Jurassic Park

The Evolution of Dinosaur VFX: From Jurassic Park to Rebirth and Beyond

Dinosaurs continue to captivate audiences, and the Jurassic franchise remains at the forefront of bringing these prehistoric creatures to life. The latest installment, Jurassic World: Rebirth, starring Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey, demonstrates how far visual effects have come. David Vickery, ILM’s production visual effects supervisor, has been instrumental in this evolution, working on Fallen Kingdom, Dominion, and now Rebirth, alongside directors J.A. Bayona, Colin Trevorrow, and Gareth Edwards.

A Shift in the VFX Workflow: Collaboration is Key

Vickery highlights a significant change in the industry: the integration of VFX teams into the core filmmaking process. Twenty years ago, visual effects were often treated as a separate entity. Now, departments like costume design, special effects, and stunts actively seek guidance from VFX supervisors. This collaborative approach ensures a more seamless and believable final product. For example, costume designers now consider how colors will interact with greenscreens, and special effects teams coordinate practical effects with digital enhancements.

The Rise of Practical Effects – and Knowing When to Use Them

Despite advancements in CGI, practical effects remain vital. Vickery emphasizes the importance of capturing as much as possible in-camera. “I find that most of my job in pre-production now as a supervisor is trying to find ways not to do visual effects,” he notes. This isn’t about dismissing digital tools, but recognizing the unique value of real-world elements that can’t be replicated in post-production – an actor’s performance, the spontaneity of a physical effect.

New Tools and Techniques: From Gaussian Splats to Dynamic Wrinkles

Jurassic World: Rebirth pushed the boundaries of VFX technology. ILM utilized Gaussian splats to create realistic representations of locations, and developed new tools for simulating complex details like the internal anatomy of mutated dinosaurs. This included procedural dynamic wrinkle displacement on skin surfaces, enhancing the creatures’ believability. The film too required a complete overhaul of ILM’s water pipeline to convincingly depict ocean scenes, with a significant portion of the water effects being entirely digital.

Previs: A Director’s Tool for Exploration

Previsualization (previs) plays a crucial role in modern filmmaking, but its application varies depending on the director’s vision. Gareth Edwards used previs as a planning tool, exploring ideas and blocking sequences, rather than adhering to rigid templates. This allowed for greater flexibility on set and ensured the final product reflected Edwards’ creative instincts. In contrast, other directors, like James Cameron on Avatar: The Way of Water, utilized previs to create highly detailed and precise shot blueprints.

The Secret to Believable Dinosaurs: Grounding Them in Reality

What makes dinosaurs so compelling as cinematic creatures? Vickery believes it’s their basis in reality. Unlike mythical creatures like dragons, dinosaurs once existed, making it easier for audiences to suspend disbelief. To further enhance realism, the team focused on basing dinosaur movements on real-world animals. Edwards insisted on naturalistic performances, avoiding overly stylized or artificial motions. This involved providing actors with physical stand-ins, like a life-size replica of a small dinosaur, to interact with on set.

Assisting Live-Action Performances with Digital Stand-Ins

Creating a believable interaction between actors and non-existent creatures requires careful planning. Animatronics and physical props are still used to give actors something tangible to react to. Even if these elements are later replaced digitally, they provide a foundation for a more authentic performance. For example, a young actress in Jurassic World: Rebirth interacted with a replica of a dinosaur, allowing her to deliver a more natural and convincing performance.

The Future of VFX: Blurring the Lines Between Real and Digital

The evolution of VFX is leading to a future where the line between practical and digital effects becomes increasingly blurred. Advancements in technology, combined with a more collaborative approach to filmmaking, will enable creators to achieve even greater levels of realism and immersion. The focus will likely shift towards enhancing and augmenting reality, rather than simply creating it from scratch.

FAQ

Q: What is the role of a visual effects supervisor?
A: A visual effects supervisor oversees all visual effects aspects of a film, from pre-production planning to final delivery, ensuring the creative vision is realized technically.

Q: How important are practical effects in modern filmmaking?
A: Practical effects remain crucial for providing actors with something tangible to interact with and for capturing realistic elements that are difficult to replicate digitally.

Q: What is previs and how is it used?
A: Previsualization (previs) is the process of creating rough 3D animations of scenes to plan shots and sequences. It can be used for detailed storyboarding or as a flexible tool for exploration, depending on the director’s preference.

Q: What makes dinosaurs so appealing as cinematic creatures?
A: Dinosaurs’ appeal stems from their historical existence, allowing audiences to more easily suspend disbelief and connect with them.

Did you know? ILM rewrote its entire water pipeline for Jurassic World: Rebirth to create realistic ocean simulations, with 10% of shots featuring the Essex boat containing no real water at all.

Pro Tip: Collaboration between VFX teams and other departments is essential for creating seamless and believable visual effects.

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