Ray Tracing FTW: The Solution to Hollywood's VFX Issues

Solutions for the challenges faced in Hollywood’s visual effects are on the horizon. Today, Chaos unveiled Ray Tracing FTW, a short film that offers insight into the world of VFX and filmmaking through the lens of artists. This comedic piece introduces Project Arena, a cutting-edge virtual production toolkit.

Drawing inspiration from classic Westerns such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Once Upon a Time in the West, Ray Tracing FTW serves as a platform to demonstrate the capabilities of Project Arena, which promises a quicker and more streamlined experience with game engines. These ready-made tools empower artists, directors, and cinematographers to focus on the performance captured in-camera, minimizing distractions. With Project Arena, there’s no need for virtual art departments; users can reposition V-Ray assets and choose animations for LED screens in as little as 10 minutes. Additionally, the same high-quality assets can be utilized from pre-production through to post-production without any degradation in quality.

“In filmmaking, technology often becomes a distraction. It can crash, lag, or require too many specialized personnel to operate effectively,” stated Christopher Nichols, director of special projects at the Chaos Innovation Lab and VFX supervisor/producer of Ray Tracing FTW. “Project Arena is designed to change this dynamic, allowing everyone—from artists to directors of photography—to set aside technology worries and immerse themselves in the filmmaking process.”

Ray Tracing FTW | The Short Film

The creation of Ray Tracing FTW involved cinematographer Richard Crudo, James Blevins, and other VFX professionals who have contributed to major projects such as The Mandalorian and Dune: Part Two. This short film acts as a tribute to both cinema and visual effects, illustrating how the film industry is often hindered by the absence of real-time tools. The film is packed with Easter eggs, and enthusiasts can refer to a checklist to catch every reference and joke hidden within.

At its core, Project Arena aims to expedite the production process. Remarkably, Ray Tracing FTW was completed in just three days, in stark contrast to the usual four-day timeline required for standard virtual production shoots.

“Utilizing an LED volume for filming, I was continually impressed by the authenticity of the results—visible even to the naked eye. The effectiveness of Project Arena significantly expedited the compositing process, fostering a more creative environment for the photography,” remarked Richard Crudo, a six-term former president of the American Society of Cinematographers and director of photography on Ray Tracing FTW.

For further details, reach out to the Chaos Innovation Lab via the form available on the Project Arena page.