virtual production primer
Virtual production is a catchall term used to describe the use of technology to aid in the capturing of a live-action performance. The live-action production world has been using virtual production techniques for decades, but the world of cinema, television & advertising it has only begun to explore the potential of this technique in the last few years or so.
We’re in a new era of film production and technology is blurring the lines of the tradition pre-production/production/post-production process, due to advances in rendering and computing power it's now possible to create a virtual production environment in real time. Rather than building a physical set and shooting on it, directors are using digital set design techniques to build complex sets that exist only in digital space.
IMPACT FOR THE MEDIA INDUSTRY
In the world of cinema, virtual production has already revolutionized the way recent television shows are made. Directors can capture complex performances in ways that weren’t possible on conventional sets. Virtual cameras allow directors to see on set, in real time, how the lighting and other elements look and to make adjustments if they want.
The impact of virtual production on the filmmaking process has been profound. Rather than building a physical set or go to a location, directors are using digital set design techniques to build complex sets that exist only in digital space. This not only saves time, but it also allows them to experiment and make adjustments in real time without having to build and tear down the set every time.
It also means that certain key steps in traditional film making have been 'repositioned' in order to start getting into production faster. Rather than the visual effects of environmental design being done as a post production process typically being composited in due to a 'green screen' shoot, they are now part of the live action shoot where the set is displayed on an LED wall, this enables the lighting to look more realistic, actors can perform more precisely without having to 'imagine dragons ;)'
As a content creator, if you have knowledge of the creation of these environments that could be a positive step in the direction for your career as the amount of different environments and 3d assets that this market will generate over the next few years will be immeasureable. For film makers, traditional production crew, it would be a nice skillset to say that you can shoot using this workflow, if there are any VP studios in your area, you are encouraged to reach out and volunteer some time to get some onset experience, who knows what opportunities will fall into your lap.