Short answer: AI VFX is fastest and most convincing when the shoot collected the right material. A few minutes per setup, a clean plate, lens and camera notes, reference photos, a lighting reference, saves days in post and is often the difference between a shot that blends and one that has to be rebuilt.
The per-setup checklist
- Clean plate: a few seconds of the shot without actors, same framing and light.
- Lens and camera data: focal length, height, tilt, and whether the shot moves.
- Reference photos: the full location from the camera position and wider.
- Lighting reference: a photo of the lights and, if possible, a grey and chrome ball or simply a still of the light sources.
- Tracking help: visible texture or small markers on plain walls when the camera moves.
Shoot the interaction
If something will be added, fire, rain, a creature, a crowd, give the actors something real to react to: an eyeline mark, a flickering light, wind, water. The added element must agree with what the camera already recorded.
Avoid what is hard to fix
- Unnecessary motion blur on shots that will need heavy compositing.
- Busy backgrounds behind hair when the background will be replaced.
- Unplanned logos and signs in frame.
Bring VFX into preproduction
A short conversation before the shoot is the cheapest VFX work there is. See our AI VFX page and our guide to live action and AI.
Frequently asked questions
What is a clean plate?
A few seconds of the same shot without actors, recorded with identical framing and light, used to rebuild backgrounds in post.
Do we need a VFX supervisor on set?
For complex shots, yes. For simple additions, a checklist and a pre-shoot call can be enough.
Why record lens data?
Matching focal length and camera height lets generated elements sit in the shot with the correct perspective.
Related guides
This work at Leopati
Service: AI Visual Effects Production
