Polonceau Railway Carriage Multimedia Installation

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The installation combines a rare carriage named after a French engineer Camille Polonceau with a multi-screen video wall moving along. The video demonstrates inner space of a private premium carriage used by prominent Soviet officials. Historically accurate shooting is combined with CGI. Video content is accurately synchronized with video wall movement, so that a physical carriage standing next to a visitor a provides a glance at one of historical episodes that may have happened inside.

Dimensions & Packaging

The height of video wall is 4.2 m, it consists of 5 screens and covers a distance of about 22 m. Ensured accuracy for the whole travel path is 1 mm. As visitors follow the moving wall within easy reach, the installation is equipped with an industrial safety system.

Tags

historical railway carriage, multi-screen video wall, CGI, costume shooting

Production Technology

Video content was created with chroma key technique for compositing filmed action and CG. For proper realism and parallax effect we needed moving camera with precise repeatability for a 22 m travel path. Camera was mounted on a moving video wall. According to filming script a special program was written to control camera movement.

Design Challenge

The main production challenge was to create content with chroma key technique for compositing filmed action and CG. For proper realism and parallax effect we needed moving camera with precise repeatability for a 22 m travel path. It was impossible to rent such system for studio floor filming, so we placed historically accurate decorations behind the other installation we developed earlier for the same museum. Camera was mounted on a moving video wall. Due to digital motion control system and unique project pipeline no further adjustment, movement program correction or content re-rendering was needed afterwards.

Project Duration

The installation is available in the Russian Railway Museum permanent exhibition (St. Petersburg)

Operation Flow

Moving along premium carriage Polonceau visitors observe Vyacheslav Molotov, notorious Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs, on his typical business trip. Inner space of the carriage presents a kitchen, lavatories, compartments for porters and guards, drawing rooms, a study and Minister's private compartment. The episode was recreated by one shot filming with custom high accuracy motion control technology. The video provides some explanations for interior environment.

Inspiration

The Russian Railway Museum is one of the world's largest railway museums and keeps a vast collection of rare and legendary steam trains, locomotives, electric locomotives, railcars and other rolling stock. We have striven to create an authentic visitor experience complementing historical artifacts by modern technologies. Historically accurate video content immerses visitors into the past and enables to witness some episodes that might have happened. This installation was created on request, under supervision and with help of the Museum's exposition general contractor, The Art Combine for Museums & Exhibitions LCC (KMVI LCC).

Colors of Polonceau Railway Carriage Multimedia Installation

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