Preface
Virtual Filmmaking with Unreal Engine 5 is the first Unreal Engine book to guide you through the complete process of virtual film production. Encompassing the full spectrum of filmmaking, this book demonstrates the use of an industry-standard tool used by studios such as Disney, Industrial Light & Magic, DNEG (formerly known as Double Negative), and Framestore.
Walking through the process systematically, you’ll first collect references and create a simple storyboard to plan your shots and then begin to create virtual environments, importing 3D models and adding materials and textures to create photorealistic, dynamic worlds. Then, you’ll learn how to create actors using highly customizable MetaHumans, mastering their import, retargeting, and animation. Finally, you’ll bring it all together with cinematic lighting and camera animation, before exporting your film.
By the end of this book, you’ll have honed your skills, discovered new tools for your toolkit, and gained the confidence to work on your virtual film projects using only Unreal Engine 5, leveraging Quixel Megascans, Lumen, Nanite, and MetaHuman technology.
