ViZARTS Encounters VI: "Real or UnreAI?" - Generative AI elements in a Virtual Production pipeline.

What happens when a crew of Filmmakers and Techies joins forces and utilize AI for generating Set Extensions, inserts and cutaway scenes in a Virtual Production workflow?

The sequences in "Real or UnreAI?" are the results of the efforts of a crew of filmmakers and techies, who joined forces and worked intensively during three days at our ViZARTS AI & Virtual Production for Filmmakers Workshop at Aalborg University's VP Training Facility Studio at the Medialogy education (Copenhagen. Denmark, November 2025).

The theme was "Pushing the Limits!", so the challenge for each of the two crews was to explore how generative AI could assist them in producing AI generated cutaway scenes, inserts and "Final Pixels in Camera" exterior and interior backgrounds (Approx. 1.5 hours shooting time for each location).
The participants also learned how any location - real or imaginary - now can be re-created or generated using an AI prompt (or a real photo).
The crews first used text prompts to create 2D location images generated with the help from Midjourney, which could then be used as a Set Extensions behind the actors (e.g. in an elevator).
The crews could then use these locations for creating AI generated inserts and cut-away scenes as well.

The participants in this workshop also worked to achieve Final Pixels In-Camera by creating physical- and in-camera effects ( ICVFX ) with no greenscreen, using a simple rear-projection screen, Unreal Engine and Vive camera tracking.

Interested in future ViZARTS events?
Sign up here:
https://vizarts.aau.dk

Stay tuned here:
  / vizartsaau  
and here:
  / 2210900529186884  

------------
Credits:

ViZARTS presents: Real or UnreAI?

Team 1: The Magical Elevator & The Apartment in Space
Ida Kat Balslev - Director Team
Lars Krogh Bjerresgaard Kyed - Director Team
Thomas Scavenius - Cinematography Team
Lasse Ulvedal Tolbøl - Cinematography Team
Emil Gensby - AI Cinematography Team
Frida Kjær Østergaard - Production Design
Thomas Scavenius - Editor

Team 2: The Underwater Bar & The Magic Forest with the Red Chairs
Tue Walin Storm - Director
Sturla Brandth Grøvlen - Cinematography Team
Sospeter Nganga - Cinematography Team
Christian Bechmann - AI + Cinematography Team
Thomas Karottki - AI Cinematography Team
Susanne Christiansen - Production Design
Christian Junget Madsen - 1st AD/ Editor

Acting:
Alexandra Ternstrøm
Thomas Karottki
Emil Gensby
Christian Junget Madsen

Team Support (Idea Phase):
Yassine Anthonisen
Lars Reinholdt Siem

The ViZARTS Crew:
Aishah Hussain - Producer/ Showrunner / ViZARTS manager
Mathias Ramsø Thomsen - Technical Lead (Unreal Brainbar / Space Command)
Mikkel Kappel Persson - Unreal Brainbar / Space Command / Cinematography Team
Johannes Farmer Knudsen - Unreal Brainbar / Space Command
Felix Jordan Hasal - Visual Art Department
Abderrahman Mhadden - Technical Support
Ani Kreyer - BTS cinematographer and editor
Henrik Schønau Fog - ViZARTS Founder / Executive producer

AI tools used:
Midjourney - For generating 2D locations based on prompts
Freepik AI Suite- For generating establishing shots and inserts

Music and Sound Effects:
Upright Music ( https://www.upright-music.com/ )
Last Orbit - Deca - Federico De Caroli
Chain Reaction - Giles Robert Lamb


Special Thanks to:
Storyline Rentals: Arri Alexa Gear
Upright Music: Music and Sound Effects
Samsung: Monitors, Tablets and Smartphones

Aalborg University, Copenhagen Campus:
Stig Møllenberg
Kadir Ates
Colleagues, Students and Staff at Medialogy / CREATE

ViZARTS is supported by:
Nordisk Film Fonden
Aalborg University, Medialogy
Amunet
Storyline
Upright Music
SAMSUNG / Samsung Media Innovation Lab for Education (SMILE Lab)

-----
#unrealengine #unreal #Nordiskfilm #samsung #aalborguniversity #medialogy #medialogi #ai #generativeai