ROUNDTABLE: VIRTUAL PRODUCTION LESSONS LEARNED ON THE GROUND By IAN FAILES
TOP: On the set of Haz Dulull’s Percival, a virtual production shoot made at Rebellion Studios. (Image courtesy of Haz Dulull) OPPOSITE TOP: Stowaway cinematographer Klemens Becker operates the virtual camera while the film’s virtual cinematographer, Jannicke Mikkelsen, looks on. (Image courtesy of Unity) OPPOSITE MIDDLE: Jannicke Mikkelsen devises a shot during the making of previs for Stowaway. (Image courtesy of Unity) OPPOSITE BOTTOM: An Unreal Engine screenshot from the animated feature film RIFT, produced by HaZimation Ltd. (Image courtesy of Haz Dulull)
Many experienced filmmakers, indie creators, visual effects supervisors and cinematographers have been diving into new virtual production techniques over the past few years as various real-time related technologies become more developed and more accessible. Those who have jumped headfirst into virtual production are still learning the benefits and pitfalls of the various technologies – from LED volumes to virtual camera shooting – while also applying traditional filmmaking techniques to these new sides of the craft. With that in mind, we asked a range of filmmakers what lessons they had learned so far in their virtual production escapades that they would share for new users. Our roundtable group consisted of the following: Kathryn Brillhart is a cinematographer and director whose work explores visual poetry, movement and new technologies. She recently directed Camille, a naturalistic live-action short captured entirely on an LED stage. She is the Virtual Production Supervisor for the upcoming film Black Adam. Haz Dulull is a director whose virtual production work includes the live-action short Percival, filmed entirely in an LED volume, and the animated feature film RIFT, created in Unreal Engine. Paul Franklin is Creative Director and Co-founder of DNEG. He was the Visual Effects Supervisor on Inception and Interstellar, among many others, and has recently been directing virtual productions on LED stages, including the short, Fireworks. Jannicke Mikkelsen is a director and cinematographer specializing in immersive and next-generation film productions. She was
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