Month: June 2021

Ground-breaking LED volume stage delivers cinematic quality and 360˚ shooting

Mo-Sys has supplied the brand-new Mo-Sys VP Pro XR extended reality server as well as StarTracker camera tracking to ARRI Rental UK for its new studio in Uxbridge, west of London, making them the first user of this innovative technology.

The new facility is one of the largest permanent LED volume studios in Europe and they have chosen the Mo-Sys technology, which is designed specifically for real time final pixel shooting, to deliver cinematic quality imagery, as well as precise 3D tracking for cameras, allowing directors to see the combined real and virtual images during the filming process and eliminating lengthy post-production compositing.

The new ARRI studio offers 708 square metres of floor space, bounded by 343 square metres of LED wall, including curves and a ceiling. The LEDs extend 360˚ around the studio, allowing the light from the virtual elements to fall naturally onto the real objects and actors, providing realistic soft edge lighting effects.

The facilities will also make full use of the latest VP Pro XR feature, Cinematic XR Focus, a unique and intuitive solution which allows focus pullers to pull focus between the real and virtual environments, using the same lens focussing controllers they are used to.

The LED volume was designed and installed by Creative Technology in collaboration with ARRI. Head of technical services at Creative Technology Tom Burford said, “We are thrilled to showcase this exciting new solution, bringing together best-in-class technology. This is a space designed specifically for mixed reality productions of all kinds, carefully considered to produce the most flexible shooting environment possible.”

Jannie van Wyk, Managing Director of ARRI Rental, which manages bookings for the studio, added: “Mo-Sys’ commitment to ongoing development and integration with ARRI camera systems was the reason for our decision to use the Mo-Sys StarTracker and VP Pro XR system for our mixed reality studio at Uxbridge.”

“Producers love the concept of final pixel shooting because of the creative freedom it gives directors plus the time and cost saved during post-production,” said Michael Geissler, CEO of Mo-Sys. “In the past, though, there have been concerns about image quality, shooting options, and workflow. We are solving these issues with VP Pro XR and StarTracker, in a way that fits naturally into today’s production workflows without adding complications or time penalties.

“We are delighted to have provided this ground-breaking solution, and this new ARRI studio is a world-class showcase for what can be achieved,” he added.

The UK ARRI Studio is now open for bookings.

Mo-Sys VP Pro XR is available now.

New service simplifies virtual production for Cinematographers and Directors

Mo-Sys is introducing on-set virtual production services for the Los Angeles market. Mo-Sys On-set VP Services provides an out-sourced solution for production companies new to virtual production.

This is a unique Mo-Sys concept designed to empower Cinematographers and Directors who can now focus solely on imaging and storytelling without the time-drain of organizing their own virtual production workflow or needing advanced knowledge of the latest technology.

A key element of the service is that all bookings are supported by experienced on-set virtual production technicians who remain with the system for the duration of the shoot. Several of these technicians joined the LA On-set VP team earlier this year, and have been on intensive product training with Mo-Sys specialists since then. Additional LA team members and further roll-out of the solution to other cities, such as London, are planned for the near future.

The news follows the recent announcement of the launch of Mo-Sys VP Pro XR, a new XR server solution for LED volumes, meeting the demands of final pixel XR production for film and TV. Mo-Sys VP Pro XR comprises a hardware and software solution combining multi-node nDisplay architecture, real-time VP Pro compositor/synchronizer and a new Cinematic XR toolset containing unique features such as Cinematic XR Focus.

“Mo-Sys’ new On-set VP Services enable production companies to shoot whilst learning the techniques and processes of virtual production, until they’re comfortable doing it themselves” said Michael Geissler, CEO of Mo-Sys. “We are boosting access to advanced production capabilities, and expanding the knowledge pool. We want to help our clients try new things with virtual production, irrespective of the screen technology, workflow or type of virtual production chosen.”  

Available for hire to productions in the UK

• New state-of-the-art LED volume stage created in collaboration with Creative Technology and Mo-Sys
• Among the largest permanent facilities of its type in Europe
• Part of a global ARRI commitment to mixed reality workflows and solutions
• Mo-Sys supplied a StarTracker camera tracking system and VP Pro XR

ARRI announces the opening of its new state-of-the-art mixed reality studio in the UK. Equipped with an LED volume comprising 343 square meters of LED wall, installed in partnership with NEP Live Events production and technical specialist firm Creative Technology, the studio is one of the biggest permanent mixed reality production spaces in Europe.

Located at ARRI’s UK premises in Uxbridge, with camera, grip, and lighting packages available on site from ARRI Rental, the 708 square-meter (7,621 square-foot) studio is being offered for hire to short and long-form productions of any kind, as well as for events, education, and R&D.

The volume consists of a main, ‘in vison’ curve that is 30 m wide by 5 m high (98.4 ft x 16.4 ft); two moveable and tiltable side screens, each 3 m wide by 4.2 m high (9.8 ft x 13.8 ft); and a height-adjustable ceiling of 9.6 m by 9.6 m (31.5 ft x 31.5 ft). A back curve measuring 18 m wide by 4.2 m high (59.1 ft x 13.8 ft) completes the fully encapsulated yet adaptable space, and can be programmed to display 360-degree imagery that even when not in frame, casts dynamic, fully integrated lighting effects onto the performers and the scene being shot. The ‘in vision’ curve is constructed from ROE Visual Ruby 2.3 panels, while the side screens, ceiling, and back curve use ROE Visual Carbon CB5 panels.

Much like the modular facilities, technical support can be tailored to the requirements of each production, with the full weight of expertise from ARRI, Creative Technology, and their respective partners available in the form of pre-production advice and creative production services. For productions new to mixed reality, technical support can extend to a full script-to-screen service.

Studio design and systems integration came from the ARRI Solutions Group, which can facilitate complete turnkey installations globally. Other cutting-edge technology companies have contributed to the construction and workflows of the stage and continue to provide ongoing support. Creative Technology designed and installed video walls, playback systems, and a number of powerful control solutions; Mo-Sys supplied a StarTracker camera tracking system and VP Pro XR; Epic Games provided its flagship real-time 3D creation tool, Unreal Engine; and Nvidia’s RTX A6000 GPUs power the image processing.

Jannie van Wyk, Managing Director of ARRI Rental, comments: “Collaborating with best-for-purpose suppliers of all the varied required technologies has enabled ARRI to deliver a full solution for mixed reality in our Uxbridge studio. These industry-leading hardware and software tools could not be better complemented than with ARRI cameras, lenses, stabilizers, lights, and workflow support, which can be provided to productions as a package deal on site. Unsurpassed in image quality and all-round technical solutions, ARRI products are ideally suited to mixed reality shooting. ARRI’s engineers will continue to learn and innovate to improve their integration into the virtual environment.”

Markus Zeiler, ARRI Executive Board member, adds: “ARRI has made a global commitment to be at the forefront of the exciting possibilities opened up by mixed reality shooting. In addition to this commercially available studio in the UK, we have also built LED volume stages at our facilities in Burbank, California and Munich, Germany, providing space for our technicians and clients to conduct R&D, testing, and demonstrations. As one of the most trusted brands in the industry, ARRI, with its partners, is here to help filmmakers embrace mixed reality and use it creatively, just as we were with the advents of digital camera technologies and LED lighting.”

Tom Burford, Head of Technical Services at Creative Technology, explains: “We at Creative Technology are thrilled to showcase this exciting new solution, bringing together a combination of best-in-class engineers and technology. Leveraging CT’s unparalleled experience of display technology, signal processing, and media playback with ARRI’s world-class camera and lighting technology, we have designed and built this volume specifically for mixed reality productions. The shape, rigging solutions, choice of hardware, and signal distribution have all been very carefully considered to produce the most flexible shooting environment possible.”

Burford continues: “The capabilities provided by these new technologies, when in the hands of visual artists, allow for the production of outstanding results that are very difficult to achieve in other ways. Shooting in the stage is a truly emotive, immersive experience. The sense of being fully surrounded within a virtual environment really does need to be felt first-hand.”

Innovative XR server solution delivers improved cinematic capabilities

We’re proud to announce the launch of VP Pro XR, a new multi-node XR server solution for LED volumes to meet the demands of final pixel XR production for film and TV.

With virtual production increasing exponentially, in particular in the LED volume space, Mo-Sys utilized its 20+ years of film and broadcast technology innovation and experience to create the next step forward for XR media servers.

Mo-Sys VP Pro XR is a hardware and software solution combining multi-node nDisplay architecture, an improved VP Pro real-time compositor/ synchronizer, and a new XR toolset. This XR server system is focused on delivering cinematic capabilities and standards for Cinematographers and Focus Pullers.

The launch of VP Pro XR follows the recently announced Mo-Sys Cinematic XR Focus capability. Cinematic XR Focus allows focus pullers to pull focus between real and virtual elements in an LED volume – a world first – and is now available on VP Pro XR.

The XR space to date has been predominantly driven by live event equipment companies. Whilst these XR volumes have delivered cost savings by removing post-production compositing and lowering location costs, they have also introduced shooting limitations, and an output image that isn’t yet comparable to non-real-time compositing. This was the reason behind the creation of VP Pro XR.

VP Pro XR is the first product release under Mo-Sys’ Cinematic XR initiative. The over-riding aim of Cinematic XR is to move final pixel XR production forwards in terms of image quality and shooting creativity from its initial roots using live event LED technology, to fit-for-purpose Cinematic XR technology.

Mo-Sys has outlined four key components to Cinematic XR:

• Improve image fidelity
• Introduce established cinematic shooting techniques to XR
• Enable seamless interaction between virtual and real set elements
• Innovate new hybrid workflows combining final pixel and non-real-time compositing

Michael Geissler, Mo-Sys CEO explains, “With our twenty-year background in film robotics, we regularly get to hear what cinematographers and producers think and need. Whilst producers love the final pixel XR concept, cinematographers worry about image quality, colour pipeline, mixed lighting, and shooting freedom. We started Cinematic XR in response to this, and VP Pro XR is specifically designed to solve the urgent problems we have been made aware of by our cinematographer and focus puller colleagues.”

Mo-Sys will announce the initial VP Pro XR customers in June. VP Pro XR is available immediately.