Visual Effects World ③ Virtual Production
Shooting with Large LED Wall Virtual Backgrounds Beyond Simple Compositing... Realism Comparable to Location Shoots
Helps Overcome Creative Limits of Era and Space... No Weather or Time Constraints, Reduces Production Costs
Recently, blockbuster movies dynamically showcase car action scenes. As a result, camera angles have become more diverse. The advancement of special equipment such as Russian arms (cameras mounted on cranes installed on cars) and drones has enabled dynamic filming. However, these technologies have not yet been commercialized. The daily rental fee for a Russian arm is at least 5 million won. Drones face technical challenges, making real-time video monitoring difficult.
Netflix's Seoul Vibe is an action film depicting a high-speed chase by investigators pursuing VIP slush funds on the opening day of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The production team found the answer to car chase action and the 1988 setting in virtual production. Actors and cars are placed in front of an LED Wall displaying virtual backgrounds. The In-Camera VFX (ICVFX) technology physically captures the LED Wall screen. This is not a simple composite. It provides a sense of presence comparable to on-location shooting and materializes footage from various angles. An anonymous insider said, "With the background unfolding in the film, actors find it easier to immerse themselves in their performances compared to green screen chroma key shooting."
The filming location is 'VA Studio Hanam 1, 2, 3' in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province. It is a virtual production platform covering an area of 11,265 square meters. Studio 3, in particular, boasts the largest scale in Korea. The LED Wall measures 19 meters in diameter, 8 meters in height, and 12 meters on the walls. There are also LED Walls on the ceiling, allowing for 360-degree utilization. Byung-hyun Ko, director of the New Media Division at VA Corporation, said, "It creates more natural lighting than typical outdoor shoots." He added, "The entire production, including the movements of actors and cameras in the virtual space, can be pre-checked to achieve stable and high-quality results."
Virtual production has yet to be effectively applied in Korean films and dramas. Studios are still in the early stages of establishment. Operating such studios requires sufficient visual effects (VFX) technology, so only a few companies have taken on the challenge. VA Corporation began research and development (R&D) in 2017, securing ICVFX technology and strengthening extended reality (XR) content production capabilities. The studio and system setup was led by cinematographer Woo-hyung Kim, known for the films 1987 and Assassination, and Park Young-soo, a Mopec VFX supervisor and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the U.S. Director Ko said, "Based on diverse experience and know-how, we have created an environment optimized for lighting, cameras, and art."
'D1' at Dexter Studio in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, is also a meticulously prepared virtual production space. In 2019, Dexter Studio established a Virtual Production Division, operating specialized teams for previsualization, Unreal environment creation, filming, and development. They received know-how from Lux Machina in the U.S., which handled virtual production for Disney+'s The Mandalorian and the film Solo: A Star Wars Story. Bo-geun Kwon, head of Dexter Studio Stage 1, said, "Over the past year, we have learned effective studio setup and operation methods through video consultations," adding, "We plan to maximize effects through collaboration with subsidiaries." Dexter Studio also operates LiveTone, a video and audio specialist studio; Crema Worldwide, a comprehensive advertising company; and Dexter Pictures, a film production company. Dong-hyun Kim, head of Dexter Studio's Content Division, said, "Virtual production is a change brought by the emergence of new genres. It overcomes creators' directorial limitations by producing exotic landscapes as well as locations and environments difficult to shoot."
The first output is the film The Moon (working title), directed by Yong-hwa Kim. It is a blockbuster depicting the rescue process of a man left alone in space, starring Seol Kyung-gu, Do Kyung-soo, Kim Hee-ae, and Park Byung-eun. Seon-gu Kim, CG supervisor at Dexter Studio, said, "We focus on realistically conveying worlds we have never experienced," adding, "We incorporate solutions verified by overseas cases to enhance overall completeness." Head Kwon said, "From the planning stage, we created space backgrounds such as outer space together, enabling smooth filming," and added, "Its utilization will increase further in the future."
The key to successful settlement is thorough preparation and understanding of the process. Virtual production requires a solid initial visualization process to minimize errors and achieve desired scenes. Film and drama production teams must strive to change existing production methods with a holistic perspective. Director Ko said, "The core of virtual production is pre-production," adding, "The desired footage must be realized in the virtual space beforehand to expect high-quality results." Dong-jun Lee, head of Dexter Studio's Virtual Production Division, also said, "It accelerates post-production and allows you to step back and view the project as a whole." He added, "Real-time rendering reduces waiting times in traditional production methods. Strengthening pre-collaboration workflows is essential to provide effective solutions to each part."
Close pre-collaboration is directly linked to production cost reduction. It enables smooth filming without weather or time constraints and can even reduce the number of shooting days. Head Lee said, "Costs for location scouting, setting, set construction, and composition are significantly reduced," adding, "Changes in weather or location can be instantly resolved on set using real-time engines." Director Ko said, "When estimating production budgets and schedules, production costs are reduced by 20% compared to traditional methods," adding, "Time is also shortened, greatly improving the efficiency of the production team."
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