Digital De-aging, Awesome Tech in Filmmaking

Digital De-aging Technique of the Irishman (2019) Movie 

Martin Scorsese’s 2019 Magnum Opus ‘The Irishman’ got a tremendous attention even before the movie release. It has happened due to the first-of-its-kind Digital De-aging Tech used in this movie by the Industrial Light & Magic. The VFX (Visual Effects) experts spent nearly 2 years and the result is the creation of FLUX, a light-based performance capture software. While doing so, the VFX team successfully bypassed the age-old frame-by-frame correction technique used by everyone. 

                                                            Digitally De-aged Robert De Niro

The story is happening over the period of 50-years. Normally, for these kinds of stories, the filmmakers use more number of artistes to play the same characters at different age group. Additionally, the non-linear method of storytelling used in this film is another big challenge for the VFX team. The story moves back and forth several times. 

 

                                                      Artist's (Robert De Niro) multiple age footage

 

The tech team also prepared an exclusive camera rig where 3 cameras have been mounted (admirably quoted as ‘the three-headed monster’) to capture the artists’ movement from multiple angles.  And another challenge for the team is managing the lip movement of the characters. On the part of artists, they have to perform several facial expressions, and change their body language corresponding to their age. Balancing the light and shadow is another huge problem for the team.  To avoid this they used the mixture of infrared and conventional digital cameras. 

 

                Specially Designed Camera used for the Irishman Movie

The ILM team created 4 separate models with built-in sliders for each 3 prominent characters of this film (Robert De Niro, Al Pacino & Joe Pesci) .  Again, the shapes of the neck and chin to be redone to aptly match their faces at different ages. 

 

VOTD: The Irishman VFX Used New Technology for De-Aging /Film

                                                      Digitally De-Aged Al Pacino

 

The team’s hard work, innovative ideas, some fine filmmaking technique and the innovative software created the magic on the screen that mesmerized the audiences all over the world. 

YouTuber uses deepfake to improve de-aging in 'The Irishman'

                                                                   Digitally De-aged Joe Pesci

Instead of showing exorbitant make-up based de-aging, this software-driven approach altogether changed the perspective of VFX and how it can be used effectively to enhance the viewing pleasure of the moviegoers. 

Director Martin Scorsese in 'The Irishman' Shooting Spot

Creating the ‘believable faces,’ the Digital De-aging Technique of ‘The Irishman’ movie impressively sets the benchmark for others to follow. 

 

By

Srini