Since making the switch from an architectural visualiser to 3D game artist, I have been trying to close the gap in the visual quality of my work between using rendered and real time imagery. I have been looking at some of the work that filmmakers have done using game engines to help put in perspective what is now achievable with real time graphics. I think this new perspective will help push me to achieve better results within my own work.
ADAM (2016) is a series of ongoing short films from director Neil Blompkamp and the VFX company Oats Studios. These films are a noteworthy example of the forefront of the industry because they are rendered entirely in real time using the Unity game engine. The first short was showcased at the Game Developers Conference in 2016 and showcased the high graphical quality that game engines were able to achieve.
From an interview in 2017 with the Verge website, Oats Studios explained how they used the Unity game engine to not only create the films visuals, but also change their approach to the filmmaking process. In the article Chris Harvey, Oats Studios VFX supervisor explains that the main appeal of using real-time rendering was that it let the filmmakers make adjustments to the film on the spot. “Literally, you could put a hat [on Adam], hit play, and watch the film with that.”
The director Neil Blomkamp explains that with Unity he was able to make shot adjustments immediately stating that the team were easily able to change the lighting of the film without the need for reshooting the scene at a different time of day.
I believe films like Adam are revolutionising the film making process and blurring the lines between video game and film development. I find this film particularly interesting as a case study because the success of films like this, could determine my future career path. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into the film pipeline, a working knowledge of game engines could become a necessity for artists wishing to enter the industry. As special effects become more game-engine centric I could find my skillset in high demand.
When it comes time to edit my promotional video I will be thinking of films like Adam as the benchmark of visual quality. I want to push myself to get the best I can from Unreal Engine and now that I have seen what is achievable, I have a high standard to reach for.
LIPTAK, A. (2017) How Neill Blomkamp and Unity are shaping the future of filmmaking with Adam: The Mirror – The Verge [Online] Available from: https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/4/16409734/unity-neill-blomkamp-oats-studios-mirror-cinemachine-short-film [Accessed: 12/06/2018]
UNITY (2016) Unity GDC demo - Adam - Part I [Online Video] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44M7JsKqwow [Accessed: 12/06/2018]
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