Vividthree delivers VFX for Robotropolis, to release this May

ROBOTROPOLIS, an upcoming Sci-Fi Telemovie is a co-production between Bleiberg Entertainment (who is also the distributor for this film), Christopher Hatton, Boku Films and Vividthree Productions. It’s a Pre-Sale and presently has been sold to 10 countries and counting. Written and directed by Christopher Hatton, it is scheduled for release in May end 2011.

Currently in Post-Production (since October 2010), Robotropolis is a fast paced, action packed movie about a group of reporters unveiling a new facility that is maintained by robot prototypes. When one of the robots goes haywire, the reporters find themselves not just reporting on the malfunction but also fighting for their lives. Hitting almost 300 shots for visual effects (Done by the team at Vividthree Productions), the post-production for this effect heavy movie ranges from the sleek opening sequence to the intense chasing and fighting scenes. With the biggest challenge being to create the Robots, also known as BURT (Basic Utility Robot Tall) and fit them seamlessly with the cast into our real world to create realistic scenes of interaction and action for the audiences. Having the robots as the most prominent characters, it makes it extremely critical to get every single detail of its movement and structure perfect.

And with a tight timeline to meet, the visual effects team carefully constructed and build the robot, starting with the concept, artwork and design of it to the numerous amount of stages and complexity of the modeling, texturing and rigging followed by the multitude of changes and adjustment to get it just right.

After its creation, there was the process of giving it life. With challenging scenes such as the close combat fighting scene between robot and man, the team had to create extremely realistic motion and actions of the robot interacting, reacting and syncing with the action of the cast and surroundings while tackling issues of shaky camera movements, major background clean ups and tons of rotoscopic and tracking work. For particular scenes such as this where the robot and man have physical contact, an individual all dressed in blue (blue man) was used during the shoot to represent the robot and ensure accuracy and create realistic movement for both the cast and robot.

But for most other scenes/shots, no blue man was used and mainly required the power of the artist's imagination, logic and sense of motion alone to form the spirit, energy and life of these robots. With an extra large dosage of visual effect, this movie is definitely one to put you at the edge of your seat.