Witness camera in Virtual Production

Witness Camera is a Tracking term in filmmaking. In virtual production, the nuances of this term take on special meaning. Here, we break down the definition to give you a starting point.

View the full Virtual Production Glossary here »

Basic Definition:

What is a Witness Camera in virtual production?

Witness Camera(s) are cameras placed on set to provide alternate perspectives on a shoot and provide a comprehensive understanding of the action within a scene. They're often used to facilitate remote collaboration, or to capture additional data for later visual effects work.

For example, in this video below, a Witness Camera shows a virtual production studio (at SHOWRUNNER's R&D lab in Chicago) from the corner of the room, so a remote crew member can see the computers, the LED volume, and the behind-the-scenes of the set, while adjusting lighting settings from afar. (From an airplane, of all places!)