The Impact of VFX and Virtual Production on Modern Filmmaking: Techniques, Benefits, and Planning Insights
Visual effects (VFX) have become a standard component in modern film and television productions, playing a vital role in enhancing storytelling, managing production challenges, and maintaining budget discipline. From integrating VFX producers and supervisors early in the scripting phase to utilising innovative technologies like LED volumes, careful planning can streamline workflows and unlock creative potential. Whether managing hundreds of VFX shots or recreating realistic environments for car interiors, productions benefit from the strategic use of resources and technology and incorporating or at least assuming use of these early in planning. Recent successes like "The Mandalorian" and "The Midnight Sky" demonstrate how early investment in VFX expertise and virtual production can deliver outstanding results while saving costs.
While VFX may only account for a small percentage of the total number of shots in a production, their influence often extends across multiple episodes “previously-on” sequences, and marketing departments lean heavily on VFX produced materials. To effectively manage these demands, a minimal VFX team typically includes a supervisoring producer, a coordinator, and a data wrangler. Productions with multiple episodes or units will likely require additional associate supervisors, and when a project involves 500 or more VFX shots, it becomes necessary to budget for both a supervisor and a producer, as their combined expertise, and physical time ensures a smoother production process, and inclusion of VFX into the broader conversations that happen in preproduction and during the often hectic production period. Both roles should actively participate, and be included in the decision tree from the pre-production stage onward to avoid costly adjustments later.
Engaging VFX experts early in the process, even during the script development phase, can lead to significant cost savings especially in areas where simply previs or tech vis can ensure quicker, easier, shoots. Simple descriptions on a script page can often translate into highly intricate visual effects requiring a mix of techniques. A consultation with a VFX professional during the early stages of budgeting and planning can identify potential challenges, streamline workflows, and provide accurate cost estimates. Spending a few thousand on early-stage consultation, or previsualising can prevent budget overruns and lend credibility to budget submissions, especially for projects with heavy VFX requirements, further more giving studios more confidence in Greenlights.
Recent productions highlight the importance of integrating VFX planning early. For instance, HBO’s "Game of Thrones" made extensive use of VFX not just for its dragons but also for large-scale battle scenes, with teams working closely with directors and writers to ensure seamless integration of effects. Similarly, Marvel’s "Avengers: Endgame" relied heavily on VFX for character interactions and complex environments, involving collaboration from the pre-visualisation stage through to post-production. These examples demonstrate how early investment in VFX planning can elevate storytelling and enhance the audience’s experience.
Another standout is the Disney+ series "The Mandalorian," which embraced virtual production techniques early on, using LED volumes to create dynamic, immersive environments combined with more traditional set dress. This approach eliminated the need for extensive location shooting while maintaining visual fidelity, proving that virtual production can be both practical and creatively enriching. Projects like these exemplify how incorporating new technologies, such as LED stages, from the start of a production can yield significant benefits, do not exclude traditional deparments but help elevate their work.
One area worth pre-planning for is virtual production, particularly the use of LED volumes. These stages offer a practical solution for pickups and additional photography. They allow productions to recreate the lighting and appearance of original sets without needing full-scale reconstructions. Whether shooting close-ups or inserts, LED volumes provide a flexible and efficient option when combined with set scanning and high-quality HDRI capture. Once considered an extravagance, this approach is now a cost-effective safeguard against the unpredictability of reshoots. Including LED volume planning in initial budgets ensures a production is better prepared for unforeseen needs during post-production.
Beyond traditional set recreation, LED volumes are particularly effective for filming scenes that involve moving vehicles, such as car interiors. A low-loader or other physical rigs are costly and in ever more busy cities are no longer practical for many scenarios. Inconsistent weather, lighting, or the threat of production leaks, an LED volume shoot eliminates risk. Productions can shoot interiors on the stage with LED screens displaying pre-recorded plates or high-quality 3D environments. Plate units can be sent out to capture the required footage for realistic backgrounds, or, where photoreal fidelity isn’t critical, 3D-generated exteriors can provide an equally convincing solution. This reduces the complexity of on-location shooting and enables better control over lighting and reflections, saving time and costs.
A good example of the flexibility of LED volumes is the recent Netflix film "The Midnight Sky," which used these techniques to simulate the Arctic environment. The ability to control lighting and integrate visual effects in real time streamlined the production process and delivered stunning results. Similarly, "Obi-Wan Kenobi" on Disney+ utilised LED volumes to bring distant planets to life while minimising the logistical challenges of on-location shooting. These same stages have been increasingly used for dynamic sequences like car chases and other vehicle-based scenes, showcasing their versatility.
By integrating VFX and virtual production planning into the earliest phases of a project, productions can achieve greater efficiency, maintain budget discipline, and unlock creative possibilities. Early investment in expertise and resources not only strengthens the overall workflow but also ensures a smoother and more predictable production experience. Whether it’s a blockbuster like "Dune" or a smaller-scale production, the principles remain the same: effective planning, collaboration, and the strategic use of technology can make all the difference in delivering a visually stunning result.
