Case Study

Overview

The project brief required us to conceptualize and create the environment, assets, props, and generate a crowd of approximately 2,000 for the climax sequence of the movie "Crakk." This project was a unique case study due to the constraints of limited time and budget. We opted to use Unreal Engine and Blender to achieve the final CGI output. The CGI environment was created in Unreal, while the assets, props, and crowd were developed in Blender. These were then composited with live-action footage using Nuke. This innovative pipeline was attempted for the first time and was successfully delivered.

Approach

Given that the project also involved conceptualizing the environment for the client, we adopted a distinctive approach by creating the concepts directly in Unreal Engine. From past experience, we recognized that translating a 2D concept into 3D often presents challenges. By developing the environment within Unreal Engine from the start, we were able to get client approvals directly within the 3D software. This streamlined our pipeline, allowing us to focus on refining and enhancing the world. Additionally, Unreal Engine's real-time workflow enabled us to make adjustments as needed by the creative team without compromising the agreed timeline. For assets and props, including cars and a crowd of around 2,000 people, we used Blender to meet the client's quality expectations. The live-action footage was processed through the traditional VFX pipeline with roto and clean-up work before integrating the 3D elements with the live footage in Compositing.

Challenges

The primary challenge was executing this non-traditional workflow and pipeline, as it had not been previously attempted, leaving us uncertain about potential issues. Another significant challenge was the use of different software for environment creation, and asset, prop, and crowd generation. We conducted internal tests on potential problem areas, and the successful results were well-received by the client. The final challenge was compositing the various render layers, which was effectively managed by our experienced in-house VFX supervisors who ensured the delivery of high-quality shots that met the client's expectations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this workflow proved to be highly effective for us and has since been further refined. We are now applying this approach to multiple projects. Although trying something new under the pressure of tight deadlines can be daunting, the real-time process provided the client with confidence that changes could be made quickly without impacting the overall timeline agreed upon by all stakeholders.

Case Study

Crakk

Overview

Approach

Challenges

Conclusion

Overview

Approach

Challenges

Conclusion

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