Discover how award-winning director Cesar Turturro leverages timecode in iClone and Unreal Engine to seamlessly blend live-action footage with digital worlds, creating an innovative and efficient hybrid filmmaking pipeline.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital storytelling, filmmakers constantly seek innovative ways to bridge the gap between live action and virtual production. One visionary director, Cesar Turturro, a recipient of the 2022 Epic MegaGrant, stands out for his pioneering approach to integrating real-world performances with digital environments. His latest project, “Nick 2040,” and its subsequent series, including the short film “Checkpoint,” exemplify how precise synchronization can revolutionize the creative process.
Turturro’s workflow is a masterclass in efficiency and precision, centered around the strategic use of timecode to unite various software platforms. He seamlessly synchronizes performances across iClone, DaVinci Resolve, Axis Studio, and Unreal Engine, creating a cohesive production pipeline that empowers filmmakers to achieve truly cinematic results. For those looking to elevate their own projects, understanding his methods offers invaluable insights into modern virtual production.
The Core Challenge: Blending Real and Virtual Worlds
Turturro’s film “Checkpoint” tells a compelling story that alternates between a real-world character and a virtual reality video game. This narrative structure demanded a workflow that could flawlessly blend live-action footage with animated sequences. The main hurdle was maintaining perfect synchronization, a challenge he tackled head-on by designing a technical workflow based entirely on timecode.
The director begins his process by generating character voices using AI through Eleven Labs. These voices are then imported into DaVinci Resolve, where he constructs the master timeline with its embedded timecode. This initial step establishes the project’s temporal backbone, ensuring every subsequent action aligns perfectly.
Synchronized Motion Capture and iClone Integration
With the master timeline in place, Turturro moves to motion capture using Axis Studio. He performs the actions for both characters himself, viewing the short film video with its established timecode on his screen. This method guarantees that every gesture precisely matches the dialogue in real-time, eliminating the need for tedious post-synchronization fixes.
Next, the motion capture data finds its way into iClone, Reallusion’s powerful real-time 3D animation software. iClone is renowned for simplifying complex 3D animation, blending character animation, scene design, and cinematic storytelling in a user-friendly environment. Here, the director loads the characters, animations, and the reference video, all aligned using the same timecode from DaVinci Resolve. Thanks to the iClone Timecode plugin, he achieves frame-accurate synchronization, allowing for seamless export of FBX files with embedded timecode to Unreal Engine.
Virtual Filming and Environment Accuracy in Unreal Engine
In Unreal Engine (Sequencer), Turturro imports the FBX animations and original audio tracks, generates lip-sync, and embarks on the virtual cinematography process. He utilizes his phone as a virtual camera controller, granting him the freedom to operate shots with a handheld style, which produces a natural, cinematic look akin to live-action camerawork.
To further enhance the connection between the real and virtual worlds, the director employs RealityCapture to scan the actual church where the story unfolds in Bahía Blanca, Argentina. Recreating the church’s architecture exactly as it is in Unreal Engine is crucial for maintaining visual and structural consistency between the live-action and video game segments of the narrative.
The Iterative Advantage and Conclusion
The entire production cycle culminates back in DaVinci Resolve, where the live-action and animated sequences are unified. A significant benefit of this pipeline is its iterative flexibility. If an animation requires correction, Turturro simply adjusts it in iClone, re-exports it with timecode, and it automatically aligns in Resolve without any manual re-synchronization. This streamlined process saves invaluable time and effort, making complex hybrid productions more manageable.
This comprehensive workflow—integrating DaVinci Resolve, Axis Studio, iClone, Unreal Engine, Blender, and RealityCapture—underscores the critical role of timecode as the central backbone for modern hybrid productions. It not only ensures synchronization accuracy but also facilitates a smooth, iterative creative process. For directors, animators, and technical artists, tools like Reallusion’s Character Creator and iClone, when combined with Unreal Engine, offer an ideal ecosystem that is flexible, efficient, and perfectly suited for projects where the real and the virtual must coexist seamlessly.
Ready to explore this powerful workflow yourself? You can try iClone 8 with a 30-day free trial. For more information on timecode and its applications, visit Reallusion’s Timecode page. To delve deeper into creating realistic virtual environments, explore our resources on Unreal Engine Environment & World Building. Additionally, discover more about bringing your digital characters to life by checking out our section on Unreal Engine Characters & Animation.
Sources:
3D Filmmaker Cesar Turturro Syncs Live Action with Timecode
3D Filmmaker Cesar Turturro Syncs Live Action with Timecode – Reallusion Magazine
