StageCraft: The Mandalorian’s Filmmaking Revolution

Filming of The Mandalorian using StageCraft.
Credits: ILM, Disney, Star Wars

In a galaxy not so far away, The Mandalorian, the first ever live-action Star Wars series on Disney+ has won tons of compliments for its groundbreaking visuals and the StageCraft technology behind it. The show has set a new standard for filmmaking with its unique and effective production style. In this blog post, we will explore and have a deep dive into the tech developed by the folks at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Lucasfilm, and Disney, StageCraft, and how it became the role model for filmmaking in both realistic and productive ways. 

 

What’s exactly SatgeCraft 

One of the main reasons behind the success of The Mandalorian is the innovative production method that Disney came up with called StageCraft. They’ve made a real effort to create this groundbreaking technology using the latest advancements. In the past, filmmakers used green screens and post-production tricks to make Sci-Fi scenery. In StageCraft, with the help of huge LED walls that act as real time changing backgrounds scenes that cover the whole stage and move according to the camera moves with the help of a game engine. The result?, A seamless combination of live-action actors and dynamic sets, resulting in a higher degree of realism that has never been seen before.

This immersive technology that the production team adopted saved a lot of resources and time to produce the series. This real time environment with StageCraft not only improved the actors’ skills but also the postproduction adjustments which could go into the content. 

Watch Industrial Light & Magic’s exclusive behind-the-scenes video on the virtual production of The Mandalorian, Season One, below!

A Galaxy of Possibilities for StageCraft

As Mandalorian set a milestone in what’s possible with virtual production in entertainment. It redefined virtual production, shaping the future of filmmaking. Virtual production and LED wall technology makes an indelible mark on the industry, from smaller productions to blockbuster films. By creating immersive and realistic environment sets, filmmakers get a much higher level of visual fidelity and flexible creative freedom. The use of game engines like Unreal to render real-time dynamic changes and adjustments to sets. Filmmakers can explore different possibilities and scenarios without compromising the final product’s quality. Moreover, virtual production can reduce the environmental footprint and logistical challenges of traditional filmmaking. As they eliminate the need for location scouting, post-production adjustments, travel etc. As these technologies become more affordable and accessible, it will open up new possibilities for filmmakers of all scales and genres. Audiences can enjoy a more immersive and engaging cinematic experience.

StageCraft in action
The moment everybody realized this was going to work!, Credits: ILM, Disney.

Conclusion 

StageCraft is a package of technologies that create photorealistic virtual environments in real time. It helps the filmmakers to create immersive cinematic experiences for all. This game-changing innovation that paved the way to the creation of extra ordinary visuals in cinematic universe with much less effort than traditional methods. It inspired filmmakers to reimagine scene creation and hone their skills in various ways. However, it also has some challenges that require a lot of cost, availability, compatibility, and adaptation. Nonetheless the possibilities StageCraft brings to the table are much more than its shortcomings. Ultimately, StageCraft is a technology that showcases the vision and the ambition of the creators of The Mandalorian. One that inspired and influenced the future of filmmaking. I believe that the technological legacy it left behind will continue to resonate throughout the galaxy of entertainment for years to come.   

May the force be with you.

Akira Kurosawa: A Filmmaker Extraordinaire, The Master of Movement

Akira Kurosawa Directing

What is the distinction between good filmmakers and great ones? Is it their artistic voice and expression or is it simply their unique perspective and experience? There might not be any straightforward answers. But one thing common with the great filmmakers is that they don’t seek external validation from audiences and critics alike. It is their intimate and personal expression that they pursue, that could be lucid in nature, yet profound and universal in context.

“Man is a genius when he dreams. Dream what you are capable of. The harder you dream it, the sooner it will come true.”

A quote by the legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa who did not just create incredible masterpieces. But inspired the generations of film directors and artists.

Akira Kurosawa, Francis Ford Coppola. George Lucas, Kagemusha
Akira Kurosawa, Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas during the filming of Kagemusha

Every Frame A Painting

Each Kurosawa film is a masterclass in itself and moves like no one else’s. Each one showcases the different types of motion and the ways to combine them. An educational breakdown of his films by Tony Zhou described the use of four types of movements Kurosawa uses in his films that is ‘The Nature’, ‘The Group’, ‘The Individual’ and ‘The Camera’ to provide meaning to the narrative. Using movement to cut to the next frame allows his scenes to flow smoothly. Then changes the rhythm to end the scene from going into static and back straight to movement again. This technique keeps the audience engaged as the outcome is always unpredictable. Acclaimed filmmaker Sidney Lumet once admirably said:

“For me, Kurosawa is the Beethoven of movie directors, it’s that recognizable full sound that Beethoven had, that is so unmistakable”

The Rashomon effect

A concept made famous by the writing style of the 1960's film Rashomon

Rashomon Effect
What is The Rashomon Effect — Definition, Examples in Film

This term is derived from the 1950’s period psychological drama film ‘Rashomon’ which is considered one of the greatest movies ever made. It is the first Japanese film to receive momentous international recognition. The term is described as a situation in which an event is described with contradictory narrative and interpretation by the individual characters involved. This is a method of writing in cinema where different perspectives and points of view are formed for the same event or incident. Films like Vantage point (2008), The Usual Suspects (1995), Gone Girl (2014) were greatly influenced by this method of writing in their storytelling.       

Influence of Kurosawa on artists and their work

Akira Kurosawa inspired many great directors and tons of his influence can be seen in their popular movies. George Lucas’ original Star Wars (1977) has the samurai elements inspired by The Hidden Fortress.

Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai had some spectacular rainy action sequences which blended the movement and the atmosphere to create powerful and compelling set-pieces. This technique is very effective in bringing the emotions out of the motions of the characters in the frame. The directors of films such as Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, Blade Runner, Pirates of the Caribbean acknowledged this. Also, used the rain to build up the tension in their film’s action sequences.

The Seven Samurai formula of assembling up to save the townspeople from the bandit’s attack is very popular. This can be seen in countless movies throughout the history of world cinema. Some of these blockbusters such as The Expendables, The Avengers, Saving Private Ryan, Sholay, etc. used the same formula for their success.

In closure, I would say that it is in a law of nature that once in a while we get introduced to an extraordinary personality. They not only influence the generations to come but also leaves a legacy to inspire, innovate and discover. Making a positive impact in the lives of others. Akira Kurosawa was one of those individuals.

At last, I'll leave you with a video by Tony Zhou, breaking down a scene of "The Bad Sleep Well", a 1960 film by Akira Kurosawa. Enjoy!