methods. It allows for real-time rendering, motion capture, virtual cameras, and more, all of which contribute to a more realistic and immersive final product. By enabling creative teams to visualise and interact with their projects in real-time, virtual production is helping to transform how we tell stories and engage audiences. As technology evolves, we can expect virtual production to become even more prevalent and influential across more industries.