This proof-of-concept video demonstrates the capabilities of newly introduced virtual production technology to create a realistic cinematic experience with unprecedented efficiencies. Produced by a half dozen people working part-time over four months, the sets, lighting and camera shots were created and executed in Epic Games’ Unreal Engine. The actors’ likenesses were scanned as MetaHumans, their performances recorded using motion capture suits and their costumes created in Marvelous Designer.

The design objectives were to have multiple characters wearing intricate period costumes interact with each other as well as physical objects, within highly detailed sets. In addition, the emotional dynamics of the characters had to infuse the scenes. Up until now, no virtually generated cinematic experience has achieved this level of sophistication. To date, the best in class virtual cinematic production is Blue Dot, produced a year ago by Epic Games with a substantially larger budget. Our intent was to exceed the production values demonstrated in that work.

The technology is in its early stages, but its capabilities for rendering high-quality photo-realistic cinematics are advancing rapidly. Even with the limitations encountered, coupled with budget and resource constraints, the POC unquestionably demonstrates the viability of using this methodology to produce scripted cinematic narratives; a game-changing paradigm shift for cinematic storytellers, making it possible for them to actualize their vision with fewer barriers.

These scenes are abstracted from the pilot episode of The Pale, an historical fiction television series. The cost to produce a period piece episode using conventional methods ranges between 5 and 7 million dollars; we can produce the pilot episode virtually for a small fraction of that cost.

* For additional information about Unreal Engine, read this article published in the April 15th edition of The New Yorker magazine: How Perfectly Can Reality Be Simulated? – The New Yorker Magazine