Virtual production studio Garden Studios unveils carbon neutral film

The resultant emissions were less than one tonne of carbon – which was subsequently offset – compared with what would have been more than 120 times this amount if it had been shot as a traditional multi-location film.

Chris Chaundler, managing director of Quite Brilliant, the London-based production house behind the film, said: “Virtual production is here to stay and has the potential to massively decrease the carbon footprints of productions, as we have demonstrated with this project. With virtual production, the possibilities are truly endless; creatives can influence sets in ways they’ve never been able to before. Virtual stages are also inherently safer and more efficient places to create new film content while some virus-related restrictions remain in place.”

The film, written and directed by Nick Jones, illustrates how virtual production can be a cost-efficient alternative to traditional shooting. The transfer of skills and assets from the gaming to the film world has resulted in a proliferation of photorealistic environments that are now accessible to everyone, via platforms such as the Unreal Marketplace.

Andrew Dobbie, founder of MadeBrave, said: “Virtual production is one of the most important innovations since digital cameras replaced traditional film stock. While it’s not the answer to everything, it’s without doubt one of the greatest technical advances of recent years and holds the key to improving sustainability in the creative industries.”