Selling Virtual Production
Mesh's Virtual Production producers often get asked 'How do you sell a DP or director on Virtual Production?', and our answer is always that we are not there to ‘sell’ Virtual Production to crew members in prep. The decision to use virtual production techniques is almost as fundamental as deciding to shoot a project in a particular state or country for the tax incentives - it's part of the DNA of a project and informs a lot of downstream decisions. In order to successfully implement virtual production, it's important to have a team that is open to exploring new possibilities and excited about the technology. If any team members are reluctant or resistant to virtual production, it's important to have an open and honest conversation about their concerns, but it’s also important to find a crew that will be a ‘fit’ with the choice of Virtual Production as a production technique- you wouldn’t hire a steadicam operator who is skeptical about steadicam’s place in your production.
Producers and production executives especially need to foster the spirit of collaboration early in the development process, ideally during the development and budgeting phase. Doing breakdowns for Virtual Production early can illustrate where the workflows can enhance a demanding script or tight shooting schedule, and it's almost too late to try add Virtual Production if a Line Producer or UPM has already been hired. By making the decision to use virtual production early in the process, the creative team can work together to create a cohesive and integrated production plan that takes full advantage of the technology. Trying to jury-rig Virtual Production into a team that has already started working is almost wholly futile.
Another important consideration when using virtual production is the level of collaboration required between different departments, which can be more complex than in a traditional production. A virtual production budget assumes far more inter-department collaboration than a traditional siloed budget, and the budgetary handoffs could be harder to achieve later in the process. Clawing money out of VFX and production design budgets in order to bring Virtual Production to the screen will only get you enemies on set and a target on your back- ‘Why are you reducing my budget for this?’. Let’s imagine a future where production design initiates and leads this process, with the VFX department taking a support role with asset generation.
With virtual production, the pre-visualization and pre-production stages are more important than ever. The director needs to be prepared to make decisions and approve things earlier in the process. By creating detailed storyboards and pre-visualizing scenes, the creative team can identify potential issues and make changes before shooting begins, allowing everyone to contribute and giving time for all voices.
Virtual production is more than just a tool for shooting an environment - it's a platform for exploring new possibilities, pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and connecting with audiences in new and exciting ways. As technology continues to advance and new techniques are developed, the possibilities for virtual production are endless. By embracing this new era of filmmaking and media creation, we can unlock a world of creative potential, and deliver truly groundbreaking and innovative content to audiences around the globe. With the right team, the right approach, and a willingness to embrace new ideas and new ways of working, the possibilities are endless. The future of production is Virtual Production.
