Virtual Production Studios by 80six takes modular LED volume stages a step further.

The founders of 80six envisioned their recently expanded studio as an immense technical playground for real-time exploration that puts 100% control into the hands of filmmakers. 

80six emerged as a leading system integrator and virtual production provider in early 2019 at the beginning of the real-time boom. Since, the company has supported the world’s creative visionaries at Netflix, DNEG, BBC, RSA Films and Shutterstock to deliver VP projects highly commended for their innovative integration of virtual production (the 100% Shutterstock commercial won ‘Best Use of Virtual Production’ at Ideas Awards 2022). Before establishing their new 11,743 sq. foot facility in West London/Slough, the 80six team trialled two ‘pop-up style’ iterations of mixed reality studios. Using those learnings, the final rendition of their studio delivers ultimate flexibility by building to spec each LED volume to match the production requirements. Regarded as one of the UK’s most versatile virtual production studios, the 80six team is confident that their ‘tried and tested’ bespoke formula will have an impact that will enable access to LED virtual production for varying budgets. 

Dan Hamill, co-founder at 80six says: “Imagine our studio as a blank slate. You have the latest real-time technology, pioneering technical excellence (ROE Visual 2.6 mm LED panels, Brompton Technology, Mo-Sys, disguise and Unreal Engine) and a team that specialises in video technology integration to design LED Volumes that match your vision and budget.”

 

Custom-build LED volumes solve complex creative and technical challenges 

LED stages are a game-changing technique for driving sequences, and 80six thinks this is the sweet point of entry to virtual production. In 2021, 80six worked with Lexhag VFX and October Studios on a US-based documentary series which included dangerous locations to shoot in, like a forest fire. These shots would have been too expensive to recreate in post. Shooting inside the controllable environment of a LED studio, against an 18m LED wall, was a decision highly praised for its efficiency and quality. 

Apart from the enhanced realism added through the subtlety of reflections and shadows captured, the authenticity of the actor’s performance improves. This benefit was highlighted during their recent VP shoot with Framestore for a new Netflix mini-series where using LED virtual production helped the actor precisely hit certain action beats for comical impact. 

Different moving vehicles require different LED configurations. At 23.5m wide by 32m long, the 11,734 sq ft studio boasts multi-vehicle capability from sports cars to full-size buses, helicopters, train carriages, or large ships. 80six’s video technology warehouse, with a total of over 1200 sq metres of industry-leading ROE Visual LED panels is located next to the studio allowing them the flexibility to build customized LED volumes on demand. 

‘Having years of experience staging large-scale LED installations for stadium-filling shows, rigging 
LED in unusual 
ways, gives us
an advantage.
We now have the capacity to build LED volumes as if it was LEGO. In just two days, a customised stage can be up and ready to shoot on. After that, it’s all plug and play for the filmmakers,” Hamill says.  

By offering LED volume customisation at this level, 80six pushes the boundaries on experimentation in the industry. Their recent VP test with Foundry for Comandante, a feature film by Edoardo de Angelis, went beyond the limits of virtual production, trialing low resolution LED screens to capture in-camera. 

“It’s the projects that set up challenges for us that we enjoy the most. Sometimes the challenges rise as the tech is in its infancy. We take an industry-centric and research-based approach to VP to advance its technology too. We work with SMPTE as part of their global On-Set Virtual Production Initiative to come up with technical solutions for LED walls. We’re in it for the long run,” Hamill concludes. 

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This article was paid for by 80six.

Located just outside London, Virtual Production Studios by 80six is an 11,743 sq ft. award-winning purpose-built mixed reality studio with bespoke LED stages and the latest real-time technologies for delivering in-camera VFX (ICVFX) or xR (extended reality). Through a combination of high-resolution LED screens, game engines, camera tracking technology and award-winning media servers, the studio is geared to lead visual innovation in film, TV & advertising by integrating existing & emerging technologies in new ways that push entertainment production to a new level. 

Proud members and patrons of: The British Society of Cinematographers, The Production Guild, On-Set Virtual Production Initiative by The Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE), The Guild of British Camera Technicians and Production Futures. 

www.virtualproductionstudios.com