On July 25, the thirteenth annual Digital Day drew more than 600 participants to the DGA’s Los Angeles Theater complex. Focusing on drones, clones and virtual reality, the daylong event provided the opportunity for DGA members and guests to learn about the latest technologies via presentations, panel discussions and interactive hands-on demonstrations and exhibits.

The day began in DGA Theater One with a welcome from DGA Special Projects Committee Chair Jeremy Kagan, followed by a preview of the day’s offerings from Special Projects Digital Day Subcommittee Chair Randal Kleiser.

Virtual Reality: Expanding the Director’s Vision

The first panel explored how groundbreaking immersive technology is changing the storytelling landscape where Directors Matthew Gratzner (The Mission, Hot Bath an’ a Stiff Drink, Huntin’), Mark Kudsi (The Art of Patrón Virtual Reality Experience, Katy Perry’s Roar) and Chris Milk (Clouds Over Sidra, The Johnny Cash Project) discussed their 360-degree projects and how they overcame technical and logistical challenges; and Lucasfilm’s Head of New Media and VP Advanced Development Group Rob Bredow presented an interactive VR Star Wars experience. Director Randal Kleiser (Grease, The Blue Lagoon) served as moderator. (See video from this presentation in the gallery below.)

Clones: Rapid Prototyping and Digital Doubles

The next panel looked at how 3D printing, laser cutting and computer-assisted fabrication can be used in production to save time and money in creating props, sets, wardrobe, costumes, miniature VFX and more. Panelists also discussed how digital doubles are created with 3D scanning and digital effects to create digital actors, and populate crowd scenes and stunts. Presenters included: USC Institute for Creative Technologies Chief Visual Officer Paul Debevec, Legacy Effects Lead Systems Engineer Jason Lopes, Pixel Magic VFX Supervisor and VP Raymond McIntyre, Jr., and 3D Systems’ VP of Entertainment Karl Meyer. New Deal Studios CEO Shannon Gans moderated the discussion. (See video from this presentation in the gallery below.)

Drones: Opening New Vistas for Storytellers

Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) enable Directors and DPs to position cameras and create dynamic camera moves never before possible. Key FAA guidelines, best practices for using drones on set and practical considerations from directors and collaborators to plan and execute drone shots were explored by a panel of experts that featured: Aerial MOB’s Aerial DP/Camera Operator Austin Harris and Aerial DP/Pilot Tony Thompson; Vortex Aerial’s Aerial DP/Camera Operator Matt Rodgers and Aerial DP/Chief Pilot Chris Schuster; and Astraeus Aerial Cinema Systems’ CEO and Aerial DP/Pilot David Wagreich. International Cinematographers Guild Technologist and Business Representative Michael Chambliss served as moderator. (See video from this presentation in the gallery below.)

Hands-On Demos and Exhibits

In the DGA lobby and Theaters Two and Three, attendees were able to engage in hands-on demonstrations and exhibits such as:

• A demonstration by Barco featuring the company’s DP4K-45L Digital Cinema Laser Projector.
• A demonstration of Catatonic, a frightening virtual reality experience created by Guy Shelmerdine and VR production company Vrse.works, with post-production by MPC VR.
• A demonstration by Legacy Effects showing the potential of 3D printing to design and create animatronic parts and character effects.
• A demonstration by 3D Systems and Manufacturing the Future showing how digital data can be converted into real world objects, from props to consumer products, through 3D printing.
• A demonstration by Pixel Magic of methods for developing convincing crowd shots by using individuals created with CG, green screen and clones of practical people.
• A demonstration by USC Institute for Creative Technologies of USC’s Light Stage that was utilized to capture the first 3D portrait of a sitting president, capturing high-resolution geometry and textures.
• A demonstration by Legend3D of The Art of Patrón Experience, which utilized 360-degree drone technology, R-Kill software and 3D conversion pipeline to take users through Patron’s tequila distillery from the POV of a honeybee.
• A demonstration by New Deal Studios of The Mission, a “great escape” WWII battle, directed by Matthew Gratzner and created by New Deal Studios and JauntVR.
• A demonstration by im360 exploring the groundbreaking potential of immersive 360-degree video and CG VFX with the premiere showing of Defrost, created by Randal Kleiser.
• A demonstration by Radiant Images of innovative VR production tools including the Headcase Codex 360 Rig, Spherical VR rigs, underwater housings, custom power solutions, and new VR mobility shooting options.
• A demonstration by ILMxLAB allowing users to interact with droids and stormtroopers on Star Wars' planet Tatooine via an iPad.

Other exhibits from UAV companies included Aerial MOB, Astraeus Aerial Cinema Systems, Team5 Aerial Systems and Vortex Aerial.