VFX Production Behind-the-Scenes and Concept Art Revealed

On July 16, the fantasy action film <Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint> held a press screening and revealed behind-the-scenes production details and concept art encompassing large-scale VFX and art. <Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint> is a fantasy action film where the world of the novel becomes reality on the day the novel, serialized for over 10 years, concludes, and the only reader, Kim Dokja (Ahn Hyo-seop), along with the protagonist Yoo Joong-hyuk (Lee Min-ho) and his companions, must survive in a destroyed world.

The most significant work in <Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint> is undoubtedly the VFX. Out of over 1,500 shots, approximately 1,300 are CG, making VFX a major part of the work. The VFX team focused on creating and visualizing a world that has never been seen before, rather than one that resembles existing works. The production team first created pre-visuals to meticulously plan the action sequences of the actors and creatures, going through a thorough pre-production period, and during the actual filming, they closely communicated with the actors using the pre-visuals as a guide. The VFX team dedicated themselves to aligning the boundary between reality and cinematic representation, even down to the design of creatures and the effects of wielding swords. Given the extensive VFX, Director Kim Byung-woo emphasized the balance between reality and fantasy in <Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint>. While all situations unfold under a fantasy setting, the key to directing was to ensure that the characters moving within it did not lose their sense of reality.

The art department also completed special spaces and items from the novel through constant collaboration with the VFX and concept art teams. Art Director Lee Mok-won closely collaborated with the VFX team to reduce the sense of alienation when the fresh elements of the original work were realized in live-action within realistic spaces or sets. The subway, the first location where Kim Dokja (Ahn Hyo-seop) faces the moment when the novel becomes reality, was produced to be as similar to reality as possible, allowing the audience to naturally immerse themselves in the story. "We had to express the subway being detached and damaged. We used a gimbal that could adjust angles up to 90 degrees and considered the size and actual finishing materials of the subway," he revealed, explaining the careful considerations made to convey the liveliness of the subway car that flips 180 degrees. The subway platform, where significant events occur in the film, was also made to resemble reality, ensuring a sense of realism, and within that, each scenario was designed to convey a different feeling by varying the tone at each station.

The belly of the dragon where Kim Dokja begins to break through the scenario was created using VFX mats. It needed to feel elastic according to Kim Dokja's movements, and since it required a wide camera angle and scenes needing wires, the set was designed to be detachable from side to ceiling. After maintaining strength with a steel frame for the basic structure, it was finished with balloons to create the optimal set environment for the actor's performance and filming. Additionally, the weapon used by Kim Dokja, 'Broken Belief,' plays a crucial role in the latter part of the drama, so it was carefully completed from the early concept art. <Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint> will be released on July 23.