Cinematics in Unreal Engine by Calvin Romeyn

Ready to move your stories from script to screen using cutting-edge real-time technology? This workshop, led by industry veteran Calvin Romeyn, dives deep into the entire pipeline for creating cinematic sequences in Unreal Engine. You’ll learn the practical skills needed to plan, shoot, and render your own short films, drawing directly from Romeyn’s experience on his short film Firmware.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Plan and execute cinematic shots from concept to final render.
• Utilize MetaHumans for character creation and animation.
• Master virtual cinematography and camera techniques.
• Implement effective lighting and rendering strategies in Unreal Engine.
• Polish your renders through Nuke compositing.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Familiarity with 3D concepts and basic Unreal Engine navigation is recommended.
• Tools: A drawing tablet is beneficial for detailed work.
• Hardware: A capable PC with a dedicated GPU is essential for running Unreal Engine smoothly.

📝 Description

This workshop is all about bringing your cinematic visions to life in real-time. We’re not just talking theory; we’re diving headfirst into a project-based approach. You’ll learn how to think like a filmmaker and an artist, translating your ideas into compelling visuals using Unreal Engine. We’ll cover everything from the initial spark of an idea, through detailed planning, character creation with MetaHumans, and setting up your virtual environment. You’ll get hands-on with virtual cameras, motion capture data, and animation refinement using Control Rig. Finally, we’ll wrap it all up with professional rendering techniques and compositing in Nuke to give your film that polished, industry-standard look.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Filmmakers looking to explore real-time rendering and virtual production.
• 3D animators wanting to expand their skillset into cinematic storytelling.
• Game developers aiming to create high-quality cinematics within their projects.
• VFX artists seeking to master a modern, efficient filmmaking pipeline.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Calvin Romeyn is a seasoned storyteller with a passion for tackling complex technical challenges to craft his narratives. He specializes in films that push the boundaries of VFX. Calvin began his career at Image Engine in 2013, later moving to ILM where he spent five years as a lead compositor. He now co-runs Niche VFX, a studio focused on cutting-edge visual effects. His extensive experience at major studios and his own short film projects provide a deep well of practical knowledge for this course.

🏁 Final Result

By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a completed cinematic sequence ready to add to your portfolio, demonstrating your ability to manage a film project from concept to final render within Unreal Engine. You’ll also gain a comprehensive understanding of the real-time filmmaking pipeline.