The key learning we did was learning how green screen is used within major film productions and virtual production on a major scale (e.g. in films such as Star Wars, that are majorly comprised of virtual production).

The main conceptual elements we covered were how filmmakers are synergising film and gaming advances – testing the limits of real-time and in-camera rendering. We discussed how new virtual production stage and workflow allows filmmakers to capture a significant amount of complex visual effects, using shots in-camera, real-time game engine technology and surrounding LED screens. The way this works, is LED stages are put in place to work in combination with a motion capture volume which is aware of where the camera is and how it is moving, with a rendered out Lat-Long 360, put up in the LED set. Production design teams would also bring in practical pieces that needed to be matched, followed up with a more precise lighting adjustment on the day that set would be used for final imagery and real takes.

The main media making elements we did this week was learning how to basically use VFX & Luma Key on Adobe Premiere Pro. Cat walked us through the process of using Ultra Key effect on a green screen image/video, to make the background black, then to add another background image/video below the green screen image on the timeline to make this the background image of the green screen image/video. I found this process super helpful, as I recently got a green screen going at home and was needing to learn this skill anyhow. I’m extremely excited to work with green screen on future projects, with hopes to use it for Assignment #2.