Evergreen — Directable Motion-Capture MetaHumans for in-camera VFX

Set on a forested riverbed, four characters embark on a hike. Two physical actors in costume perform on an LED volume, alongside two MetaHuman characters that can be seen in the midground.

Learn how we brought project Evergreen to life in this behind-the-scenes video showcase, featuring Dimension’s Callum Macmillan (CTO) and James Dinsdale (Virtual Production Supervisor), alongside award-winning Director of Photography Dave Penn.

The data from Project Evergreen’s two mocap actors drive the project’s MetaHuman characters from a performance capture stage featuring Vicon cameras. This motion capture data is translated onto the characters playing out their parts which can be seen on a neighbouring LED stage against which two live action actors are performing.

The demo highlights a new way of using directable mid-ground MetaHuman characters, puppeteered in realtime. It allows for more dynamic interactions, such as characters helping each other traverse rocks, adding authenticity to the scene.

See the in-camera edit below to watch the positive impact of the LED volume on the actors with realistic lighting and interaction with the MetaHuman characters.