Virtual production offers the potential to tell stories of people and environments with the only limitation being one’s imagination.
This pitch for a short film project was driven by the goal of showcasing how virtual production can overcome traditional challenges in film, such as location constraints and the limitations of green screen technology while giving the director and actors creative freedom to work with a scene. The core concept is centered on using advanced techniques to create immersive environments that push the boundaries of visual storytelling.
The story itself unfolds against a backdrop of awe-inspiring architecture, blending cinematic artistry with high-end design to create a seamless fusion of interior and exterior spaces. The narrative follows an intense and thrilling chase sequence, meticulously crafted to highlight the dynamism and detail of the futuristic world. Each scene is enriched with cutting-edge visuals and thoughtfully designed elements, ensuring that every frame captivates and enhances the storytelling experience.
This project not only challenged me to innovate and think outside conventional production practices but also underscored the power of virtual production in elevating creative visions to new heights.
Title: Subterranean
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Outline:
On a bright day, Rei Solis approaches the imposing data headquarters, where his infamous reputation is broadcasted across holographic screens that surround the building. Determined to clear his name, he meticulously reviews his plan to erase the false information tainting his image. A crowd of people moves in and out with robotic precision, and Rei joins the flow, entering the sleek, minimalist interior of the headquarters.
As he steps inside, he feels the weight of countless cameras locking onto him, their lenses tracking his every move. With nerves of steel, he navigates past security and makes his way to the server room. Just as he begins to connect to the mainframe, blaring alarms shatter the tense atmosphere. The sounds of hurried footsteps and shouts echo in the hallways as guards mobilize to apprehend him.
Rei's escape route is quickly cut off, forcing him to sprint through a maze of corridors, evading capture in a heart-pounding chase captured in a seamless, continuous shot. Just when he reaches a dead end, he spots a service elevator. He hurriedly selects a random floor as the doors close, narrowly escaping the approaching guards.
Suddenly, the elevator plummets at an alarming speed, descending deep underground. As it comes to a jarring halt, bright lights illuminate the space around him, revealing a vast underground city through a glass window. Rei, bewildered and on edge, realizes he had no idea this hidden metropolis existed beneath the headquarters.
With no other option, he steps into the unknown. The elevator doors open to reveal a rooftop, where a small group awaits him. Without fully grasping the situation, Rei makes a split-second decision and leaps off the edge, plunging into the depths below.
Cut to black.
Technical Challenges.
I needed to identify the technical challenges that could hinder production or pose obstacles to the film while utilizing the latest technology. Some of the challenges are outlined below
Virtual Characters
Challenge: Creating realistic human characters can be resource-intensive, and achieving the desired fidelity while maintaining performance is crucial.
Strategy: Optimize Metahuman assets and adjusting LODs (levels of detail) for distant characters. Also, consider pre-rendering certain animations or using lower fidelity characters if they are in the distance
Large scale realistic environments:
Challenge: Deciding between Cesium for 3D geospatial data visualization or using photogrammetry for detailed, textured environments.
Strategy: Assess the requirements of your environment. Cesium is great for large-scale landscapes and real-world data integration, while photogrammetry excels in capturing detailed, small-scale objects. You might also consider combining both methods to leverage their strengths.
Visual Quality vs. Performance Trade-Offs:
Challenge: Striking the right balance between visual fidelity and real-time performance can be a constant struggle..
Strategy: Conduct performance testing throughout the production process. Use profiling tools to identify bottlenecks and make informed decisions about where to optimize or downgrade visual quality. Use texture streaming techniques to load only the necessary UDIM tiles for visible objects, minimizing memory usage. Consider baking details into textures where possible to reduce the number of UDIMs needed and using procedural assets.
StoryFutures Academy presented an opportunity to provide virtual production training with a limited number of companies in the UK. All of the work on this page was created during my time at Soluis for an application to Storyfutures Academy Virtual Production training course. The application was successful.