Pathway opens $2.5m in-kind incubator to kickstart ‘creative rebellion’ in virtual production

Pathway introduces in-kind incubator called Pathway Indie which invites technologists, filmmakers and artists to converge through the world of LED wall Virtual Production. 

Over the next five years, the incubator program will welcome applicants keen to make their mark in the convergence of storytelling with real-time technology. Their invitation is to develop new entertainment and media products using real-time software and in-camera visual effects. 

Successful applicants to Pathway Indie will receive in-kind access to develop their ideas or in-kind studio time and art department services to offset their Virtual Production costs.  

Each year Pathway Indie will work with a cohort of filmmaking creative engineers, innovators and storytellers to hone their ideas to present to an invite-only audience of industry professionals and investors in media. 

Pathway co-founder Nathan Newman commented, “Our fundamental belief is that audiences are craving new depths in their entertainment. Now, due to LED wall Virtual Production and the software development benefits of video game engines, savvy technologists and filmmakers are starting to realise that the industry conditions are right for a creative rebellion.” 

Until now, the use of LED wall technology as a replacement to greenscreen has mostly been associated with science fiction television shows and celebrity filmmakers. Pathway Indie has been set up to accelerate the development of outside-the-box content-thinking by dramatically lowering the costly barriers to film-grade technology. 

Pathway’s incubator program is made possible through their partnership with HP Inc. “HP’s workstations are always at the forefront of innovation, so we are really proud that Pathway decided to partner with us and have our range of products at the heart of their new incubator program. At HP we are constantly trying to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with our hardware and believe that Pathway Indie perfectly encapsulates this.” stated Richard McGuinness, Advanced Compute and Solutions Lead Workstations and Thin Clients, HP UK. 

Dr John O’Hare, R&D Lead at Pathway, believes that the recent surge in assisted creativity and generative art marks a turning point in human development, which will be amplified through real-time produced media. “Pathway Indie is a program that supports engineers and innovators in exploring the creative, ethical and technical challenges in this field. Our incubator forms part of Pathway’s belief in the convergence of global digital society, video games, film & TV, and whatever may eventually replace the internet.” O’Hare’s background spans 20 years as a researcher in telecollaboration using large-scale displays. As such, he is well-equipped to lead this charge into the unknown. 

Peter Woodbridge, VP Producer at Pathway commented, “This is a defining moment for technology to shape and transform the creative possibilities for content creation. We’re looking for cross-discipline creative rebels who see the opportunity to disrupt and experiment with real-time production for film and the visual arts. The byproduct of this will be an aesthetic marker of the decade.” 

The first call for incubator applicants is set for early 2023. More information will be available via Pathway’s website in the New Year. Interested applicants can now join the waiting list. 

Earlier this month, in partnership with HP Inc, Pathway launched their 6,000 square foot facility dedicated to the development and production of in-camera visual effects that utilise real-time technology. The company’s work spans bleeding edge moving image R&D and digital cinema production for filmmakers. 

Amanda Nevill CBE, Advisory Board member and former BFI Chief Executive, stated that “Pathway’s contribution to the industry will make it possible for more filmmakers to produce content with the very latest technology and to chase down new ideas for LED wall produced cinematography.” Nevill’s impressive career spans helming the British Film Institute as Chief Executive for 17 years, and she is currently a strategic advisor to the international screen business. 

Pathway’s $1.2m facility has been invested in by Neuron Audio Visual, an AV solutions company with an international reputation for creating extraordinary experiences at events and through venue installations. Neuron’s impressive client list includes festivals such as Glastonbury and Parklife and brands such as Redbull and Beats.