RE:ality
Metaverse, xR, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality...
Today, we have access to more immersive virtual experiences through a proliferation of technologies, and we can use these contemporary technologies to get closer to our fantasy utopias. But while the barrier between virtual and real is breaking down, it's also harder to tell if we're in reality or not, and whether Cobb's gyroscope has stopped...
Starting of this project
At the beginning of the project, we didn't envision a grand narrative, but rather just finalised that this project would be an exploration of virtual production technology for me and my team. As the director and writer of the film, my initial research with the team was limited to how we could use VR to make a cool-looking short film.
Project Preparation
But it was a chance brainstorming session that led us to talk about using VR as an entry point to explore the problems of a cyber world, "We can be more connected to the virtual! Today, the boundaries between the virtual and the real are blurring," and this follow-up was inspired by both the film Ready Player One and the anime Sword Art Online.
Shot List
Storyboard
Behind The Scenes
This project was my first attempt at using virtual production technology, and I was fortunate enough to be able to use RMIT's TV Studio's virtual production studio to shoot the virtual production using its Reality system, which was easily connected to our pre-baked Unreal Engine 4 project.
At the filming stage, I mainly conducted with Unreal Engine project and as a cameraman to operate the camera in VP studio.
Post Production
In the post-production stage, I was mainly responsible for editing and colour grading in Davinci Resolve, creating all the animations for the whole film in After Effects, as well as using Audition to process the actual sound and Foleys.
Credit
Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Director of photography, Post-production editor, Colorist, VFX director
Teng "Johnny" Zhang
1st assistant director, Production coordinator, Storyboard artist, Sound engineer
Chenglin "Karl" Xie
Talent, Property master
Tsz Chiu "Justin" Cheng
2nd assistant director, Gaffer, Clapper-Loader
Haolun Liu
Virtual Production Support
RMIT Media Precinct TV Studio B