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the Immersion Room

10/23/2021

10 Comments

 
Our youngest son and his partner are working on setting up a new movie studio in Toronto. It's an 'immersion room', which is the newest technique in shooting movies, where the background scenery is provided digitally on giant LED screens surrounding the entire 'set'. It's been an interesting process to watch. We went a few months ago to see the LED panels installed....which were in the process of being attached together to make one seamless surface....
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Sophisticated computer technology put the desired images up on the panels....
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Yesterday we went again to see their newest development - 3 dimensional images. I'm a total techno-boob, but as I understand it, the cinematographer's camera somehow works with the image on the panels, so that when he moves, the scenery behind the actor(s) does as well, so that the background is no longer a flat image like a giant poster, but the background actually changes, so what's behind a tree or pillar comes into view, just like in real life.

Yesterday when we visited, there was a cinematographer, a director, several actors, as well as the technical crew, and they were in the process of filming promotional material to show a versatile range of their capability.  First an everyday apartment interior....
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It was very interesting to see how professionals deal with the same issues I have taking doll photos at home.  Like the big white paper screen that filters one of the lights. 

Then they tackled a 'jungle scene'. The trees swayed, leaves floated down, and the computer controlled where the sun shone through the foliage - and to what intensity....
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They strategically placed some fake plants in the foreground, and they were ready to go....
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Someone supported a huge styrofoam 'white card' as the cinematographer filmed....
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Checking the footage. It was amazing how believable it all looked on their monitors... 
​(my camera doesn't show the true real colour)
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Then they wanted to work on light bouncing off a reflective surface...like an astronaut's visor...
​So they went to Mars...
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It was absolutely fascinating to watch, and I couldn't help thinking how I deal with many of the same issues as the movie professionals, especially when it comes to the lighting and depth of field issues.  But they have a whole team, and tons of expensive equipment,  and I have just me, my camera, and my dining room table.

I can see that this kind of technology would be a fantastic tool for doll photography as well, and one day it would be nice to take a group of my dolls there. I can picture a short video of an aerial view of my Medieval Fantasy crew on a mountain top like in Lord of the Rings, with the camera recording the scene from all round them.  That would be so cool! Who needs to pack all my dolls into the RV, drive for a week to the Rockies, and set them all up in who knows what kind of weather and lighting condition, when it can all be 'faked' a half hour from home??

 Immersion Room website
10 Comments
Donna
10/23/2021 03:31:30 pm

Wow!! That is so incredible and fascinating. It's really nice that you have the opportunity to see it up close and see how it all works.

Bet it won't be too long before your dolls Become "movie stars" :o)

Reply
Martha
10/23/2021 04:30:27 pm

Yes, our kids are doing some amazing things, and during Covid no less.



Reply
kenaiqueen
10/23/2021 03:55:05 pm

Wow! That is just amazing. Seems like we are just that much closer to getting those holodecks from Star Trek. Maybe you need a really big computer monitor to pose your dolls in front of. Altho, going to all those neat places is kinda nice too.

Reply
Martha
10/23/2021 04:37:09 pm

A big TV wouldn't do the job of a proper movie studio.

Yes, going out on trips to real locations is wonderful, however I think my traveling days may be almost over. It was very difficult already this last time with all my ever increasing chronic pain levels. I'm hoping I improve, but the outlook is not good.

Reply
Dorothy
10/23/2021 05:33:43 pm

Wow, that is amazing to see. I think we will see more of this in the future. I am wondering how it might work with set design on a play stage.

Reply
Martha
10/24/2021 05:23:02 am

I thought it was pretty amazing. Yes, this is becoming the future of film making. Many productions already use this technology although you'd probably never know from watching the finished product.

Reply
Vicki
10/26/2021 10:38:03 am

This is amazing! It’s fascinating to see the talented people doing the meticulous work on the scenery that we so take for granted when enjoying movies and shows. Great work! Love it!

ResinRapture
10/25/2021 01:21:19 am

This is fascinating. I thought the same when I read it, how cool would it be to have every possible scenery to display. But on the other hand, where's the fun in just pressing a button? And even if you do just have your dining room table, you take great pictures! I hope your son's business will be a success!

Reply
Martha
10/25/2021 04:46:33 am

It's definitely more than 'just pressing a button', and I wonder if the huge scale of a movie studio would even work with dolls. I know that when I was trying to figure out how to shoot a coronation scene I thought how much easier it would be to just be able to have access to a cathedral interior, instead of having to try fake one myself.

But then there's the extra stress of having to set up dolls in a studio with onlookers.

There's definitely something to be said for going out on location. There's the real scenery and the privacy. But Canada is one HUGE country, and the best scenery is very far away, and being such a 'young' country, we don't have any of the historical settings like they do in Europe. Like castles.

Reply
Resinrapture
10/27/2021 08:17:53 am

Oh, I didn't want to make it sound as if it was an easy task to set something like that up. But going out on location outdoors is probably healthier :).




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    Martha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes.
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