Tracking the Invisible: From Camera Movement to Movie Magic

Day 5 of the DIGITALENT Academy Bootcamp explored different approaches to camera tracking and their role in virtual production.

The morning began with Michal Svoboda, who presented the Vicon optical tracking system and explained how external cameras capture and calculate movement within a defined production space.

He was followed by Matyáš Podstranský, founder of MotionJoy, who introduced ZEISS CinCraft Scenario—an inside-out camera tracking solution that uses cameras and visual reference points to determine the position and movement of the production camera.

After lunch, Matyáš continued with an intensive hands-on training session. Participants assembled the complete tracking system, mounted its components onto the camera, calibrated the setup and tested it in practice. This allowed them to understand not only how the technology works, but also how it must be prepared, operated and troubleshot during a real production.

The final session was led by Josep Antoni Ribas Rosselló, who shared his extensive experience in VFX and compositing. Having contributed to major international productions including Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lion King, he presented practical examples and demonstrated how complex scenes are created by combining filmed material, computer-generated elements and visual effects.

The day concluded with a friendly evening gathering for participants, trainers and project partners at POLIS restaurant in Palác Akropolis, offering an opportunity to continue conversations and strengthen the international DIGITALENT community in an informal atmosphere.