Recently, Epic Games and filmmakers’ collective Bullitt assembled a team to test out the latest in-camera VFX toolset, part of the extensive suite of virtual production tools in the upcoming Unreal Engine 4.27 release. To put each of the new tools through their paces, they created a short test piece to mimic a production workflow.
Shot entirely on NantStudios’ LED stage in Los Angeles, the production test capitalized on new workflows that enable dynamic lighting and background changes on set with minimal downtime, together with multi-camera and traveling vehicle shoots. It also harnessed the power of twin NVIDIA Quadro A6000 GPUs. The team was able to produce final pixels in just four days—a demonstration of the efficiency and creative freedom the toolset offers.
The team also took advantage of new Level Snapshots that enable directors to easily match previous takes when returning to an earlier set or lighting configuration; sophisticated remote control UI building tools that offer creatives direct control of the Unreal Engine-powered elements of the shoot from the convenience of a tablet or laptop; and OpenColorIO color management that ensures artists creating Unreal Engine assets can see what the final captured output will look like. Visit the Unreal Engine blog for more information about this project.
Unreal Engine 4.27 is currently available in Preview. The exciting new workflows and tools it offers are influenced by input from leading filmmakers who are pushing the limits of virtual production today. As the Bullitt team discovered, the toolset represents an evolutionary leap forward in quality, efficiency, and ease of use—delivering whole new levels of creative freedom.
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