The challenges that are faced by the film industry should not be underestimated. Film studios, locations, and sets are all spaces filled with people and frenetic activity. The movie crew and performers tend to work close and frequently in close physical contact. Think of make-up, hair and costume departments, and all the equipment that is routinely handled and passed between crew members. But this COVID – 19 made the entire industry to shut down because of its impact on people when they contact. Social distancing has become one of the major solutions to avoid getting affected by COVID – 19. But, is it possible for the media industry to survive without physical contact? 

Yes. Since digital technologies were introduced into film production, one of their primary benefits was to make economic savings such as reducing the expenses for international travel. For example, “automatic dialogue replacement” is one of the final post-production processes in which the actors can record dialogue remotely in one studio and then can be dubbed over the live-action footage in another.

Such virtual post-production solutions are to be integrated into all aspects of production, from the initial scripting stages.

Pre-viz or the pre-visualization is a process that has already radically altered the traditional film production cycle that has been in place since the birth of cinema. It means that post-production processes start at the very beginning of the creative cycle as opposed to being at the end and some films can now be made entirely in pre-visualized virtual environments.

Since these are the times of quarantine and social distancing, the lead couple can’t romance, the female actor can’t marry the hero in an elaborate wedding sequence nor can he beat up 20 goons at once. The guidelines suggested by the government to resume shoots have made this clear. So, what’s the way forward? In one word, VFX or special effects.

Visual effects (VFX) studios expedite the creation of fantastic backdrops in all kinds of films, epics, fantasy, or action movies. The trend of using the services of VFX studios is increasing rapidly, and the restrictions on film shooting constrained by the COVID-19 pandemic has only increased producers’ reliance on these aids. As a result, VFX studios are mining money.

A rising number of dream merchants have been hunting the support of VFX to create breath-taking backdrops and lavish sets. The new shooting guidelines issued by the Government in the context of the pandemic have added that films have to be shot with junior artistes and dancers in masks. This means VFX studios will pocket more money to remove the masks digitally.

Experts and filmmakers say that VFX or special effects will be used more frequently in the Covid-19 phase to complete film shoot quicker, and even to put together the new projects and scenes and shots involving crowds, action or even intimate scenes.

And one might not have even realized, but in the past few years, this technology has come in handy for almost every small or big film, TV or web show. And now, with the ‘new normal’ in place, it will be used more frequently.

The need to comply with social distancing and maintain minimal human contact, visual effects will come to the fore. For the past few years, VFX companies have been helping greatly to keep people safe. Some of the evident examples include the crowd being digitized. During the current scenario, doing this is so practical as it eliminates the need for any additional costumes, make-up, and props, all of which involve human contact. Correspondingly, scenes like physical explosions that require safety protocols and the extra crowd can also be shot separately in a more controlled environment. Apart from movies being produced, the industry is also putting in place practices that will allow social distancing.

This makes clear that the film industry in the upcoming days will seek the help of VFX and the COVID – 19 turned to be positive in the VFX industry.