The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: StageCraft VIEWING GUIDE DISCUSSION ACTIVITIES » VFX GLOSSARY » LEARNING QUESTIONS » STANDARDS » Industrial Light & Magic, industry leaders multimedia presentation that demonstrates presentation in the world of visual effects, have done it the intersection of art, science, and again by creating a start-to-finish virtual technology in the entertainment industry, all production solution called ILM StageCraft. while making connections to current STEAM The groundbreaking technology provides a curriculum topics. Attendees will be able to overview continuous pipeline from initial exploration, send in questions for our guests during the scouting, and art direction, traditional and Q&A portion of the program via the website. technical previsualization, lighting, and of course, real-time production filming This study guide is intended to complement itself, with the innovative StageCraft LED The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: StageCraft volumes. Utilizing their own career path presentation, but feel free to adapt and stories and current examples of work on The abridge the content as necessary to Mandalorian, experienced professionals from meet your unique learning objectives and ILM’s Virtual Production Team will share their circumstances. expertise in a behind-the-scenes, interactive Recommended Grades 6-12 Content written by Maddy Leonard. Designed by Paola Rojas, Amy Matthews, and Maddy Leonard. All SFFILM Education materials are developed in alignment with California educational standards for media literacy. SFFILM Education welcomes feedback and questions on all printed study materials. More info at sffilm.org/education PRESENTATION OVERVIEW » PRESENTER BIOS » DISCUSSION QUESTIONS » ACTIVITIES » The Mandalorian made its world debut with the release of Disney+ in November of 2019. about As the first ever Star Wars live action series, The Mandalorian opened a new realm of The Mandalorian was written and executive storytelling in the Star Wars galaxy. Set produced by Emmy-nominated producer the between the fall of the Empire and the rise of and actor Jon Favreau. Lucasfilm veteran the First Order, a lone mysterious gunfighter Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star plies his trade deep in the galaxy’s outer Wars Rebels) directed the series premiere. reaches far from the activity of the New Additional episodic directors include Deborah series Republic. Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), With a starring cast including Pedro Pascal, and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok). Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Carl Weathers, Omid Abtahi, and Werner Herzog, the unprecedented series subject Arts/Media English Language Arts Career Path Training STEAM areas Computer Science Peer/Youth Issues More info at sffilm.org/education ABOUT THE SERIES » DISCUSSION QUESTIONS » ACTIVITES » ESSAY CONTEST » presenter bios Ian Milham joined Industrial Light & Magic in Ciku Karanja is a technology project Eoghan Cunneen is a Virtual Production 2018 as a Virtual Production Supervisor, after a manager for Lucasfilm’s virtual production Computer Graphics Supervisor and Content teams. For the past eight years, she 24 year career in real time computer graphics. He Pipeline Engineering Manager at Lucasfilm’s has worked with filmmakers, actors, leads the on stage team of artists operating the Advanced Development Group, a research creatives, and engineers across the Bay Stagecraft system in its first major deployment and development group within Lucasfilm that Area. She has a Master’s in media history, on Season One of The Mandalorian. Ian got his focuses on real-time computer graphics that enjoys exploring narrative as it relates start as an environment artist in video games, drive ILM’s virtual production and ILMxLAB’s to audience, society, and power, and is becoming an Art Director and Creative Director on intrigued by cinematic innovations as immersive experiences. He focuses on software several titles. He was nominated for Best Real- definitive and disruptive milestones in our development and infrastructure to optimize the Time visuals by the Visual Effects Society and a future histories. production process. BAFTA for Outstanding Visual Achievement for Dead Space. More info at sffilm.org/education PRESENTER BIOS » ACTIVITIES » ESSAY CONTEST» VFX GLOSSARY » discussion questions John Favreau’s innovative approach to The Mandalorian Did you enjoy this presentation? What How do you think the Unreal Engine drove the advancement of ILM were your favorite moments? and LED Screen technology can StageCraft to great success. An change the film industry? What end-to-end virtual production Before this presentation, did you know are your predictions on how these solution, ILM StageCraft is what goes into making a heavily VFX technologies will be used in the future? a methodology that allows focused show like The Mandalorian? filmmakers unparalleled What did you learn about The Unreal Engine technology was created creative control and Mandalorian’s VFX process that you by Epic Games — an American video did not know before? game and software developer and collaboration during prep and publisher — to be used in its video shoot, which is a game-changer If you previously watched The games. Now that the technology on a huge visual effects driven Mandalorian before this presentation, is being used to improve VFX in series like The Mandalorian. did you know it was shot with new filmmaking, do you see a future where Instead of the traditional green LED screen technology instead of video games and film become more screen and post visual effects traditional green screens? Do you think intertwined? Why or why not? What do paradigm, ILM StageCraft the show would have looked different if you think that future will look like? it was shot using mostly green screen enables principle photography technology? What do you think would Are you interested in working on VFX in on photo-real, virtual sets have been different? films? Why? that rendered in real-time and indistinguishable from Do some research on other new VFX What new skills and competencies will their physical counterparts. technologies that Lucasfilm has used filmmakers of the future need that are This provides an immersive in its productions over the course of different from what they needed in the experience for actors and its existence. What other technologies past? did Lucasfilm and its partners help filmmakers, seamless popularize? How do those past Compare the skills and experiences of interactive light on the physical technologies compare to current day the presenters from their bios. What elements on set, and literally VFX technology? patterns do you see in their career thousands of in-camera VFX paths? What surprised you? What finals. It’s had a profoundly Why do you think it’s important for VFX questions do you have for them? positive impact on every aspect artists to continuously be trying new of our production.” things and exploring new technology? How did the presenters explain how STEAM plays into their jobs? What kind Compare and contrast the Unreal of math and science training would you - Janet Lewin, Co-Producer, The Engine and LED Screen technology need to prepare for work in this field? Mandalorian with Green Screen technology. What are the pros and cons to each kind of technology? More info at sffilm.org/education DISCUSSION QUESTIONS » ESSAY CONTEST » VFX GLOSSARY » LUCASFILM OVERVIEW » VFX Storyboarding (from a computer, laptop, or TV). Create a miniature character or several characters, activities Watch this short video titled “Intro to and find a video or photo that you want Storyboarding”. Pay attention to the to use as your set background. Pull that explanation of how storyboarding has photo or video up on your monitor, and changed as VFX have evolved over time. set up your characters in front of it. Take How do you think the Unreal Engine and your recording device and create a shot LED Screen Technology will change how where the character seamlessly blends in filmmakers plan their storytelling? with your digital background. Play around with the lighting from the monitor and the Green Screen Technology lighting in your environment and make Try out green screen technology for your own scene with your character(s). yourself! Green Screen by Do Ink is a cheap, easy, beginner app for testing out a Unreal Engine green screen. Did you know Unreal Engine is free to use? If you are interested in VFX design or video LED Screen Technology game design you can give it a try here. Try to re-create the new LED screen There are even free tutorials created by technology used in the Mandalorian. Epic Games that can help you learn to use You can create a mini version of this the platform. technology using a recording device (a camera or smartphone) and a monitor additional Unreal Engine The Virtual Production of The resources Mandalorian, Season One Why ‘The Mandalorian’ Uses Virtual Sets Over Green Screen Understanding ‘The Volume,’ The Technology That’s Changing VFX Production More info at sffilm.org/education ACTIVITIES » VFX GLOSSARY » LUCASFILM OVERVIEW » LEARNING STANDARDS » This contest is made possible by the generous world of your own. Introduce us to your story nellie support of the Nellie Wong Magic of Movies world and then explain how you would bring Education Fund, endowed by Tim Kochis and your world to life on screen using new VFX SFFILM board member Penelope Wong to honor technology. If you had an unlimited budget, the memory of her mother, Nellie Wong (1917- would you use LED Screen Technology, wong 2007), who was an avid film-goer and cinephile. Unreal Engine, Green Screens, or something Developed to support the year-round outreach completely different? efforts of SFFILM Education, the Fund aims to 4. Watch an episode of The Mandalorian cultivate students’ imaginations, enhance their through the lens of a film critic. Think back to magic of critical thinking and creative writing skills and what you learned about the technical process instill a greater appreciation for the magic of that went into creating the series.