CC BY
17УДК 004.921
Pan A.A.
master's student of the faculty of media technology Astana IT University (Astana, Kazakhstan)
VIRTUAL FILM SETS: IMPROVING PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY, REDUCING COSTS
Аннотация: virtualfilm sets have transformed modern filmmaking, significantly enhanced production efficiency and reduced costs. This study examines how technologies like LED screens, motion capture, and real-time rendering streamline production by minimizing location shoots, reducing post-production work, and blending digital and physical worlds. Through case studies of productions like The Mandalorian, the study demonstrates the financial benefits and creative freedoms enabled by virtual sets, while acknowledging challenges like high initial costs and the technical expertise required. New developments in procedural content creation and AI are further expanding the accessibility of virtual production.
Ключевые слова: cancel culture, digital media, social movements, public opinion, social reputation, online shaming, media technologies.
Introduction.
With the arrival of virtual film sets, a significant advancement in media technologies, the entertainment sector has experienced a rapid transition. Filmmakers can combine digital worlds with live-action video using these sets, which gives them creative freedom and lowers production expenses compared to building traditional sets and doing location-based shooting. Filmmakers can also perceive real-time environments with virtual film sets, which eliminates the need for intensive postproduction computer-generated imagery.
Novelty.
The ability for directors and production teams to create, alter, and engage with virtual settings in real-time has completely changed the way that filmmaking is done. Virtual film sets provide flexibility, cost savings, and an unmatched degrof control over the production environment in contrast to traditional film sets, which call for costly construction and on-location shooting. These virtual settings remove the limitations of real-world locations, enabling the simulation of far-off places or futuristic cities at a significantly lower cost. Real-time rendering tools have also made it possible for directors to show their final sequences will seem as they are filming, which helps them make better decisions and cut down on the number of expensive reshoots.
Relevance of the Topic.
The contemporary media environment has witnessed an exponential growth in the relevance of virtual film sets. The film business is trying to find more economical, adaptable, and efficient ways to deal with rising production expenses, growing demand for high-caliber visual content, and pandemic-related restrictions. These days, virtual film sets are utilized for live events, advertising, episodic television, blockbuster movies, and more (Ewis & Rashad, 2024). Filming in a controlled, virtual environment significantly reduces the risks and costs associated with normal location shootings, such as weather delays, travel charges, and logistical challenges. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of virtual production technologies as filmmakers have sought ways to reduce in-person involvement while maintaining high production quality.
Goal.
This study's primary objective is to examine the applications and advantages of virtual film sets in modern cinema, with a focus on the ways in which these digital environments might reduce costs and boost production effectiveness. This paper will provide a comprehensive analysis of the technological advancements that enable
virtual production, how they streamline the filmmaking process, and how they impact the motion picture industry as a whole.
Literature Review.
Virtual production, a recent addition to the film industry, builds on advancements in CGI, real-time rendering, motion capture, and augmented reality. Ewis & Rashad (2024) highlight how using CGI during production allows directors, cinematographers, and VFX teams to collaborate more effectively, reducing costs and enhancing the filmmaking process.
Pires et al. (2022) examined how real-time rendering systems like Unreal Engine facilitate the creation of detailed digital landscapes, giving directors more control and reducing post-production uncertainty. Similarly, Schneider & Belisle (2022) found that real-time visualizations minimize the need for costly reshoots, streamlining workflows and saving both time and money.
Ewis & Rashad (2024) also discuss the rise of one-shot films using virtual production, showcasing its impact on the industry. Pires, Silva, and Raposo (2022) further analyze compositing technologies and highlight virtual production's role in improving efficiency and sustainability in filmmaking.
Priadko & Sirenko (2021) emphasize how virtual production has revolutionized traditional filmmaking by incorporating virtual tools across all stages of production. This transformation enhances flexibility, creativity, and cost-effectiveness, making virtual production an essential tool for the future of the film industry.
Theoretical Framework.
Virtual production is a hybrid filmmaking approach that integrates real-time computer-generated imagery (CGI) and digital effects with traditional live-action filming. The key technological pillars of virtual production include:
• Real-time rendering systems: Tools like Unity and Unreal Engine generate photorealistic landscapes that can be edited and viewed in real time during production.
• Motion capture technology: This captures the nuances of actors' performances, seamlessly integrating them into digital environments.
• Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR): These technologies enable crew members and filmmakers to interact with virtual sets, allowing them to visualize the final product during pre-production and live filming.
This framework empowers filmmakers to create and modify visual settings in real time, fostering more creative storytelling while streamlining the production process through continuous iterations and improvements.
Methodology.
This study employs qualitative analysis, focusing on case studies of films and TV shows that effectively use virtual sets. Data sources include technical reports, industry tool reviews (Unreal Engine, Unity, Mo-Sys camera tracking), and expert interviews. A comparative analysis highlights differences between traditional and virtual production workflows regarding creative flexibility, cost, and timelines. It also incorporates quantitative data on cost savings from productions like The Mandalorian, which utilized LED screen technology to create virtual environments and reduce the need for on-location shoots.
Case Studies.
The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian's production team utilized LED walls powered by Unreal Engine, enabling real-time adjustments and significantly reducing both travel and postproduction costs (NFI, 2024). Rather than going to faraway locations or erecting costly sets, the crew behind The Mandalorian employed massive, curving LED walls driven by Unreal Engine to broadcast fully created settings around the actors. This arrangement made it possible for directors and cinematographers to dynamically alter the scenes while maintaining flawless integration of the backgrounds, lighting, and camera angles.
This project's usage of virtual production allowed the production crew to shoot more effectively in a controlled studio setting while also saving money on travel and logistics. The Mandalorian significantly cut down on the amount of time needed for post-production visual effects in addition to saving money by reducing the requirement for traditional sets.
Challenges and Limitations.
Despite its benefits, virtual production is not without challenges. Particularly for smaller companies, the high expense of technology, such as motion capture equipment, LED panels, and real-time rendering tools, can be a major financial hurdle. The sector also need specialized knowledge in gaming engine development and virtual set design, which raises labor costs and creates a challenging learning curve. Technical constraints also exist; even sophisticated technologies such as Unreal Engine have trouble handling large-scale simulations or extremely realistic environments, which makes it hard for lower-budget films to achieve real-time realism.
Technological Innovations in Virtual Production.
AI technology have improved real-time rendering and automatic lighting adjustments, while motion capture has revolutionized production processes (SAE, 2024). AI-driven tools that automate chores like scene design and lighting tweaks have reduced the need for manual labor in virtual production, freeing teams to concentrate on creative storytelling.
Realistic digital settings and characters can be created more quickly with procedural content generation, which uses volumetric capture and photogrammetry to create complex environments depending on predetermined parameters. When combined, these technologies increase the scalability and accessibility of virtual production, even for smaller projects.
Impact on the Film Industry.
It has been said that the advent of virtual production in the film industry represents a "paradigm shift." It quickens the production process, which enables studios to increase productivity and meet stricter schedules. The duties of important crew members are likely to change as this technology spreads. For instance, decisionmaking on site is now more attributed to visual effects supervisors, and cinematographers need to become adept at operating virtual cameras and interacting with computer-generated imagery (CGI) environments.
Virtual production techniques are also anticipated to become widely used in business as studios realize the creative and financial benefits of this approach, moving from high-end, budget-intensive movies to more mainstream and independent films.
Environmental Considerations.
As sustainability becomes more important to the film business, worries about its effects on the environment have grown. Traditional filmmaking uses a lot of resources, especially when it comes to large-scale productions. Activities like actual set construction, crew and equipment transportation, and regular location shooting all ato carbon emissions and environmental damage. By reducing the need for real resources, travel, and on-location shoots, virtual production provides a solution. Digital environments reduce emissions from shipping and the resources necessary for set construction. Virtual sets and energy-efficient LED walls further reduce energy usage. Furthermore, by enabling the reuse of digital assets, such as sets and props, virtual production contributes to sustainability by cutting down on waste.
Discussion.
Filmmaking has seen a dramatic change with the advent of virtual film sets, which provide enormous creative and practical benefits. By enabling filmmakers to sand modify digital surroundings while filming, motion capture and real-time rendering technologies increase production efficiency and minimize post-production effort. This effectiveness carries over into the pre-production phase, since
comprehensive pre-visualizations guarantprecise creative guidance. For instance, realtime modifications are possible with LED screens, as demonstrated in The Mandalorian, which reduces expenses and saves time. There are still issues, though, mainly with the expensive setup and technical know-how needed, which could be a barrier for independent filmmakers. These obstacles should fall as technology develops and becomes more widely available, democratizing its use.
Conclusion.
Virtual film sets have revolutionized filmmaking, offering a more efficient, cost-effective, and adaptable approach. By using digital environments, motion capture, and real-time rendering, filmmakers can significantly reduce production costs and optimize workflows. These technologies also bring environmental benefits, such as reduced material waste and lower travel needs. Although high initial costs and technical expertise remain challenges, improvements in accessibility are expected to make virtual production more widespread, especially for smaller projects. As technology continues to evolve, virtual production will increasingly shape the future of filmmaking, driving creativity, sustainability, and efficiency.
СПИСОК ЛИТЕРАТУРЫ:
1. Ewis, K.A., & Rashad, M.A.A.M. (2024). The Evolution of One-Shot Films in the Era of Virtual Production. International Design Journal;
2. Pires, Filipe & Silva, Rui & Raposo, Rui. (2022). A Survey on Virtual Production and the Future of Compositing Technologies;
3. López, J., et al. (2023). Integration of Virtual and Physical Set Technologies in Modern Filmmaking. Journal of Media Production;
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5. Priadko, Oleksandr & Sirenko, Maksym. (2021). Virtual Production: a New Approach to Filmmaking. Bulletin of Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. Series in Audiovisual Art and Production;
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11. SAE. (2024). How Technology is Revolutionising Film Production. Retrieved from SAE Institute(https://w.sae.edu/gbr/insights/how-technology-is-revolutionising-film-production/)
