Australian creative and technical talent leads virtual production boom

The global film, TV and advertising industry is being transformed by Virtual Production and Australia’s TDC Studios is leading the way at home and abroad. 

Virtual Production is a suite of interlocking tools and techniques that give filmmakers infinite creative possibilities while cutting the cost as well as the carbon footprint of conventional shooting on location. 

The centrepiece of Virtual Production filming is a soundstage ringed by LED walls playing back video or computer-generated imagery which enables live performances to be captured with virtual content in astonishing realism. 

TDC is at the forefront of the market. The Australian company, established since 1981, owns and operates purpose-built Virtual Production facilities in Sydney, supported by a world class team of experts. The team can partner with a production from concept to completion, while providing a deep knowledge of the processes and technology needed for video display, real-time rendering platforms, server hardware, playback platforms, camera tracking, remote connectivity, and content delivery. 

It has delivered large scale Virtual Production facilities for TV, commercials, corporate films and blockbuster movies including Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder and hit psychological thriller Mercy Road, which was Australia’s first fully virtual production shoot. Mercy Road was released in Australia and the US in August, 2023. 

VFX supervisor Andrew Robinson at VFX Studio Heretic Foundation worked on the filming of most in-car scenes for Mercy Road at TDC Studios. He said: “VFX creation and virtual productions are transforming the quality and speed of how productions are being made. They are also improving on-set decisions as well as team collaboration, unlocking more creative freedom for filming dynamic scenes.” 

As demand has grown, so has TDC’s offering. TDC has supplied large LED volumes to create various virtual production stages in a variety of venues and warehouse conversions, including many of the stages at Disney Studios. 

Michael Hassett, TDC’s founder and managing director, says the demand for creating any filming environment using virtual production has skyrocketed. 

“Clients often come to TDC with a challenge that needs to be tested and resolved. Our team of engineers and project managers love that challenge and are committed to delivering technically complex solutions to fulfil any creative vision,” said Hassett. 

To grow talent in the industry and attract more high-profile international projects to Australia, TDC supports a special training program for students and graduates of technical theatre courses at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney with hands on experience of innovative immersive technologies. 

TDC has been providing technology for the Australian film industry for many years dating back to movies such as Hacksaw Ridge, 2.22 and local dramas such as Sea Patrol, Squinters, No Activity and recently Mother and Son.  

Coming soon to Sydney: TDC xR Showcase  

In attracting film, commercial and broadcast productions to be made in Sydney, Australia, TDC Studios is hosting an xR Showcase taking place on 5 and 6 October 2023.  

The xR Showcase at TDC Studios will provide Australian film, television, production and advertising production staff as well as members of the Australian Cinematography Society (ACS), and the honorary Visual Effects Society the opportunity to discover the world of possibilities that xR and virtual production can create. 

For this event, TDC Studios will be showcasing innovations with technology from ARRI, Barco, GhostFrame, Megapixel VR, Pixotope and others to demonstrate the very latest in xR technology through demonstrations of xR broadcast workflows, augmented reality and tracking techniques that will allow them to seamlessly blend live and virtual worlds. 

“Production staff will be able to get hands on and try and test out the latest in camera and virtual production technologies, learn about LED volumes, see xR workflows in real-time, and hear the latest from a panel of experts,” explained David O’Connor (DOC), technical project manager at TDC Studios.