Enhancing Data Compatibility, Aggregation, and Validation in Virtual Production Workflows

Project partners: Cardiff University, Painting Practice

XR Network+ has successfully facilitated a collaboration between Cardiff University and visual storytellers for film and TV, Painting Practice. The project developed a data management approach to facilitate seamless exchange between Virtual Production (VP) pipeline stages and accommodate the requirements of physical shooting tailored to VP workflows.

VP pipelines involve multiple software components such as game engines, motion capture systems, and visual effects (VFX) tools. The complex nature of the pipelines often leads to data compatibility and management challenges. 

The team working on this project delivered a practical software tool designed to streamline VP workflows and enhance collaboration across teams working in Unreal Engine. One of the key achievements was the development of a user-friendly graphical interface (GUI) that allows users to explore the contents of an Unreal Engine project without opening the project file itself. This enables team members to access vital information quickly and intuitively, even if they are unfamiliar with the Unreal Engine interface.

Another major success was the integration of data with a MySQL database, creating a shared central repository accessible by users. This step supports more efficient project communication and aligns with real-world needs identified by the industry partner, Painting Practice.

In addition to the original objectives, the project also developed a 3D object categorisation feature to improve the ability to access and discover assets within the graphical user interface, allowing users to search by categories like ‘vehicle,’ ‘architecture,’ ‘prop,’ and ‘actor’. This aspect was developed in direct response to industry needs and real-world use cases. 

The resulting open-source GUI, now available on GitHub, has the potential to benefit other studios and researchers alike.

This collaboration is one of seven projects supported by the Embedded R&D (round two) funding call, with grants of up to £60,000 awarded to researchers at UK universities to explore the transfer of knowledge between academia and industry in areas aligned with Virtual Production. The projects took place over a six month period, commencing from September 2024.

Categories: Film, Research, Technology, TV