XR VIRTUAL PRODUCTION

XR. Virtual technology usually .involves shooting in a high-priced, dedicated studio, often with a million plus dollars worth of high-tech gear.

Now, with our exclusive new XR Mirage Technology, we can bring all of the gear, 3D, Virtual Set Artists, Camera crew and 4K cameras to any green screen studio for a small fraction of the usual cost.

WHAT IS XR VIRTUAL PRODUCTION?

The term ”XR Virtual Production” or “Extended Reality Production”refers to a revolutionary basket of technologies including: 3D/4K Virtual Sets (often Unreal Engine 5.0 and beyond) Green Screen orLED Video Wall and live compositing in 4K with moving camera(s).

Often other technologies such as MoCap (motion capture) VolCap (Volumetric Capture) and Unreal’s MetaHuman are incorporated. It is our opinion that XR Production is the future of cinema

What Are The Advantages of XR Virtual Production?

Perfect Lighting

Most of the lighting is already in the virtual sets so you begin your shoot day much sooner. And you never loose the light. Always “magic hour”

Instantly Available

No wasted time & expense building, wrapping or storing physical sets.

Actors

Shoot out all your expensive talent in the first day(s)

The Budget

XR Virtual Projects are not only much more professional and have higher in production value but are often 40% to 60% less expensive.

No compromise Virtual sets can be customized to give you exactly the location you want.

AN EXAMPLE BELOW OF AN

Unreal 5.0 Virtual Set and Surrounding Environment

The talent, director, and camera operator shoot in the dark in a typical green screen production. The production crew on set sees the actor(s) moving against a field of monochromatic green.

It is not the best way to capture realistic photographs with precise composition, but it is also not optimal for the actors.

Only after editing can the success of a shot be determined.

Live Virtual Set Compositing Service

The full photorealistic 3D, 4K set is composited in real-time with the actors using our cutting-edge technology and a moving camera.

It’s genuinely “What you see is what you get.”

4K Virtual Sets Live Compositing In Our Astoria Prime Green Screen Studio

We Merge Actors Into 3D/4K Photorealistic Virtual Sets Using a Jib-Mounted Camera.

On a modified Jimmy Jib, a Sony F55 4K camera with a Cabrio Zoom lens is mounted to the stage. We employ a sophisticated tracking system with motors on the Jib and lens to synchronize the exact focal length of the lens and the camera's position in space relative to the 3D virtual set.

Typically, the only way to achieve camera movement on a green screen is to place tracking markers on the green screen and then use Cameramatch Move to composite in post-production.

The TV show was shot on our Astoria Prime Stage with JettSets Technology.

Interviews and “fireside chats” can easily be held in a warm, intimate setting. The difference that the right location can make in a two—or three-person conversation is fantastic. With JettSets technology, you not only have great virtual environments but can also do what other Green Screens can’t.

Move the camera to a Green Screen! You can add life to the scene by zooming, panning, making dolly moves, taking crane shots, etc.

3D /4K Virtual Sets Demo Reel

Here, you see interior and exterior spaces created by the computer. All are rendered in 3D /4K resolution. The quality is so accurate that it could be projected on a giant movie screen at the same excellent rate.

All set to receive your script.

Your artists.

Your vision.

Using XR (Extended Reality) in conjunction with Unreal Engine technology brings a host of advantages across industries such as film, gaming, architecture, education, and beyond. Unreal Engine is a powerful tool for rendering real-time graphics, and when paired with XR (which encompasses Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR)), it provides immersive, interactive experiences that are revolutionizing content creation. Here are the key advantages:

• Unreal Engine is known for its photorealistic rendering capabilities, allowing for real-time creation of stunning visuals in VR and AR environments.
• Unlike traditional workflows where rendering can take hours or days, Unreal enables real-time, interactive, and fully immersive 3D environments where lighting, materials, and textures are processed on the fly.
• Unreal Engine’s XR framework is compatible with multiple XR devices and platforms, such as Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Microsoft HoloLens, Magic Leap, and mobile devices. This cross-platform compatibility ensures that content developed in Unreal Engine can be easily adapted for different headsets and display technologies without significant rework.
• Seamless integration across AR, VR, and MR environments is facilitated by Unreal’s powerful suite of tools.
• Unreal Engine enables developers and filmmakers to create interactive storytelling experiences in XR. Audiences can engage with content dynamically, affecting outcomes and altering narratives based on user choices, actions, or movements.
• For industries like film and television, this means more immersive experiences. For example, virtual production allows filmmakers to create immersive digital environments and place live actors within them, blending physical and virtual worlds in real time.
• XR technologies combined with Unreal Engine are becoming increasingly popular in virtual production (as seen in The Mandalorian) because of their ability to create interactive virtual sets. Using XR, filmmakers can shoot scenes in fully digital environments, controlling every aspect from lighting to weather conditions.
• LED stages powered by Unreal Engine allow actors to interact with virtual environments that respond in real-time, reducing the need for post-production CGI and saving costs on physical sets.
• Directors and actors can see and interact with the virtual world in real-time, which allows for more natural performances and more efficient production processes.
• Unreal Engine’s support for XR enhances collaborative design and visualization in industries like architecture, engineering, and construction. Teams can collaborate in real-time across different locations by interacting with 3D models in a virtual space.
• This allows architects, engineers, or clients to walk through virtual building models, make design changes, and immediately see the impact, leading to better decision-making and faster iteration.
• Unreal Engine’s XR capabilities enable Mixed Reality experiences where digital elements are seamlessly integrated into the real world. For instance, AR applications can overlay digital objects onto real-world environments, allowing users to interact with virtual content in their physical surroundings.
• This has transformative applications in education, training, and simulation, where learners can practice tasks in realistic settings enhanced by digital overlays or simulations.
• Unreal Engine’s powerful physics, AI, and gameplay systems make it ideal for creating highly interactive and immersive XR gaming experiences. Players can physically interact with virtual environments, manipulate objects, and engage with AI-driven characters in ways that feel natural and intuitive.
• With real-time motion tracking and gesture recognition, the Unreal Engine XR pipeline creates a fully immersive gameplay experience that goes beyond traditional flat-screen interactions.

• Virtual production using Unreal Engine’s XR technology saves time and money by minimizing the need for costly physical sets, location shoots, and complex CGI post-production.
• For architecture and design, XR visualization helps reduce the cost of prototyping physical models or conducting multiple design revisions. Changes can be made digitally and instantly reflected in the 3D environment.
• Unreal Engine’s modular structure allows developers to scale their XR projects easily, whether they are creating an AR app for mobile devices or a large-scale VR experience for dedicated headsets.
• The engine’s blueprints system enables developers to create complex, interactive scenarios with little to no coding, speeding up development times and making XR accessible even to non-technical creators.
• Unreal Engine comes with powerful tools for simulating physics, particle effects, and dynamic environments. In XR experiences, this means users can interact with digital objects in a way that mimics real-world physics, enhancing the realism and immersion.
• This is particularly valuable in training simulators and serious games, where accurate physics-based interaction can help teach or simulate real-world scenarios more effectively.
• XR applications built with Unreal Engine can be used for data visualization in fields such as medicine, engineering, and education. Complex datasets can be represented as 3D visualizations in VR or AR environments, making the data easier to explore and understand.
• For example, in medical training, surgeons can interact with 3D models of the human body, practicing procedures in a highly interactive and visual format.
• XR experiences are naturally more immersive and interactive, leading to greater user engagement. When powered by Unreal Engine, these experiences are enhanced by high-quality graphics, fluid interactivity, and dynamic environments.
• This is particularly valuable in fields like marketing and entertainment, where brands can engage consumers in highly immersive ways, leaving a lasting impression.
• Unreal Engine integrates well with AI and machine learning technologies, which can be used to enhance XR experiences. AI can be used to create more intelligent NPCs (non-player characters) in VR games or to personalize AR experiences based on user behavior and preferences.
• For example, in training simulations, AI can adjust the difficulty level or provide personalized feedback based on user performance in the XR environment.
• Epic Games, the developer behind Unreal Engine, frequently updates the engine to include the latest advancements in XR technology, ensuring developers have access to cutting-edge tools and features.
• This continuous evolution helps XR developers stay ahead of the curve and future-proof their projects as new XR hardware and software emerge.

Conclusion

Combining XR with Unreal Engine technology creates an immersive, interactive, and highly flexible toolset for creators across many industries. Its real-time rendering, cross-platform capabilities, and support for photorealistic visuals provide significant advantages in gaming, film, architecture, education, and more, making it a powerful solution for developing cutting-edge XR experiences.