‘BOTANICA’ INSIGHTS
Why XR Was Essential for This Project
To fully express the different worlds and fantastical elements of this project, the creators chose to work in an XR studio. Using extended reality allowed the team to build environments that would have been impossible to create physically. XR opened up a new level of creative freedom, making world-building more expansive and immersive.
A Different Kind of Production Process
Working in an XR environment changes how production is approached. It is not just about actors and physical sets. Every decision must also account for what appears on the LED screens behind the performers. The digital environment becomes just as important as the physical space, requiring careful planning and collaboration between departments.
Bringing Digital Worlds to Life
This is where Cyrus came in. As a digital artist, he played a key role in shaping the worlds seen on screen. Using Unreal Engine, a real-time software originally developed for gaming, Cyrus was able to build, adjust, and refine entire environments. He could move through the worlds, reposition cameras, and shift perspectives in real time, giving the creative team flexibility throughout the shoot.
Exploring New Creative Possibilities
For the team, working with Unreal Engine inside an XR studio was an exciting learning experience. Being able to explore different worlds live on set opened up new creative possibilities and changed how scenes were imagined and executed.
Collaboration That Made It Possible
This project would not have been possible without the collaboration between teams. Special thanks go to Cyrus and the team at Slash for their expertise, creativity, and support in bringing these worlds to life. XR production is ultimately a team effort, where technology and creativity meet.
XR production is more than a technical upgrade. It is a shift in how stories are imagined, built, and brought to life. By combining physical sets, real-time digital worlds, and close collaboration between creative and technical teams, this project showed how new tools can expand what is possible in production. When the right people and processes come together, XR becomes not just a technology, but a creative space for exploration and storytelling.