Aussie film uses projection for ray tracing in industry first

An Australian film production has replicated a real-time ray tracing system, using ultra short throw projectors and ambient light rejecting screens.

Ray tracing improves VFX realism by copying the way light reflects and refracts in the real world.

The first-of-a-kind system was used by filmmaker Matt Drummond in the Don’t Go Below feature film which was also shot in its entirety with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and Pocket Cinema Camera 6K digital film cameras.

Don’t Go Below tells the story of a 12-year-old boy and his sister and their adventures in an underground kingdom of pangolins.

To control light spill for the real-time ray tracing system, Drummond shot at a higher ISO, which allowed him to reduce light output and still get beautiful shots. And the real-time projection system gave the lead actors more direction for interacting with other characters.

“Being able to use this real-time projection system had major benefits for the film. It helped inform my decisions on set and helped my young cast imagine where they were. The interplay of the camera and the projection gave the CGI a really organic feel which looks great,” he said.

Drummond, who has worked in VFX for 25 years, also used Fusion Studio visual effects (VFX) and motion graphics software and DaVinci Resolve Studio editing, colour grading, VFX and audio post-production software to complete the film. As a result, he estimates he was able to save 300 days in post production.

Don’t Go Below will be released globally in January 2023.

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