SCAN THOUGHT LEADER
Adam Vann, pro visual solutions architect for SCAN, takes a look at virtual production for the next generation V irtual production has become ubiquitous in the media and entertainment industries, widely used in feature films, TV, advertising and games. This new technique for film production has gained so much traction so quickly, due to its flexibility, sustainability and cost-effectiveness, making budgets go further. With such extensive knowledge and experience among today’s DOPs, the challenge is now how to impart these skills to the next generation of filmmakers. Now, leading studios and industry organisations are banding together to help train the growing numbers of VP students through a variety of approaches, including taught course content, mentorship, masterclasses led by experts and even on-set practical experience with an LED volume.
UP TO DATE VP demands a blend of technical prowess and traditional filmmaking skills
A successful VP project requires both traditional filmmaking skills and a diverse set of new competencies. This starts with intimate knowledge of game engines – notably Unreal Engine – for the create, animate and render virtual stages, as well as appreciation for the specialist computer hardware required to achieve smooth frame rates and real-time colour grading. You also need to keep on top of camera tech and the screens used to build LED walls. Higher education has a critical role, combining traditional filmmaking, tech skills and related fields such as motion capture and esports. SCAN is the official gaming system partner of National Student Esports (NSE), the largest grassroots gaming community in the UK. Its director of esports Michael ‘ODEE’ O’Dell, is the Great Britain esports team manager.
As VP technology advances, it’s also creating more cost-effective options for adopting these workflows. This is lowering the barrier to entry, allowing more students to gain hands-on experience and learn about VP, which is reducing the knowledge gap for those eventually entering real-world environments. SCAN has extensive experience in designing and building VP studios, from the LED walls themselves to camera and lighting equipment, or the all-important workstations used to render virtual sets in real time. Workstation tech, in particular NVIDIA GPUs, advances at an incredible rate, enabling greater graphical fidelity, higher resolutions and larger volumes. As an NVIDIA elite solution provider, the team at SCAN are experts in this technology cycle and can advise on the optimum configuration for different budgets and projects. They don’t just work with commercial studios such as Nightsky Studios, Recode XR and Final Pixel, but also education providers like Final Pixel Academy (see page 58).
THE CHALLENGE IS how to impart these skills TO THE NEXT GEN”
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DEFINITIONMAGS
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