Sponsored Feature / Absen

BY: British Cinematographer

Silvertown Studios, an impressive VP studio in London, features Absen LED – designed and calibrated to ensure optimal performance.

Silvertown Studios is a film studio specialising in virtual production (VP). Founded during the pandemic, the original company – London Audio Visual – undertook a change of course as the events industry was closed, resulting in a need to diversify. Being left with LED technology and unable to use it, the team decided to utilise an existing office space as a small pilot virtual production studio. Following a strong initial period, the company decided to open an impressive new 6,000ft² VP studio in Silvertown, Royal Docks. Specialising in large-scale events in VP, film, television and broadcast, the studio has steadily grown to offer a range of services to a wide portfolio of clients.

Virtual production is a rapidly growing technique which allows filmmakers to shoot in-camera VFX, creating realistic and immersive environments using LED screens. For VP to work correctly it is imperative to use the best LED solution. After researching and testing various LED products, the team at Silvertown Studios chose to install the Absen PL2.5 Pro.

The impressive Absen screen at Silvertown Studios consists of 516 LED panels of the PL2.5 Pro. With a ⅛ scan rate and pixel pitch of 2.5mm this is an industry-leading standard LED for virtual productions. The broadcast grade panels emit 1500 nit brightness, whilst also incorporating Brompton processing. This powerful system offers support for full 4K screens with 12 bits per colour output. The processor’s Shuttersync feature tunes the LED screen to the camera, giving creative flexibility for camera configuration.

Silvertown Studios’ Absen LED system allows the facility to produce high-quality virtual projects for filmmakers

The Absen PL2.5 system has several key benefits including:

• Wide viewing angle of 160/140: results in less colour obscurity and less colour shift

• Fast installation: The Absen panels are quick and easy to install, allowing the Silvertown Studio team to efficiently reconfigure the LED screen to each production’s specific requirements

• 16-bit greyscale: Gives the ability to accurately reproduce colour and tonal transitions, resulting in less posterisation.

The new Absen LED system has enabled Silvertown Studios to produce high-quality virtual productions with existing and new clients. The studio is confident that virtual productions will continue to grow in popularity in the coming years. With this in mind, Silvertown Studios is planning to continue investment in the VP technology, providing its clients with the best possible virtual production experience, with Absen screens at its heart. The Absen team and after-sales support have played an important role in ensuring the LED performed in optimal fashion.

“We have really enjoyed working together with Absen,” commented Ian Vine, CEO of Silvertown Studios. “We have no technical limitations with the system. Being able to offer quality virtual productions has meant we are experiencing a growing flow of incoming business. This entire project has been an exciting time for Silvertown Studios and we are grateful for the support that Absen has provided.”

Q&A

Silvertown Studios CEO Ian Vine reflects on the impactful projects and significant benefits stemming from their new studio.

What are some standout VP projects that have taken place at Silvertown since the install?

We have had the privilege of VP productions ranging from car scenes, dramas, commercials, music videos, feature films, and fashion shoots. The versatility of the Absen LED has opened up more virtual production opportunities for us as a studio. Working in collaboration with Unreal Engine software, we have travelled to the Caribbean, Mars, and the ocean whilst remaining in Royal Docks, East London!

We have seen various and intricate environments created to effortlessly to make surreal adverts. We have helped a very well-known fashion designer travel far and wide, using the LED volume to create amazing environments. The photographers could capture the genuine essence of the clothing and the models relating to the environment.

What are the key product benefits of the Absen PL2.5 Pro to the studio?

There are so many benefits we are experiencing! The Absen Pl2.5 has outstanding on-camera performance, resulting in worry-free shoots. Our technical team love how easy and quick it is to reconfigure the Absen PL2.5 LED to different size screens and curvatures and the high frame rate is perfect to meet clients’ requirements for slow-motion filming.

Overall, the product has proved to make productions less stressful, with less time wasted having to correct LED on filming days.

How have your customers reacted to the new LED solution?

Our clients have been really impressed! Those whom we have worked with in the past have noticed the difference from the LED products we have used in the past.

One factor which we keep hearing from clients is that they appreciate the control and flexibility of the product. The specification of the LED panels, combined with Brompton processing, allows a huge amount of control of brightness, refresh rate and colour.

Has the technology exceeded your expectations?

Absolutely! Our team carried out a lot of product research and testing to ensure that all requirements were met with the LED, it was extremely important it delivered for high quality virtual productions. We have not been disappointed.

Looking to the future, what will Silvertown do to continue its investment in VP technology?

Technology is evolving so fast and it is our job to make sure we keep up with the changes in the VP industry. For the next technological investments, we are researching which media servers will help to provide more immersive environments for our clients VP shoots.