Rick Pearce
An actor in close-up under studio light

Case 05 / 07 · Real-Time & Virtual Production · 2016–2022

Spectre:Real-Time VP

Role
Co-founder / Technical Director
Years
2016–2022
Company
Spectre Studios, co-founded with Mark Grentell
Outcome
Acquired by Virtually Human Studio, 2022

Spectre was built on a production thesis: that Unreal Engine, virtual reality, capture and virtual cameras would change how films and experiences are planned and made.

The studio worked across previs and stunt visualisation, photogrammetry, digital doubles, performance capture, real-time animation and LED-volume production.

My contribution

Co-founder and Technical Director. I led the studio's creative and technical direction as it built new production methods.

  1. 01Developed an early real-time virtual-production and stunt-visualisation workflow for high-end feature production, including work connected with X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
  2. 02Built R&D across photogrammetry, scanned locations, digital doubles, performance capture, real-time character control and previs tools.
  3. 03As Technical Director, helped develop and demonstrate the partnership with Agenda Studio, NEP and Big Picture that launched Australia's first full-service LED virtual-production solution in 2020.
  4. 04Completed Epic Games' Unreal Fellowship in Virtual Production in 2021.

Approach

Real time moves creative decisions earlier. Camera, light, environment, performance and edit rhythm can be explored together, ahead of long render and post cycles.

Method

Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Capture
Motion and facial capture, virtual cameras
Reconstruction
Photogrammetry and scanned locations
Stage
LED volume and in-camera VFX

LED volume work

Cinematography and lighting.
A woman in a fur-trimmed hood under studio light
A fighter's face in close-up
Two actors in an office set
A boxer shadowboxing in a gym, in black and white

Team work

Selected work produced by teams I founded or led, at Spectre Studios and Fenix Studios.

  • Furiosa: A Mad Max SagaDigital doubles and stunt previs in Unreal, with PROXI StudiosWatch ↗
  • Triple FrontierA town rebuilt in UE4 for stunt visualisation and action planningWatch ↗
  • ElvisUnreal environments for the VFX teamWatch ↗
  • La Brea, seasons 1 and 2Virtual art department environments for an LED volumeWatch ↗
  • Beau Is AfraidVirtual-production environments, with MELS StudiosWatch ↗
  • Tales of AlunaToon-style Unreal environments and background rendering toolsWatch ↗
  • Lah-Lah's Stripy Sock ClubUnreal environments with live compositingWatch ↗
  • Lexus, “Effortless in Every Way”Virtual-production TVC and stills campaignView ↗
  • Ford Bronco Sport launchReal-time broadcast launch with virtual vehiclesWatch ↗
  • Volkswagen ID. Buzz launchVirtual-production environmentsWatch ↗
  • Masked Wolf, “Astronaut in the Ocean”Virtual environments and on-set directionView ↗
  • ZED RUN21 shots across five virtual locations on an LED volume in one dayWatch ↗
  • Nekrotronic VR and Wyrmwood VRVR experiences and production visualisation

Credits

Co-founder / Technical Director
Rick Pearce
Co-founder
Mark Grentell