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| Synopsis: Using some of the most
advanced computer image regeneration technology, Virtual History is the
first TV documentary to completely reconstruct a key moment in history
that was never originally caught on film. Three years ago, Discovery began to look at how Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) could be incorporated into historical documentaries. CGI had already been used successfully to create fantasy worlds and even bring dinosaurs back to life, but what if you could take it one step further? What if you could recreate the faces of famous, historical figures and witness what they said and did during any one day? Three years on from the idea's conception, after lengthy planning, testing and research, Virtual History became a reality. Virtual History chose to recreate the events of one day from the Second World War because this period offers a wealth of archive footage and photographs that producers could use as an excellent source of research material. They took existing footage and filled in the gaps with film especially recreated for the programme. The day that was chosen for this amazing and innovative treatment was the day on which Hitler's generals attempted to assassinate him on 20th July 1944. As historical research progressed, programme makers discovered some amazing coincidences. On 20th July 1944, Roosevelt came closer to death than Hitler - although the attempt on Hitler's life became the focal point around which a day in the lives of Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin could also be examined. In this programme, the President struggles for life aboard his train, while in Moscow Stalin is planning his invasion of Poland and in London, Churchill is considering the use of gas on German civilians. The concept of Virtual History is to recreate an event as convincingly as possible, using documents, photographs and archive film to produce a historically accurate picture of what happened on that day. With the Make your own history with HP Digital Photography help of advanced computer animation, the programme makers are able to put the viewer right in the thick of the action. Unlike Hollywood movies or television drama, Virtual History portrays the characters and events as if they were actually filmed on that day. In effect, it recreates archive footage that was never shot at the time. "When you're watching an actor play a part you have to suspend your disbelief because you know you're looking at an actor. By using this technique you can become emotionally involved because the film looks like original footage. This means what you're seeing is much more shocking because it feels as if you are really there." (David Abraham, Executive Vice President, Discovery UK) The new footage is exciting and compelling as it gives us the chance to see these leaders in a very personal way. The programme shows Hitler receiving injections from his personal physician to feed his drug addiction and see Churchill as he carries on the business of war without moving from his bed for the majority of the day. The programme makers were faced with the enormous challenge of taking stills and archive footage and using them to recreate the historical figures and their surroundings. Digital photographs were taken of the actors and integrated with original stills to create new images that look like they were shot in 1944. The programme goes one step further than simply using actors who resemble the men they are playing and achieves something that no other programme has done before. In the past CGI has been used to create the faces of fantasy figures, but the team on Virtual History has convincingly recreated the faces of famous characters from history - faces that are instantly recognisable. These digital masks are superimposed onto the actors' heads so that Hitler, Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt are brought to life with amazing accuracy. |
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