The Morph
The Morph is a mixed-reality film that leverages Unreal Engine's cinematic capabilities to blur the line between the virtual and tangible. The story follows a performer transforming into a creature that grows uncontrollably, with its dance movements animated through motion capture, embodying themes of evolution and metamorphosis.
As part of the creative team, my responsibilities included utilizing Unreal Engine's ICVFX pipeline and Evercoast's volumetric capture technology to seamlessly integrate the performer into dynamic virtual environments. Additionally, I crafted cinematic renders that brought the film's transformative journey to life, merging cutting-edge technology with striking visuals to create an immersive experience.
Team: Adi Somaiah, Audrey Chou, John Luo, Matt Toups, Sania Bhatia
Industry: Mixed Reality Filmmaking
Responsibilities: Technical Direction (Virtual Production Supervisor for ICVFX) / Volumetric Capture Technician / Unreal Engine Pipeline + Cinematics
Developing the Narrative
During the brainstorming for The Morph, we drew inspiration from films like Arrival, which used silhouettes to convey mystery and unease. This approach influenced our visual language, especially in the transformation scenes, where shadow and light emphasized the creature’s growth and ominous presence.
The Environments
The environment design for The Morph features three surreal scenes, each reflecting the performer’s transformative journey. Inspired by Poor Things, we crafted otherworldly spaces that embody evolution and metamorphosis. With striking contrasts and dreamlike elements, the environments serve as metaphors for each stage of transformation, immersing viewers in a narrative that blurs reality and imagination.
ICVFX
As the On-Set Technical Director for The Morph, I operated the Unreal Engine In-Camera Visual Effects (ICVFX) pipeline, utilizing OptiTrack's tracking system to seamlessly integrate virtual environments into live production. This involved managing real-time rendering, ensuring precise camera tracking, and optimizing scene performance to maintain visual fidelity. My role was key in executing the mixed-reality elements, bringing the film's surreal vision to life.
Volumetric Performance Capture
As the Volumetric Capture Technician for The Morph, I operated Evercoast's system to capture the performer in full 3D, eliminating the need for a green screen. This allowed us to integrate the actor seamlessly into Unreal Engine scenes and utilize dynamic camera perspectives, enhancing the cinematic quality and immersive storytelling of the film.
Cinematics
For The Morph, I was responsible for rendering the cinematic camera cuts, ensuring the visual flow and storytelling matched the film's surreal and transformative themes. Using Unreal Engine, I crafted and polished camera compositions, transitions, and angles to highlight key moments and maintain dynamic pacing. This process involved optimizing lighting, timing, and framing to create visually striking scenes that brought the narrative to life with cinematic precision.
