The Power of XR Production (MMM #23)
Hello all!
Madeline here, and welcome to the 23rd entry in The Movie Minute. For this entry, the topic will be on the rise of XR and virtual productions in the filmmaking space. So, what exactly is XR (extended reality)? We’ve all heard of virtual, augmented, and even mixed reality now more than ever. The term XR is essentially an umbrella term that covers these types of technologies. But the big thing that has been on the rise is the use of these innovations in film production, especially with its ability to further immerse the cast, crew, and audiences in the world of the production.
There is a wide variety of technologies and tools used in XR production. One well-known tool is the use of a video wall. This is achieved by a series of displays that are linked together to create a seamless display of a virtual world the story takes place in. Another is the Unreal Engine, which started off as a game engine for first-person shooters but has since evolved into a versatile tool for a variety of uses, especially for rendering virtual environments for film. Unreal, Unity, and other engines have been utilised by major VFX companies such as ILM among others for use in virtual production environments.
The principles are quite similar to those used in chroma keying, commonly known as “green screen. However, there are some notable differences, one being that with green screen, talent is filmed in front of a blank screen of a solid color, and the environment that the scene takes place in is added later in post. In contrast, with XR technology such as a video wall and camera tracking systems, the environment is displayed on set without needing to add it in later, which further allows the actors to immerse themselves within the environment of their scene.
The use of XR in film and television production has grown significantly over recent years. Not only has the technology been harnessed in big-budget productions such as The Mandalorian, but even in smaller-budget projects, XR and virtual productions. More and more places for XR productions have also been built, with various spaces being rented or leased for productions big and small.
Furthermore, brands such as Accsoon have made virtual production technologies such as camera trackers, and room sensors affordable for the average consumer – allowing small studios like ours to harness the power of virtual production. While the technology is still fairly new, making it difficult to dial in and work through bugs – it is a great step for low budget filmmakers.
To bring things to a close, XR is a rising family of technologies that has been innovative and game-changing in the filmmaking space. While there can be a bit of a journey in adopting and adapting to the technology, it nonetheless presents a new and effective way of creating cinematic environments that can immerse cast, crew, and audiences alike.
That’s all for this entry in The Movie Minute. Wishing you all the best, and see y’all in 2! -Madeline
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