DUNE ON THE COVER .
HOTTING UP Dune is one of the most anticipated films of the year, after its pandemic-induced delay
ON THE COVER Space race
INFINITE POSSIBILITIES OF VIRTUAL PRODUCTION
D enis Villeneuve’s interpretation of the classic 1965 Frank Herbert novel will see Dune adapted to the big screen for a second time. David Lynch was the first in 1984, though it was not favourably received by critics. Many called it incomprehensible to those unfamiliar with the book, and suspected fans would be disappointed with how it strayed from the original plot. Since then, many filmmakers have attempted to reimagine Dune , but the book’s depth and symbolism has always been too intimidating and difficult to translate. Until now, that is: Villeneuve is using groundbreaking artificial backdrops to bring Dune ’s feudal interstellar society to life. It’s a filmmaking technique from the very beginning, to create the illusion of large sets and locations, but the director has brought it into the 21st century with digital front projection and LED video walls. At the forefront of the technology is DNEG, a London-
based VFX house whose virtual production credits already included Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and Damien Chazelle’s First Man – for which it received Academy Awards – and now Dune . The company has a full range of virtual production services: location scouting, cameras, real-time mixed reality VFX and LED volumetric stages. Driven by the impact of Covid-19, it is continuing to develop through exciting new partnerships. With Dimension, Unreal Engine, Arri, Mo-Sys, 80six, Roe and Brompton Technology, DNEG is shooting a proof-of-concept virtual production test, led by creative director Paul Franklin. It demonstrates how clients can use its services for the best of both worlds: the flexibility of a visual effects process, and the immediate realism of actual photography. To find out more, head to: dneg.com/led-real-time-engine-dimension
05. NOVEMBER 2021
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