Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1491451
38 PRODUCTION SOUND & VIDEO – Spring 2023 Since 2019, a growing number of film and television productions have been making use of video wall technology. By innovating on the sort of projection and playback work Local 695 engineers have been doing for decades, productions have the ability to incorporate large walls made up of interconnected LED panels into the set. Rather than utilizing green screens or going out on location, an LED wall allows filmmakers to simulate nearly any environment in a controlled setting. Not only does this eliminate the need for expensive and time-consuming post- production visual effects work, it allows, for example, a magic hour sunset that can last an entire shooting day or the ability to place a full moon in the exact spot you want. This gives the Director of Photography more creative freedom in their projects and allows for a consistent look between setups. For actors, the immersive nature of virtual production gives them something to play off of during performances. It's a lot easier to react to a beautiful, awe-inspiring vista when it's being simulated right in front of you. More importantly, the director now has the ability to see something much closer to the final product when capturing scenes. It helps productions feel confident they've shot the necessary footage to assemble a given scene and can even be used as a tool during pickups to recreate an exact environment as it existed months or years prior. Video wall work makes up the majority of the work that I do today. In the past two years, I've worked on a variety of productions, including Station 19, The Idol, Sausalito, Bishop's Birthday/ Sugar, All Rise, After Party, The Deliverance, Good Trouble, Our Flag Means Death, and White Noise. The Deliverance, directed by Lee Daniels with DP Eli Arenson, was probably the most significant experience so far. I was entrusted with taking over the role of a lead LED playback operator. During the shooting process, many responsibilities fall on the playback operator and I needed to be on the ball in order to do my job correctly. That said, the experience was a huge success and it felt phenomenal to Top row, both pages: Our Flag Means Death Season 1, filmed at Warner Bros. Studios. Prep & setup for the TV series Station 19. On set for the TV series Good Trouble.