The Future of Production Amplified: Pushing the Limits of Virtual Production

As part of NAB Amplify’s video series, “The Future of Production Amplified,” NAB Amplify content partner Jennifer Wolfe chats with A.J. Wedding from Orbital Virtual Studios about how virtual production is transforming film & television production.

Wedding is director and co-founder of Orbital Virtual Studios, a virtual production studio based in the heart of Los Angeles, and the virtual production supervisor for FX Series Snowfall. As the former head of production for Raleigh Studios, he has produced and directed countless commercials and ad campaigns as well as live broadcasts. He also hosts the industry-focused podcast, “The Callsheet.”

Snowfall made waves last year for its use of LED walls to create real-time backdrops of Los Angeles for Season 5, saving nearly $50,000 per episode by reducing shooting time, transportation between locations, and the number of crew.

In Part 1 of the chat Wedding discusses the mechanics of virtual production and the core technologies that power it, as well as what DPs have to say about VP in terms of lighting, stationary LED volumes vs. mobile workflows, and what he sees for the future.

Watch Part 1 below:

In Part 2, Wedding talks about the essential things production teams need to understand about using virtual production before diving in, including options for various budgets and the advantages it offers, as well as the challenges virtual production presents for DPs, and some of the biggest advancements from over the past year.

Watch Part 2 below:

In Part 3, Wedding shares what he’s learned from his experience as virtual production supervisor for FX series Snowfall, including defining the role of the VP supervisor, the ideal time to bring a VP supervisor on board — hint: as early as possible — and the cost-saving benefits virtual production can offer. He also talks about capturing backplates, and the mechanics of playback on set.

Watch Part 3 below:

You can connect with A.J. Wedding on LinkedIn or follow him on Instagram. You can also follow Orbital Virtual Studios on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.