From: rlm@hudson.stanford.edu (Robert L. Miller)
Subject: Re: MEDIA: VR Films?
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1993 16:34:02 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University



In article <20i416$d8j@news.u.washington.edu> whl@minster.york.ac.uk
writes:

>I don't remember where I've heard it from that some people are working
>on the possibility of using VR technology for filming.
>
>Does anyone out there know something about this?  Any references would
>be a great help.

It all depends on what you call VR technology, but broadly speaking,
yes.

One example is to prepare for a film's production.  The production
company of producer Gail Ann Hurd (Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss,
Terminator 2, Raising Cain, Waterdance..) uses a modified version of
Virtus Walkthrough to optimize set configurations, camera placement,
lighting, etc.  This provides 1) good creative malleability, and 2)
good communication to the crew--which saves a lot of time and money
when production actually rolls around.

Some films and projects are starting to make use of capturing live,
physical motion (a person moving..) with VR-like technology.  The
digitized motion is then mapped to an animated character.  This allows
the character to have more fluid-like motion, which can make the
animation more compelling.  I understand Disney is working on a
feature length computer graphic movie.  Parts of Beauty and the Beast
and Aladdin were done with computer graphics... this will apparently
be all computer graphics.

In my opinion, using today's VR technology in a major studio movie--at
least for something more than animation, special effects or "ride
films"--is not likely to happen for a few years...  The technology
needs to mature a great deal before studios and producers are willing
to spend millions on a wholly VR movie.  After films like Terminator 2
(only about 5 minutes of high-end computer graphics$$$) and Jurassic
Park, audiences are very discerning about how compelling a movie's
visuals are.  So if the VR visuals aren't aesthetically or
economically there yet, the movie money won't be either.

-Robert Miller