THIS Virtual Production App STUNNED Top Filmmakers

At the BSC Expo, a groundbreaking app called Likecraft Jet Set was showcased, enabling camera tracking for visual effects, green screen, and virtual production using just an iPhone. The demo included a blue screen scene with a live render preview, but technical issues with video lag were encountered and resolved. The app's affordability and comprehensive features, including lens calibration and integration with Unreal Engine, excited indie filmmakers, promising a cost-effective solution for high-quality production.

Takeaways

• 📱 The introduction of a groundbreaking app at the BSC Expo, a major filmmaking event, aims to revolutionize the industry with its capabilities.
• 🎥 The app, Likecraft Jet Set, enables camera tracking for visual effects, green or blue screen mixed reality, and full-blown virtual production using an iPhone attached to a cinema camera.
• 🚀 A month of preparation went into the demo, but only 10 hours were available for setup at the event, highlighting the importance of efficiency and reliability.
• 🌐 The demo setup included a blue screen scene with an Unreal Engine environment, showcasing the app's real-time rendering and compositing capabilities.
• 🎬 The actress, Lucia, demonstrated the practical application of the technology by attaching an Axon transmitter to a car, indicating the app's potential for interactive scenes.
• 📱 The iPhone running the Jet Set app was calibrated to match the 29 mm Teina lens, emphasizing the importance of accurate calibration for realistic results.
• 🔗 The rig involved multiple components, including an ACC transmitter, a clean feed monitor, and connections to Unreal Engine, showcasing the complexity of the setup.
• 🤔 Technical issues arose with video lag and stuttering, which were eventually resolved by refreshing the signal, underlining the importance of troubleshooting in live demonstrations.
• 💬 The app's affordability, with a free base level and a scalable pricing model up to $80 per month for the City level, was a significant talking point and drew strong reactions from industry professionals.
• 🌟 The excitement and positive feedback from indie filmmakers and professionals indicate the app's potential to empower creators without breaking their budgets.
• 🔋 The event was a success, with the demo drawing interest and engagement from attendees, and the speaker looks forward to covering Likecraft Jet Set in more detail in the future.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the app showcased in the video?

The main purpose of the app is to enable camera tracking for visual effects, green or blue screen mixed reality, or full-blown virtual production by simply attaching an iPhone to the main cinema camera.

Where was the app launched?

The app was launched at the BSC Expo, one of the biggest filmmaking events of the year.

What are the key components of the demo setup?

The key components of the demo setup include a Zcam body with a Teina 29 mm lens, the Jet Set app running on an iPhone, an ACC transmitter, a monitor, and an Unreal Engine environment.

How long did it take to prepare the demo before the event?

It took about a month of preparation to put together the demo and ensure everything worked properly.

What was the main issue encountered during the demo setup?

The main issue encountered was video lag, which was causing stuttering in the live render preview.

How was the video lag issue resolved?

The video lag issue was resolved by refreshing the signal on the Cam Link 4K and reselecting it in the menu.

What was the reaction of the filmmaker Philip Bloom to the app?

Philip Bloom was impressed with the app, and the video shows him standing next to the presenter, indicating a positive reaction.

What is the pricing model for the Jet Set app?

The base level of the app is free, and it scales up to about $80 per month for the City level one.

What additional features does the Jet Set app offer besides camera tracking?

The Jet Set app also offers lens calibration, file sending and sinking to Unreal Engine, and compatibility with other packages like After Effects.

What was the general reaction of the people who visited the booth?

The general reaction was excitement, especially from the indie filmmakers who saw the app as a budget-friendly solution that met their needs without breaking their budget.

What was the main takeaway from the event for the presenter?

The main takeaway was the overwhelmingly positive experience and the strong interest and reactions from the people who visited the booth, as well as the potential impact the app could have on the filmmaking industry.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Introducing the Craft Jet Set App at BSC Expo

The paragraph discusses the launch of a new app called Craft Jet Set at the BSC Expo, a major filmmaking event. The app enables camera tracking for visual effects, green or blue screen mixed reality, or virtual production using an iPhone mounted on top of a cinema camera. The speaker had a month to prepare a demo but faced a time crunch of 10 hours to set up the rig at the event. The demo included a blue screen scene with an Unreal Engine environment and showcased a live render preview of the composited footage. The setup involved a Zcam body with a Teina 29 mm lens, the Jet Set app on the iPhone, and various cables and transmitters to monitor and display the tracking and composited scenes. Despite the complexity of the demo rig, the actual requirement for visual production is simpler, primarily needing a camera, a lens, and the app. The paragraph ends with the VIP arrival and the speaker's anticipation of questions from the audience.

05:01

🎬 Reflecting on the BSC Expo Experience and Showcase

The speaker reflects on the BSC Expo experience, highlighting the challenges and successes of the event. They managed to demonstrate the Craft Jet Set app's capabilities using a calibrated lens file and a digital slate for syncing footage. The paragraph also mentions a conversation with Philip Bloom, a renowned figure in the filmmaking community. The speaker expresses a desire to explore more of the event, particularly the robot arms in operation. The reactions from visitors to the booth varied from curiosity about the app's functionality to excitement over its affordability and potential impact on the film industry. The app's base level is free, with a scalable pricing model up to a professional level. The speaker concludes with gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the event and looks forward to sharing more about Craft Jet Set in the future.

Keywords

Virtual Production

Virtual Production refers to the use of real-time computer-generated environments and live-action footage to create a seamless and interactive filming process. In the context of the video, this technology allows filmmakers to composite live-action footage with virtual environments in real-time, revolutionizing the way films and visual effects are produced. The main theme of the video is the demonstration of an app, Likecraft Jet Set, that facilitates virtual production by enabling camera tracking and real-time compositing on an iPhone, which is a cost-effective and accessible solution for filmmakers.

Camera Tracking

Camera Tracking is the process of capturing and analyzing the movement of a camera in 3D space to reproduce it digitally. This technique is crucial in virtual production as it allows the real-world camera movements to be accurately matched with the virtual environment, ensuring a seamless integration of live-action footage and computer-generated elements. In the video, the iPhone app Likecraft Jet Set is used for camera tracking, which is a key component in achieving realistic virtual production.

Visual Effects (VFX)

Visual Effects, or VFX, are the processes by which film makers create or alter images, including live-action and computer-generated content, to produce effects that are not achievable in live-action shooting. VFX are integral to virtual production as they allow filmmakers to enhance or create scenes that do not exist in the physical world. The video highlights the use of an app that facilitates VFX by enabling real-time compositing, which is a significant advancement in the field of visual effects.

Green/Blue Screen

Green or blue screen is a technique used in film and video production where actors perform in front of a solid green or blue background. This color-keyed background allows for the seamless removal of the background in post-production, and the insertion of any desired digital environment or effects. In the video, the app Likecraft Jet Set is used to facilitate the green/blue screen process by enabling real-time compositing, which is a significant improvement over traditional post-production methods.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine is a powerful game engine developed by Epic Games, widely used in the gaming industry but also increasingly adopted in film and television production for creating realistic 3D environments and animations. In the context of the video, Unreal Engine is used to create the virtual environment of a garage full of cars, which is then composited with the live-action footage in real-time using the iPhone app Likecraft Jet Set.

Lens Calibration

Lens calibration is the process of adjusting the settings of a camera lens to ensure that the captured image matches the desired field of view and focus. In the context of virtual production and the video, lens calibration is crucial for the app to accurately understand the perspective and focus of the physical camera lens, allowing for precise compositing with the virtual environment. The iPhone app Likecraft Jet Set requires lens calibration to ensure that the virtual elements align correctly with the live-action footage.

Live Render Preview

Live Render Preview refers to the ability to see a real-time composite of live-action footage with computer-generated elements while filming. This feature is invaluable in virtual production as it allows filmmakers to instantly see the final result of the compositing process, making adjustments as needed without waiting for post-production. The video demonstrates the live render preview capability of the Likecraft Jet Set app, which is a significant advancement in virtual production technology.

Latency

Latency in the context of video production refers to the delay between when an action is performed and when it is seen or processed by the system. In virtual production, low latency is critical to ensure that the live-action footage and the computer-generated elements are synchronized, providing a seamless and responsive filming experience. The video script mentions an issue with video lag, which is a form of latency, that needed to be resolved for the live render preview to function correctly.

Indie Filmmakers

Indie Filmmakers are independent filmmakers who typically produce low-budget films outside the major studio system. They often seek cost-effective solutions for production, as they may not have the financial resources of larger studios. The video script highlights the excitement of indie filmmakers who see the potential of the Likecraft Jet Set app to provide high-quality virtual production capabilities without breaking their budget, making it an attractive solution for this demographic.

Mars System

The Mars System, as mentioned in the video, is a high-end professional virtual production system that is costly, with prices starting at around $5,000 and going up to $25,000. It represents the traditional, expensive options available for filmmakers looking to incorporate virtual production techniques. The video contrasts these high costs with the more accessible solution provided by the Likecraft Jet Set app, which offers a comprehensive virtual production pipeline at a fraction of the price.

Lightcraft

Lightcraft is the company sponsoring the video and the developer of the Likecraft Jet Set app. They specialize in providing innovative solutions for virtual production, offering a comprehensive pipeline that includes camera tracking, lens calibration, and integration with platforms like Unreal Engine. The video focuses on the launch of their new app at the BSC Expo, aiming to revolutionize the film industry by making virtual production more accessible and affordable.

Highlights

The introduction of a groundbreaking new app at the BSC Expo, one of the biggest filmmaking events of the year.

The app, Likecraft Jet Set, enables camera tracking for visual effects, green or blue screen mixed reality, and full-blown virtual production using just an iPhone.

A month of preparation went into the demo to ensure everything worked seamlessly at the event.

A blue screen scene with an Unreal Engine environment set up, showcasing a garage full of cars.

Actress Lucia demonstrates attaching an axon transmitter to a car, integral to the live demo.

A live render preview of the Unreal Engine environment and cinema camera composited was displayed at the booth.

The rig includes a Zcam body with a Teina 29 mm lens and the key component, the Likecraft Jet Set app running on an iPhone.

The iPhone app is calibrated to match the 29 mm Teina lens, providing the exact field of view.

The phone outputs to an ACC transmitter and monitor, with a clean feed monitor on an additional iPhone.

Cables connect the setup to the axon transmitter, Unreal Engine, and the monitor for a complex but effective demo.

AR cook lenses and VIPs showing interest, leading to many questions and interactions about the technology.

The simplicity of shooting with just the camera, phone, and app, with additional tools for calibration.

Testing for lag, latency, and potential issues with the rig, ensuring a smooth user experience.

The challenge of a stuttering video feed and the troubleshooting process to fix it.

The relief and success of solving the technical issue, allowing the live render preview to function again.

Meeting industry professionals like Philip Bloom and receiving positive feedback on the app's capabilities.

The excitement from indie filmmakers who see the potential of the app for their budget and needs.

The app's pricing model, with a free base level and scaling up to a monthly subscription for advanced features.

The comprehensive nature of the app, offering a fully managed pipeline beyond just tracking, including lens calibration and integration with other software.

Reflection on the event's success and the overwhelmingly positive reactions from attendees.

A look forward to more in-depth coverage of Likecraft Jet Set and its continuous development in future updates.