DPs, VFX supervisors, and producers discuss the myriad of factors to consider, including shooting schedules, bespoke versus existing LED stage, the needs of the scene, and the hot topic of the year – copyright issues as they relate to AI-generated content. As more productions consider virtual production, we explore some of the elements that should … Read more
As ever more virtual production studios open their doors, filmmakers are spoiled for choice by the facilities available in the UK and beyond. But narrowing down the perfect stage for your requirements can be tricky. Lots of people will expect to stroll into a virtual production studio and see a giant LED videowall and camera … Read more
As virtual production technology matures, the creative freedom it offers opens a world of possibility for filmmakers. Virtual production, most would agree, not a topic that needs a ground-up introduction anymore. The success of several well-known productions has provoked a gold rush of new facilities and interested users, although LED walls and their associated tools … Read more
DEATH IN VENICE Kenneth Branagh reprises his role as Hercule Poirot in A Haunting in Venice. Haris Zambarloukos BSC GSC on the film explains how he used the aptly named Sony VENICE 2 for a brand-new attempt at a story released 54 years ago. Venice, with its labyrinthine canals, decaying grandeur and eerie ambiance, is … Read more
TAKE OFF FOR THE SONY BURANO Introducing the newest Sony Cinema Line camera, the BURANO, with a high-flying short film that premieres at Camerimage: The Wingman, shot by James Friend ASC BSC. James Friend ASC BSC eyes an F-type Jaguar through a circular polarising filter, checking the reflections in its immaculate bodywork. A Sony BURANO … Read more
COMPACT CREATIVITY Cinematographers Oren Soffer and Greig Fraser ASC ACS discuss the crucial role scaled back kit and flexible, agile cameras played in realising Gareth Edwards’ ambitions for sci-fi spectacular, The Creator. When Oren Soffer signed on for The Creator, he was intrigued by the intended approach of director/producer/co-writer Gareth Edwards and fellow cinematographer Greig … Read more
HELPING HAND Created by Sony to address the demand for a smaller camera without sacrificing quality, the Rialto Extension System has revolutionised large-format digital filmmaking. The unique design of the Sony VENICE, introduced in 2017, revolutionised high-end digital motion picture photography. It’s been used as the main camera on everything from Avatar: The Way of … Read more
A LIFE IN MONOCHROME Samuel Beckett, a towering figure in 20th-century literature, is the subject of the biopic Dance First. Cinematographer Antonio Paladino sheds light on the choice of black-and-white cinematography and the equipment deployed to bring the director’s vision to the big screen. Numerous films, stage productions and other adaptations have masterfully captured Samuel … Read more
PERFECT MATCH The ultimate accessories for the new Burano: take your pick from Sony’s range of lenses and audio solutions. SONY LENSES Ideal for your documentary shooting with Burano. SELP28135G – 28-135mm Power Zoom Full Frame A powered zoom that delivers the precision and quality that top formats demand, with minimum breathing and image shift. … Read more
NET GAINS Marinette tells the life story of the first woman French football player to sign a professional contract. DOP Xavier Dolléans AFC explains how his Sony VENICE scored on and off the pitch. In the diverse history of films delving into the lives of female footballers, ranging from captivating documentaries to light-hearted comedies, the dramatic … Read more
SONY OPENS UK VIRTUAL PRODUCTION SPACE Sony has marked ten years of its Digital Media Production Centre (DMPC) in Europe at Pinewood Studios with a first UK virtual production unit using Sony Crystal-LED technology. The state-of-the-art space has become part of the DMPC in Europe, one of the world’s leading destinations for makers of film, television, and … Read more
THINKING GREEN Sustainability is no compromise, it is the doorway to creative possibility, says Gildas Pelliet, Head of Pan European Imaging Products & Solutions for Sony Europe. Cinema and TV screens show us a beautiful spectrum of colours, however the film and TV industries definitely prefer green. Finding more environmentally-friendly ways to film has shot … Read more
IN THE DRIVING SEAT Rialto brings many degrees of freedom to Gran Turismo. Gran Turismo director of photography Jacques Jouffret ASC is no stranger to action. With a DP credit list that includes Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Purge series, and Mile 22, as well as several films operating Steadicam and camera for Michael Bay, … Read more
CRYSTAL CLEAR Sony adds the VERONA to its Crystal LED range of displays, offering deep blacks, low reflectance, and modular flexibility for volume shooting. First announced in January 2021, Sony’s Crystal range of LED displays has been aimed at various large-scale display applications including live events. Now the corporation has announced VERONA, an evolution of … Read more
SINGLE OPERATORS SOAR WITH SONY BURANO Sony has announced a new digital cinema camera, the BURANO. With an 8.6K full-frame sensor, internal 16-bit X-OCN LT recording and both PL and E-mount support, the BURANO is aimed at small crews and single operators. At a Pinewood Studios rendered eerily quiet by the strikes, British Cinematographer joined … Read more
In the first of British Cinematographer’s new ‘Focus On’ supplements, we’re kicking off proceedings by shining a light on virtual production – a cutting-edge filmmaking tool creating a buzz in the industry. We hope you’ll find these guides a useful resource as they explore a variety of topics moving forward, expanding on the content in … Read more
Working in the virtual realm is nothing new for DNEG’s Paul Franklin but crafting his short film Fireworks in an LED volume presented boundless opportunity for getting creative. Virtual production is something that has been developing for a long time within the world of digital visual effects. VFX artists have worked inside fully virtual environments … Read more
Cinematographer Maria Guerberof shares her first experiences of shooting on an LED volume and the skills she learnt while on the National Film and Television School’s Virtual Production Certificate course. The future of moviemaking is already here. The advances in technologies are re-shaping our traditional ways of working on set. I joined the Virtual Production … Read more
UNTAPPED MIXED REALITY NorthHouse and Helen Dulay for Warner Music Entertainment created a promo for a special performance by Coldplay, featuring songs from “Music of the Spheres”, using ARRI Stage London and hybrid mixed reality techniques to place the band into a fantasy version of Dubai’s Al Wasl dome. Coldplay’s gig was part of Dubai … Read more
INTO THE UNKNOWN As the virtual production era dawned, cinematographer Magdalena Górka ASC PSC led the charge with the technology on the ambitious set of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. When Magdalena Górka ASC PSC joined Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in August 2020, virtual production was still in its infancy. “The only thing I … Read more