A Brilliant introduction to the world of virtual production
Written by Caitlin Hall
There are so many challenges to shooting on location… especially if you have a limited budget.
For a start, is the requested location even possible? Such as a Sci-Fi 1950s American diner? Or a log cabin setting like something out of a fairytale!?
Or maybe your shoot is totally dependent on the weather – you need a sunset or a rainbow, but can’t rely on Mother Nature.
In the past, backdrops have been the photographer’s best friend, but as we all look to be more eco-conscious, it feels wasteful to build sets or use backdrops only once.
But we think we might just have the solution to all these issues and more…
Virtual Production (aka VP) is our newest method for making multiple location shoots a reality in mere minutes and it’s really changed the way I work at Brilliant!
You may not have heard of it, but VP is already everywhere, as we consume it daily in most of our favourite TV and films – often without even realising it, especially if it’s convincing!
VP uses CGI, AI and other technologies such as Unreal Engine to create realistic environments and effects on a virtual set. Say goodbye to elaborate location shoots and say hello to screens where we can project and create new worlds in real time.
Here at Brilliant, we set out to adapt VP techniques in our studio and use it as a viable tabletop-esque setting using screens as backdrops for both photography and videography content. The idea of transporting our clients products anywhere was really exciting!
Imagine a Mrs Elswood pickle in front of the Eiffel Tower, or a tin of Lyle’s Golden Syrup in the Grand Canyon, anything is possible! Although, this does pose the question of where to start…
Well, don’t worry, consider this your checklist to make the virtual scenes you create as realistic as possible.
- A solid foreground – For example if the set is going to be outside in a garden, the foreground table needs to have an outdoor furniture look and feel.
- A backdrop – this is going to be the virtual part of the illusion and there are a few things you need to consider when choosing:
- That it looks realistic. The basis of VP is to make the environment convincing. You want people to believe it’s a pub or a garden for example so the first step is to ensure the image or video looks credible.
- That it is aligned with the client’s branding and aesthetic.
- If using AI such as Midjourney or Adobe Firefly, ensure that everything looks true to life. Make sure people’s hands don’t look like feet and they don’t walk backwards, it’s always better to double-check!
- That the perspective of the image is correct. You will need to align your camera with this also as it needs to be consistent.
- Finally, to make the set look believable you need to create the illusion of depth. Blend two worlds together, add props to the foreground and midground, get creative! The seamless integration of props can transform a flat, lifeless image into a realistic piece of content – as long as the props fit the context of course!
This year, myself and Jenny, (our Photographer & Content Creator) have been experimenting with VP and understanding what it could mean for our client’s content.
We’ve learned a lot so far and what better way to roll out Virtual Production here at Brilliant than on the Silver Bay Point rebrand earlier this month, check it out here.
Our journey into Virtual Production is constantly evolving and it’s safe to say we’re excited about what the future holds. We’re regularly partaking in further training, expanding our studio kit and sharpening our skill set, so watch this space as we keep the Brilliant blog updated with our expansion into VP!
