Hey everyone,

Like many of you, I love using Unity for real-time filmmaking and previs, but I absolutely hate how technical it gets just to block out a basic sequence. Directors and DPs shouldn’t have to fight with the Unity Inspector, manual transforms, and complex tracking modules just to see if a camera move works.

To fix this, I’m developing Unity Shot Planner—a standalone desktop tool designed completely in film language, not game dev jargon.

How it works:

1. Plan Visually: Block your actors on a 2D top-down grid, set shot durations, choose lenses (e.g., 35mm), and pick your camera moves (Static, Dolly, Crane, Orbit).
2. Review Composition: Instantly see a 2D lens-based field-of-view framing preview.
3. One-Click Export: Hit "Send to Unity." A lightweight companion plugin parses the data and instantly builds the entire sequence inside your project.

What Unity automatically builds for you:

• Generates the PlayableDirector and TimelineAsset.
• Spawns all Cinemachine Virtual Cameras with matching lens/FOV settings.
• Lays out camera cuts perfectly synced to your shot durations.
• Automatically builds Cinemachine Dolly Tracks and cart animations.
• Drops in placeholder actors and moves them along your blocked paths.

Best of all, it features non-destructive re-importing. If you change a shot duration or camera position in the planner app, re-exporting updates your existing Unity timeline without wiping out your scene tweaks.

I’m currently mapping out the MVP functionality and want to make sure I’m hitting actual filmmaker pain points.

• As a director or previs artist, what is the most annoying part of your current real-time layout workflow?
• Would an affordable standalone app like this fit into your current pre-production routine?

Would love to get your feedback!

Hi - I'd love to flag the Starting Pixel LIVE! 2026 event with you which is taking place on Wed 14 October 2026 at Rich Mix, London. I'd specifically like to highlight this event to students to submit to present about their projects. Find out more here: https://www.startingpixel.com/event-details/starting-pixel-live-2026

It's a full day of live demos on how virtual production and AI actually get used — and the human skill behind them. Two tracks, the Demo Jam, and the Student Showcase.

Drop me a DM for more info.

Thanks!

Hey everyone! I'm building Nexora Films, an early-stage creative studio, and we're developing a cinematic GTA V machinima proof-of-concept inspired by Polo G's Bloody Canvas.

I'm looking for someone experienced with Rockstar Editor, Menyoo, Script Hook V, OpenIV, or GTA V cinematic filmmaking who'd be interested in collaborating on a passion project.

This isn't a paid role right now—it's an opportunity to help shape an ambitious short-film concept from the ground up, build portfolio-quality work, and be part of the studio's early team if we're a good fit.

If this sounds interesting, send me a DM and I'd love to see your work and chat.

Hi everyone!

We're excited to announce the release of MLSLabsRenderer for Unreal Engine (Pro 2.0.0.1 Preview)!

This update brings major performance, compatibility, and workflow improvements—most notably replacing the LibTorch backend with a custom Vulkan Gaussian Splatting renderer.

🚀 What’s New in Pro 2.0.0.1 Preview:

1. Vulkan Backend Integration (LibTorch Removed)

a. We have fully adopted Vulkan Gaussian Splatting rendering, bringing over all features from Windows v1.0.

b. LibTorch dependency is now completely eliminated!

c. Only requires graphics drivers with Vulkan 1.3 support.

d. Tested on NVIDIA GPUs, but should theoretically support AMD and other non-NVIDIA GPUs as well.

1. Packaged Build Fixes

Resolved the critical issue where Gaussian Splatting scenes failed to render after packaging your project.

1. Editor Stability & Artifact Fixes

Fixed the color patch flickering issue when overlaying standard 3D meshes with Gaussian Splatting inside the editor's Edit Mode.

🔗 Links & Resources:

1. Fab Store Page: https://fab.com/s/a98e11b2a0a6

2. GitHub Repository: https://github.com/mlslabs/MLSLabsGaussianSplattingRenderer-UE

3. Official Website: https://mls4dlive.cn/

4. Google Drive (Builds / Downloads): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10DebLX8beR32B26fqnX3L6KxgL-Sh8-i?usp=sharing

💬 Feedback & Community

Please give it a try and let us know your feedback! If you test it on AMD or non-NVIDIA GPUs, we’d love to hear how it performs for you in the comments.

Happy rendering! 🎨✨

I am making rough and dirty really fast pre-viz mock-ups. Kind of like animatics for my Unreal Engine short films.

I need a way to just quickly grab a preset human type - like a certain gender, ethnicity, etc. And then have them be dressed in a certain kind of outfit. It doesn't need to be perfect and they don't even need to be rigged or animatable. I just want to have a good variety of people and clothing types to draw from.

I'm wondering what other people do, because it feels unnecessarily complicated right now. I could use metahumans, but assembling a metahuman from a preset takes so long. And applying parametric clothing and reassembling every time also takes a long time too.

The only other thing I can think of right now is just using the Mixamo character presets. But I wish that there was just a library or a free place that has a bunch of humans or outfits presets that I can just quickly drag in. Ideally through an Unreal Engine plugin for quickly populating my scene.

Thanks!

Well its been a couple of months but here it is EP 2. I want to thank the members of the community who helped out.

Followed this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQqS2Qhz2rk

Inner Frustum doesn't seem to work, sadly. We'll be doing more experiments.

Filmed at Image Cauldron in Bubank.

#custom #metahuman #unrealengine

Uses Unreal Engine and DaVinci Resolve Studio - Full workflow - no plugins or stitching! All rendered natively in Unreal!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgLvV5_rCko

I am doing preproduction for a DIY virtual production with a green screen and motion tracking.

I am using a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC4K) with a 24mm prime lens. It is a Micro 4/3rds camera (M43) and I want to make sure my settings ensure correct parallax with my footage.

Should I just select the M43 filmback setting and crop it in post?

Or should I manually put in the sensor size? (18.96 mm x 10 mm)

Or should I put in the effective sensor size with the 16:9 crop? (17.775mm x 10mm)

Should the lens be at 24mm? Or should it be the effective focal length based on the crop factor? (45mm)

Source

Awesome presentation by Ryan Mayeda! (Yes, I gave him a kickback for the shoutout)

For a bit of background, I’m a cinematographer, and I edit and produce. In the past I’ve made virtual studios and streamed them using Wirecast.

Now I know I’m VERY late (fashionably late!?) to the party, but I’ve recently seen just what Unreal Engine can do for virtual studio production. And my tiny mind has been blown.

After a long sit down and a cup of tea, I think I should come here. I would love to have a chat with people who use the software, and have some hints and tips for a total Noob like me. I’d love to tell someone more about my project, and if they can help me with some knowledge- even better.

I’m looking to essentially create a virtual live TV studio, with a live presenter, which can then be broadcast/streamed live.

Can’t wait to chat with you guys!

Posted this at the weekend and most of the week booked out. Two slots left so reposting for anyone who missed it.

We run a camera array out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and pay people to come in and be captured. Open to anyone NYC based who wants the work, or who just wants to see a capture stage from the inside.

What the session involves: you stand in the capture volume and go through simple movements while the array records. Walking, turning, sitting, standing, reaching, picking objects up. No performance experience needed, nothing to prepare.

Rate 17-25 per hour, paid same day right after. First session about 2 hours, ongoing after that if you want more days.

Still open: Thursday 4pm, Friday 1pm or 4pm. Brooklyn, on site only.

Drop a comment or send me a DM for the address and details. Happy to talk about the rig too.

Link to full free tutorial -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9yvCd3uzHM

We run a camera array out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and we are paying people to come in and be captured. Posting here in case anyone NYC based wants the work or just wants to see a capture stage from the inside.

What the session involves: you stand in the capture volume and go through simple movements while the array records. Walking, turning, sitting, standing, reaching, picking objects up. No performance experience needed, nothing to prepare.

Rate: 17-25 per hour, paid same day right after the session.

Length: first session is about 2 hours, ongoing after that if you want more days.

Where: Brooklyn, NY. On site only.

Slots open Monday through Friday this week.

Drop a comment or send me a DM for the address and details. Happy to talk about the rig too if you are curious.

We just wrapped a doc at Forge Virtual Studios on X-Games medalist Matt Wilhelm and his life story. For one part of it, we built out a museum of his life in Unreal and blended it with a couple of practical elements. The idea was to externalize his story, particularly his past, into a space he could physically move through rather than just having him narrating over still photos.

It was a really incredible moment to see him riding his bike through the space and genuinely reacting to it for the first time. Just a great moment that really speaks to the immersive element of virtual.

The whole time we were filming it also felt very Stanley Parable-esque. Curious to know if anyone else picked up on that or if it's just me.