454 - Xavier Bernasconi - VFX Supervisor for Masters of The Air

The Allan McKay Podcast

In this episode, Allan McKay sits down with Xavier Bernasconi, VFX Supervisor at DNEG, to dive deep into the world of virtual production.

They discuss Xavier's fascinating career journey, his recent work on the highly anticipated Masters of the Air, and the decision to utilize virtual production for the project. Xavier shares insights into the current state of virtual production technology, its challenges and limitations, and the exciting future potential as the tech continues to evolve.

The conversation also covers the impacts of virtual production on actor performances and the shifts in collaboration it brings to VFX workflows. This is a must-listen for anyone curious about the cutting-edge of filmmaking innovation.

Table of Contents

Introduction (00:00:00)

• Introducing Xavier Bernasconi (00:00:03)

Xavier's Background and Journey (00:00:46)

• From Proskier to Visual Effects (00:00:46)
• Developing Compositing Software (00:02:05)
• Becoming a VFX Supervisor (00:03:40)

Masters of the Air Project (00:04:17)

• Overview and Initial Thoughts (00:04:25)
• Complexity and Challenges (00:05:27)

Virtual Production Decision (00:05:46)

• Logistical and Creative Reasons (00:06:11)
• Comparison to Traditional Green Screen (00:06:57)

Challenges and Limitations of Virtual Production (00:09:18)

• Technological Advancements and Limitations (00:09:55)
• Limitations with Unreal Engine (00:12:03)

Preparation and Pressure on Set (00:13:35)

• Workflow and Collaboration (00:14:09)
• Pressure on VFX Team (00:16:48)

Current State and Future of Virtual Production (00:22:02)

• Infancy and Potential for Growth (00:22:09)
• Advantages and Limitations (00:22:36)

Virtual Production and Final Pixel (00:26:59)

• Misconceptions and Post-Production Work (00:27:33)
• Developing an End-to-End Pipeline (00:28:29)

Virtual Production in Episodic vs. Feature Films (00:31:48)

• Prevalence in Episodic Content (00:31:53)
• Blurring Lines Between Episodic and Feature Budgets (00:33:30)

Proprietary vs. Out-of-the-Box Tools (00:34:53)

• Use of Unreal Engine and Cost of Setup (00:35:43)

Virtual Production for Previs and Pitching (00:36:27)

• Quick and Cheap Iteration (00:37:10)
• Benefits for Certain Types of Directors (00:38:14)

Collaboration in Virtual Production vs. Traditional Post (00:38:36)

• Real-Time Collaboration and Creativity (00:39:15)
• Challenges of Remote Work (00:39:21)

Actor Reactions to Virtual Production (00:42:48)

• Immersion and Performance Benefits (00:43:31)

Conclusion (00:44:41)

• Appreciation and Wrap-Up (00:44:41)

Memorable Quotes

"I love telling stories. I felt that I was drawn more to the end of the pipeline, more to the beginning of the pipeline, so I was more drawn into lighting and compositing."

Virtual production was the most logical choice for Masters of the Air due to logistical, budgetary and creative reasons.

Virtual production is still in its infancy with lots of room for technological development. Extraction of foreground elements from LED screens is an important area of research.

Virtual production fosters real-time collaboration and creativity compared to traditional segmented workflows. However, on-set experience and mentorship is still crucial.

Actors appreciate virtual production as it helps their performances by providing interactive environments rather than pure green screen.

Xavier Bernasconi Bio

Xavier Bernasconi is a VFX Supervisor at DNEG. Originally from Italy, he now lives in Canada. His recent projects include Masters of the Air, Mad Max Furiosa and Godzilla x Kong.