Welcome to The Queue — your daily distraction of curated video content sourced from across the web. Today, we’re watching a video essay that explores what virtual production is.
I do wonder, sometimes, if the digital vs. analog debate will fall off in future years. Perhaps the magnitude of the discourse feels exaggerated for those of us deep in the movie weeds. Maybe the average audience member isn’t even aware that discourse is happening. Or maybe they don’t care.
Either way, I am curious: when the memory of the stark difference between CinemaScope and early 2000s CGI goop starts to fade, what will that look like?
Regardless, there’s no denying that an increasing reliance on CGI isn’t going anywhere. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It would be ignorant to throw the good CGI filmmaking out with the bathwater. Being dogmatic about these things isn’t realistic. And even if you are a die-hard analogue defender, you might have felt your allegiances flinch with the recent innovations in virtual production.
The grandchild of rear projection, virtual production describes more-or-less real-time rendering of digital elements and environments. This can look like an LED screen background like The Mandalorian‘s use of StageCraft (a.k.a. “The Volume”). It can also look like James Cameron’s “simulcam,” which as its name suggests, uses real-time rendering to help filmmakers visualize shots on set.
The following video essay does a great job breaking down the innovations virtual production brings to the table, from being able to efficiently switch between locations to preserving the illusion of parallax. It’s not better or worse than analog filmmaking. But it’s exciting to see technicians and filmmakers working to improve technology that can often feel alien and hollow.
Watch “Virtual Production Explained — Is This The End of the Green Screen?”
Who made this?
This video essay on what virtual production is was created by StudioBinder. This production management software creator also happens to produce wildly informative video essays. They tend to focus on the mechanics of filmmaking itself, from staging to pitches and directorial techniques. You can check out their YouTube account here.
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- For more of StudioBinder’s work, here’s their video essay that explores the ingredients that go into an iconic cinematic close-up.
- Here’s a detailed scene breakdown from StudioBinder on what makes the poker scene in Casino Royale so captivating (even if you have no idea how poker works).
- Here’s more of StudioBinder’s work: a video essay on how to spot the narrative device known as a MacGuffin while you’re watching movies.
- Finally, here’s a video essay that explores RRR director SS Rajamouli’s approach to shooting fight scenes.
Related Topics: The Queue, Virtual Production
