This week introduced several Unreal Engine virtual production tools. The session focused on how mobile devices can be used to interact with Unreal Engine in real time, allowing cameras and performances to be controlled from outside the software.
The practical exercise involved setting up Unreal VCam on our phones and connecting it to Unreal Engine. Although we encountered several technical difficulties during the setup process, we eventually managed to get everything working. Once connected, it was interesting to see how a phone could be used as a virtual camera within a 3D environment. The experience gave me a better understanding of how virtual production workflows operate and how real-time tools can be integrated into animation projects.
Outside of the workshop, I decided to pursue Brief 2 for the end-of-term project. While both briefs were interesting, Brief 2 felt more open-ended and offered greater freedom to experiment with different technologies and creative approaches. I had also become increasingly interested in TouchDesigner after attending separate workshops on the software, and I felt this project would provide a good opportunity to explore it further. Fortunately, two of the group members I had worked with during the Collaborative Unit were interested in a similar direction, so we decided to form a team again. Having had such a positive experience working together previously, I felt confident that collaborating would allow us to be more ambitious with our ideas and experimentation.