frequently asked questions
Is Virtual Production Expensive?
Despite the obvious creative benefits and cutting-edge tech, VP is also about cost efficiencies. Without having to send large crews to real locations and without the unaffordable post-production costs associated with rotoscoping, keying, compositing and post-rendered VFX, VP allows productions to redirect budget to where it will truly add value: pre-production and production.
We no longer fix it in post, we fix it in pre! Additionally, productions are no longer at the mercy of mother nature & environmental conditions. Shooting “on location” in virtual production takes significantly less time. This means enormous cast, crew and gear rental savings. However, the technology is new and expensive and is best thought of as an efficiencies & production value amplifier rather than a cost saving tool.
Who Creates Content for the LED Wall?
Our in-house team of artists creates these photorealistic virtual sets and locations based on your vision. There is no real limitation, from real historical places to fictional worlds. Besides 3D world building, our team has 9 years experience in photogrammetry and 360 degree video to bring backplates and virtual props from the real world into your virtual world.
We also brings real-time lightin and SFX (like rain, snow or dust) into these worlds based on the production’s needs.
Who Operates the Technology in The Continuum?
Our studio day rates are inclusive of the team that runs the tech, including operators, tracking technicians & virtual artists. We are there to enable your production team because the technology shouldn’t get in the way of telling stories.
Does Virtual Production Eliminate the Need for Traditional Production Crews?
Not at all. There is simply a “virtual” counterpart now for each traditional role to ensure that the live action, real-world set and actors blend seamlessly to the digital world behind them. Art directors, prop builders, lighting technicians and other support crew are just as relevant as ever.
What Kind of Technology is in THE CONTINUUM’S Studio?
The Continuum is made up of a 100m² P2.9 LED curved wall, 20m wide by 5m high. It also features a P3.8 LED ceiling panel for realistic ambient lighting and reflections. We can offer a vehicle process solution with modular LED panels.
Our 270° green cyc stage is the largest greenscreen in Africa, boasting an 18m x 8m backwall with 16m wide wings and floor depth. This stage is used for real-time keying and compositing unlike traditional post-rendered greenscreen, which means everyone on set sees the final picture live on reference monitors.
The stage features level-4 genlock, meaning that the camera’s sensor, tracking system, game engine and LED wall are all completely synchronized. This reduces latency and eliminates screen “tearing” and flicker when the camera moves.
The Continuum has a 3-headset virtual reality (VR) scouting station. This allows directors, cines and the art department to venture into the virtual world to decide on critical action, positions, angles and art direction for the actual filming.
We are busy integrating RGBx lighting arrays and can offer an 8m wireless 3-axis CamBlock motion control dolly.