Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1536119
28 cgw a p r i l • m ay • j u n e 2 0 2 5 d imension recently used the MRMC (Mark Roberts Motion Control) Polymotion Stage truck to bring the magic of volu- metric capture to the vibrant world of Wicked (2024), Uni- versal Pictures' global blockbuster adaptation of the beloved stage musical. In collaboration with Framestore and the film's VFX team, Dimen- sion helped create expansive digital crowd scenes across the fantas- tical settings of Munchkinland and Emerald City. Deployed on location at Elstree Studios, Polymotion Stage was selected to allow for high-quality, full-costume captures of the sup- porting cast—without the need to relocate performers or repeat time-consuming prep, helping to preserve the richness and authen- ticity of the performance. "Wicked is a great example of how our volumetric solutions can create high-quality digital crowds, working with the talent to bring all the rich authenticity of the performances and costume design to life—and doing so cost effectively," shared Simon Windsor, co-found- er and co-CEO of Dimension. The Challenge The world of Wicked is defined by its theatrical spectacle—lavish sets, intricate costumes, and vibrant character performances. But this presented a challenge: how do you authentically scale crowd scenes populated by Munchkins and Emerald City citizens without losing the nuance, texture, and personality of real human perfor- mances? Traditional CG crowd creation is oen resource-heavy and strug- gles to match the realism of live-action—especially when working with elaborate wardrobe and choreographed movement. The film- makers needed a solution that could deliver high-fidelity digital per- formances at scale, capable of integrating naturally across varied lighting setups and camera compositions. Adding to the complexity: Dimension needed to capture 76 sup- porting cast members in just two days, resulting in over 75 minutes of volumetric footage—more than 100,000 individual frames. That kind of capture volume would present a logistical nightmare in a standard VFX pipeline, but not for Dimension. Enter, Polymotion Stage. "Dimension Studios were brilliant to work with," shared Frame- store VFX supervisor Jonathan Fawkner. "They brought a huge mo- bile studio to the Munchkinland set and captured 60 seconds of di- rected performance for each of our Munchkin extras—including me! Working from pre-approved choreography, I le them to direct the majority of the performers, and we were able to import the data into our lighting pipeline, which meant we could integrate them seam- lessly into varied lighting across the film." The Solution To meet the creative and technical demands of Wicked, the film- makers turned to volumetric capture—specifically, MRMC's Polymo- tion Stage Mobile Capture Studio. Its unique portability meant the studio could be deployed right on set, adjacent to the live-action production at Elstree. Perform- ers could move directly from the soundstage to the capture volume without disrupting the shoot schedule, minimizing downtime and maximizing authenticity. Each performer was captured in 360°, in full costume and make- up, delivering short, choreographed performances. The volumetric capture process—supported by 10-bit color depth—preserved every detail of movement and wardrobe, allowing for seamless lighting in- tegration and creative flexibility in post. This pipeline resulted in a photorealistic digital crowd ready to be composited into multiple scenes throughout the film. Framestore, the film's VFX partner, received high-quality assets that could be flexibly placed across shots, no matter what the spatial layout or lighting conditions. The volumetric crowd work played a key role in shaping Wicked's rich, high fantasy tone, as Polymotion Stage continues to set a new standard for digital doubles, volumetric video, and avatar creation. The film earned praise for its worldbuilding and visual flair, with Munchkinland and the Emerald City sets standing out as highlights of its digital artistry. With Wicked: For Good arriving in November 2025, the magic of Oz is only just beginning. More about MRMC: mrmoco.com IN FOCUS WICKED MRMC BRINGS THE MAGIC OF VOLUMETRIC CAPTURE TO A GLOBAL MUSICAL BLOCKBUSTER.