Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1522417
VIRTUAL PRODUCTION www.postmagazine.com 24 POST MAY/JUNE 2024 RECREATING THE DAIRY QUEEN EXPERIENCE DALLAS — Camp Lucky (https://camp-lucky.com) was recently called on to deliver an authentic Dairy Queen experience for an ad campaign without disrupting an actual restaurant. The studio's production and post team collaborated to recreate the restaurant as a 3D environment, adding brand-specific mid and foreground elements to guarantee a realistic and immersive experience. The Volume at Camp Lucky features a 51-foot, J-shaped LED volume that stands 15 feet tall. There's also 3,400 square feet of vehicle-friendly support space. The XR stage incorporates three Unreal Engine systems to drive the 1.9mm pitch, 8K (7,680×2,304) native resolution imaging system. The XR stage also employs the MoSys camera tracking system for complete control of the virtual camera inside the Unreal environment. DISTORTION STUDIOS OPENS NEW VIRTUAL PRODUCTION STAGE BRISTOL, UK — Distortion Studios (https://distortion.studio) recently opened the doors to a new Bristol-based studio that is home to a stage that can be used to shoot virtual production content, as well as serve as a training and community hub. The studio incoporates software technology from Stage Precision (www.stageprecision.com), which Distortion technical director Nick Diacre came across while exploring XR setups using Disguise technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. "[Stage Precision] slotted into a gap when we needed to take our produc- tions to the next level and be more versatile," recalls Diacre. "With SP we didn't need to program custom code from scratch to build integrations anymore. This was a game-changer." As a user and contributor to the evolution of the software since, Diacre has designed the VP workflow at Distortion Studios based on Stage Precision. The studio is committed to remaining platform-agnostic, allowing for adaptability to different tools and technologies based on project and client requirements. With Stage Precision at the center of operations, Distortion Studios can switch between platforms, software and systems. Stage Precision is capable of man- aging complex workflows, including the handling and visualizing of camera tracking data, controlling switches and calibrating lenses. This level of control allows the studio to cater to various camera setups and configurations. "Sometimes, being tied into a product ecosystem can be expensive and annoying. Stage Precision takes that problem away," explains Diacre. "Because the software is platform-agnostic, there are no constraints on the technology we can use, as there are many proprietary systems. This allows us to focus on creative execution rather than technical limitations or coming up with work- arounds when someone wants to use a different camera." Stage Precision's Shield plug-in for Unreal Engine 5 is also in use at the studio. "Shield has become a potent tool for us, taking the legwork out of con- trolling Unreal," says Diacre. "Our green-screen workflow is elevated as Shield facilitates a closer control and monitoring of Unreal Engine. It's not a compli- cated tool, but it's exactly what we need." Brooklyn, NY's The Garage (www. the-garage.tv) recently used its virtual production space to complete package of spots for Captain D's seafood kitchen. The beach background featured in the commercials was captured on the studio's LED volume, helping to create the perfect environment in which to promote its seaside tacos and $5.99 meal deal.