GET STARTED WITH VIRTUAL PRODUCTION
SATORE STUDIO’S TUPAC MARTIR SHARES HIS TOP TIPS FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO EMBRACE VIRTUAL PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES
TAKE YOUR TIME
As much as we would all like a turnkey solution to virtual production, it doesn’t exist yet. So be patient and understand that there are many variables. It may take a while to understand them all, and see how they fit together. Sometimes it is just a matter of slowing down and taking your time. I recommend keeping a diary of different things you’ve tried, so you have a record of what worked and what didn’t.
DON’T GET FRUSTRATED
Sometimes, you may find that something that worked well on one occasion doesn’t always behave the way you expect in other situations. This can be caused by user error, a bug (yes, there are many of those), a driver or something you might never have even thought about. Believe me, we all have gremlins that come out of nowhere!
DON’T GET CAUGHT UP IN EQUIPMENT
A VIVE Tracker can be a great way to begin your journey, but people can get lost focusing too much on equipment. It’s easy to think, ‘If I only had this piece or that kit, everything would be easy.’ That isn’t always the case, sometimes the more expensive the toy, the more variables you have to deal with. But if you know the basics, you can make things happen.
LEARN ABOUT GAME ENGINES
I imagine this is high on everyone’s to-do list, but believe me – if it isn’t, you will always be at a disadvantage. When I say ‘understand,’ I don’t mean you need to know all the ins and outs of an engine, since that is impossible. Rather, it’s important to know what engines can (and can’t) do, how they behave, what tools are available and, most importantly, how long it takes to complete different tasks.
NEVER FORGET THE STORY
It’s always about the story. Never forget that. As much as we all love technology, and how amazing it can make things look, at the end of the day we are all there in service of the story. So, before you go crazy creating a scene that looks incredible, ask yourself, ‘Does this help tell my story?’ If it doesn’t, you’ll regret spending time on it in the end.