Beneath the dome, in real-time
For so many years, Weta Digital was associated almost solely with film visual effects. But in more recent times, the studio has applied its considerable feature film expertise to other areas of entertainment, including television, special venue projects and immersive experiences.>
One unique immersive experience Weta Digital helped realise was part of the three-day Pharos music festival in Auckland, New Zealand, featuring Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover). Here, a 3,000-strong audience, situated in a 160-foot-tall inflatable dome, witnessed the singer perform live while a raft of interactive moving imagery was projected around the venue.
The concert came to life thanks to a partnership between Weta Digital and studio 2n Design. Real-time tools from Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, a VR testing approach and some serious projector power made the large-scale experience possible. Weta Digital visual effects supervisor Keith Miller shared the process with
