They say range is important in Hollywood. Which is we’ve got high hopes for Tinseltown’s newest star, a chameleon with great stage presence who can take on any role that comes down the pike — provided playing the part requires four wheels.
The fully adjustable Blackbird rig from The Mill can transform itself to serve as a CG stand-in for nearly any car in existence.
Compatible with location shoots or in the studio, the Blackbird’s chassis can be quickly outfitted to mimic the dimensions and design of other cars. From there, it relies on an adjustable suspension package to replicate the vehicle’s height and rigidity during acceleration.
The tool also features cutting-edge alternate-reality application that can create virtual environments in real time during filming.
“We can unequivocally say that The Mill Blackbird is a tool to solve real problems. It is no vanity project,” says The Mill VP Alistair Thompson. “The Blackbird journey has only just begun though and the technology and the thinking behind it will evolve.”
Others in the industry appear to agree, as the rig has recently took home an innovation award at Cannes.
Look forward to not seeing it in a theater near you in the future.
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