World-building in Virtual Production

World-building is a Production Design/Art Direction 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.

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Basic Definition:

What is World-building in virtual production?

World building is an integral part of virtual production. It involves creating a believable and coherent world, with its own history, geography, ecology, etc., which can then be used for producing films or television shows. The process requires careful planning and attention to detail in order to create an immersive environment that the audience can connect with.

At its core, world building is about crafting stories that have depth and texture, so it should never be viewed as just another item on the production checklist. Good world building helps bring characters and their worlds to life, making them feel more tangible and realistic. This has become increasingly important with the rise of streaming services, where viewers expect more than just cookie-cutter plots. Great world building requires fleshing out the setting by adding details such as languages, customs, cultures, flora and fauna, architecture, weather patterns, etc. 

Some examples of excellent world building in films include Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Both of these franchises created fully realized universes populated with complex characters and storylines. Game of Thrones was also praised for its intricate world building; from dragons to direwolves, Westeros felt like a living, breathing place with its own set of rules and customs. 

Bad examples of world building include Ready Player One and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. In both cases, the worlds felt flat and underdeveloped due to rushed plotlines and lack of meaningful character arcs. World building needs time and effort in order to succeed – cramming too much into one film often results in confusing story lines and hollow characters. 

When it comes to best practices when world building, there are some key points to consider: research your subject matter thoroughly, pay attention to small details (e.g. accents), make sure the environment feels lived-in (e.g. buildings with wear and tear) and avoid introducing too many new elements at once. Additionally, having well thought-out characters will help ground the world in reality and keep it engaging throughout the film/show’s runtime. 

World building is essential for creating an immersive experience within virtual productions. Crafting a believable universe requires hard work but the payoff can be immense if done right