Visual effects (VFX) corporation DEXTER announced on the 14th that it will utilize its virtual production (VP) technology for the Amazon Prime Video original series 'Butterfly,' produced by Amazon's MGM studio.
DEXTER noted, "We participated in the technology sector of ICVFX (in-camera visual effects) for Butterfly." ICVFX is a virtual production technique that synchronizes the camera movements with backgrounds rendered in real-time, allowing for simultaneous filming of the LED-displayed virtual backgrounds and the real actors' performances. DEXTER is the first domestic studio to utilize ICVFX technology for a Hollywood project.
'Butterfly' is a six-part spy action series depicting the cat-and-mouse chase between David Jung (Daniel Dae Kim), a former American spy living in isolation in Korea, and Rebecca (Reina Hardisty), a current agent who has received an assassination order against him. Based on a graphic novel of the same name, the series stars Daniel Dae Kim in the lead role and is produced by him. The participation of Korean actors such as Kim Ji-hoon, Kim Tae-hee, Park Hae-soo, Seong Dong-il, and Lee Il-hwa in local shoots has garnered interest from viewers both domestically and internationally.
'Butterfly' was simultaneously released worldwide, excluding Korea, in over 200 countries through Amazon Prime Video on the 13th. In Korea, it will air starting the 22nd at 10:40 p.m. every Friday and Saturday on tvN. Streaming is available on Amazon Prime Video and Tving.
DEXTER stated that it used virtual production technology during the Korean filming of 'Butterfly' to shorten production time and enhance the quality of the work. In line with the genre characteristics of the spy action series 'Butterfly,' many thrilling car chases and bike action scenes were directed, with DEXTER's virtual production technology applied to most vehicle driving scenes. DEXTER was responsible for everything from pre-visualization, shooting solution derivation, 2D plate (LED background source) production, to LED stage shooting from the planning stage.
To create realistic background effects, a camera rig developed in-house simultaneously operated a total of 11 cameras to produce over 30 types of vehicle driving plates, and for the first time in the country, three cameras were operated simultaneously on an LED stage, completing ICVFX shooting across nine locations and various vehicle types (totaling six kinds). The shooting of over 200 cuts of high-speed driving and car chase scenes, which are difficult to direct using a tow truck, was completed in just three sessions.
A DEXTER official said, "The 'Butterfly' project is an example of DEXTER's comprehensive virtual production capabilities for ICVFX recognized through global projects, encompassing not only technical solutions but also overall shooting strategies and resource design."