highlights

Virtual production is widely considered to be the future of the broadcast industry, and it’s an area that is growing rapidly all the time.

So, in an effort to provide more services for TV producers, events and gaming companies, broadcasters, and advertisers, twofour54 has decided to expand its world-class production facilities and launch its own Virtual Solutions.

Including Virtual Studios, Virtual Production services, and Extended Reality features, twofour54 now provides state-of-the-art cameras, virtual monitors, floating AR elements, and customizable virtual production sets that can be used to create high-quality, photorealistic visuals for all manner of different production projects.

As the UAE capital’s leading hub for entertainment, media and gaming, the new facilities have been launched in partnership with Ross Video and Rocket Surgery. The extended hub now enables local creators and producers to harness the powers of the latest 3D graphics and augmented reality (AR) technologies into their own projects.

Virtual production methods and AR techniques were created to help producers create more immersive, realistic and awe-inspiring content, and they bring countless exciting benefits.

Benefits of virtual film production

Below, we go into virtual production is changing the face of the broadcast industry.

1. Reduced production costs

By using graphics platforms to provide high-quality and photorealistic visuals, virtual studios enable production companies to be more flexible than ever before, and save on costs.

For instance, if a scene isn’t working, production companies are able to use virtual technologies to change or adapt it instantly, instead of having to physically change the set by hand.

Expenses can be further reduced by sharing a production space with another company, and filming can also start straight away as there’s no need to spend time physically constructing a set.

By reducing the time and expenses involved with production, producers are able to invest more concentration and resources in creating amazing and immersive content, rather than worrying about the logistics of the setting. Not only that, but it’s also more environmentally friendly.

In addition, Extended Reality (XR) services allow companies to save costs by using a mixture of real and virtual filming environments and interactions (for instance a real presenter in front of a fake background), and they’re ideal for making live or pre-recorded content.

 

2. More creative and realistic sets

Here at twofour54, we have partnered with Rocket Surgery, the creative arm of Ross Video, to help producers create amazing designs, visuals and graphics for their productions that enhance their content and make it more engaging and immersive.

Whether you want to have your presenter stood in front of a city skyline, a live studio audience or at home in their living room, the new Virtual Solutions facility at twofour54 can create the ideal backdrop for you.

The cutting-edge XR facility at twofour54 uses large format LED screens as a direct replacement to traditional green screens, and this makes the process more efficient, realistic, accessible and cost-effective.

The Virtual Studios are powered by three of Ross Video’s Voyager graphics platforms, which are based on the market-leading Unreal Engine. This ensures that the most captivating and magical photorealistic visuals are created every time.

 

3. Easier to work remotely

Whether it’s work meetings, shopping or catching up with friends, the pandemic has made it so that we can function entirely remotely and take every element of our lives in the virtual realm.

Social distancing measures and travel restrictions also increased the popularity of virtual production. Many companies have now realised the numerous benefits it brings and have continued to operate in this way even now that restrictions are easing.

These days, aside from the actual camera operator and the presenters or actors nearly every other film production role can be performed remotely.

Production teams can now be based in another room to where the filming is happening, across the street, or even anywhere else in the world and still be able to participate and contribute in real-time to the virtual production process.

Thanks to video conferencing and private network technology, geography no longer restricts film production, and hiring managers can technically recruit their content creators and talents from any location throughout the globe.

For instance, here at twofour54, Ross Video’s cloud-enabled remote contribution solution, Interstellar, enables flexible production teams to execute a variety of tasks from wherever they want.

 

4. Increased technical specialist jobs

Virtual production sets require a different and more varied array of professionals than a traditional film set.

Along with the directors, cameramen, and lighting crew, virtual production sets also consist of people who specialize in capturing digital cinematography.

Those who are already well equipped to pursue a career in virtual production include:

• Game developers
• Visual effect creators
• Conventional tech specialists
• VR, AR, and XR experts

 

5. Quicker post-production work

When using physical production studios, most of the special effects and animation have to be added on after the filming is finished and in the post-production stage. This can take up quite a lot of time and resources.

However, on a virtual production set, the visual development and finalisation process is able to happen much earlier in the production process. This makes creating amazing video content far less complex and much quicker.

 

As you can see, virtual production is changing the landscape of the film industry in many exciting ways.

Virtual Studios is the latest addition to twofour54’s existing facilities, including the 300,000 sqm backlot, 81,000 sqm of standing sets, variety of studios, experienced production, creative and technical crew, and multiple post-production houses.

For more information about how to make a film content in Abu Dhabi using virtual production techniques, enquire now.