Author: Claire

Mo-Sys showcases a new world of
remote and virtual production at NAB

Posted on by Claire

Mo-Sys Engineering will unveil new technologies alongside an interactive, audience-led virtual production demonstration at NAB 2023. Mo-Sys will once again have a significant presence throughout the event from its own booth (C3325) and several strategic partners.

Mo-Sys virtual production solutions at NAB Show 2023

Visitors to the Mo-Sys booth will have the chance to take part in a revolutionary, audience-led, interactive virtual production demonstration. Designed by Mo-Sys Academy graduates Hyper RPG, this puts the visitor into the middle of their own unique, epic, shareable moment. Hyper regularly reaches audiences over a million for its livestream projects, and has seen 16 billion Giphy views created by its fans. Using the all-new StarTracker Max optical camera tracking system in conjunction with Mo-Sys VP Pro XR, a purpose built LED content server solution, NAB visitors will be part of the action.

Alongside virtual production, Mo-Sys will feature its camera robotics. The heavy-duty G30 is the next generation in gyro-stabilized heads, and it will be shown alongside the two-axis L40, providing precise, robust and lightweight support for high-end cinematography cameras. The B20 two-axis remote head brings precision to the remote control of ENG and broadcast cameras, and the e-Crane is designed specifically for virtual studios, providing best-in-market accuracy, making it ideal for close up AR graphics like analysis tables in sports broadcasts. Extending the remote operation to a global scale, Mo-Sys TimeCam offers zero delay control from anywhere, and will be shown with the RED V-Raptor 8K at NAB.

As well as its own large booth, Mo-Sys can be seen in action across NAB. Mo-Sys will once again collaborate with LG (C6025), where it will host the virtual beer garden in the XR Zone. Here the team will showcase a complete end-to-end broadcast workflow, bMR. bMR features multi-camera switching, set extensions, data fed graphics and simple to use custom interfaces, making it ideal for sports, news and current affairs programmes.

Mo-Sys will also be showing MoRail on the LG booth. This is a powerful yet cost-effective approach to adding creative PTZ movement in traditional news rooms, or when combined with StarTracker PTZ adding parallax with tracked graphics within a virtual studio.

Mo-Sys products will also be in use on a number of other booths and presentations at NAB 2023. AOTO (C7435) will have StarTracker and VP Pro XR powering virtual production with a curved LED wall and floor and set extensions. HP (N2826) will also have a full VP workflow using Mo-Sys StarTracker. Experts from Mo-Sys will also take part in two panel sessions on the HP booth: Closing the Virtual Production Knowledge Gap and Novel Virtual Production Technologies.

In the Creative Inspiration Zone, Magicbox (C8045) will show the world’s first semi-trailer mobile virtual production studio, built around VP Pro and StarTracker. Sony (C8101) will be discussing practical workflow considerations for LED production, using two StarTracker systems for precision camera movements.

To demonstrate its latest LED panels for virtual production, Gloshine (C7508) will use StarTracker and the dedicated LED content server VP Pro XR. And Tata (W2429) is including the ability to control a camera over global distances using the Mo-Sys U50 head.

“Virtual and augmented production is now an everyday reality, and the key issues are how to support complete creative freedom, how to implement the technology without impact on production schedules, and how to deliver the benefits cost-effectively and sustainably,” said Michael Geissler, CEO of Mo-Sys. “That is why we have focused on working with partners around NAB, to show the real variety of options and opportunities, and how – whether you are looking at remote production or final pixel studios – Mo-Sys has the right products and solutions.”

Download our NAB 2023 Brochure or get in touch here to book a meeting with us at the show.

Mo-Sys Sponsors Coverage of European Blind Football League at Royal National College for the Blind

Posted on by Claire

Mo-Sys is proud to sponsor the coverage of European Blind Football League (EBFL), held at the Royal National College for the Blind’s leisure facility, thePoint4, on April 8th, 2023. CJP Broadcast Services, a partner of Mo-Sys, has been selected to provide multi-camera coverage of the tournament, which will be streamed live with commentary via the College’s YouTube channel. 

 European Blind Football League (EBFL)

As a partner of Mo-Sys, CJP Broadcast Services integrates Mo-Sys’ Virtual Production technologies into educational institutes in the UK, allowing students to learn about the latest technologies used in the broadcast and film industry. 

The tournament will feature six games between five European clubs, with the College team representing England. The event will also feature a series of short films introducing viewers to the origins and rules of blind football, as well as interviews with the England coach and players. These films produced by CJP Broadcast will be introduced by David Wooldridge, who will also conduct post-match interviews with players and managers. 

In addition, the event will be an opportunity to trial specialist devices to aid the viewing experience for partially sighted and completely blind individuals, including screens that use touch rather than sight and enhanced viewing glasses. 

The goal of the tournament is to share good practice and fair play, as well as opportunities for player development. The College is home to a dedicated Sports Academy for blind and visually impaired young people in Europe, making this event an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of blind sport and support its ongoing development. 

As a company that values accessibility and inclusivity, Mo-Sys is thrilled to be a part of an event that promotes the benefits and importance of blind sport. By working with CJP Broadcast Services and the Royal National College for the Blind, we hope to support the growth of blind sport and its place in the wider sporting community and look forward to a day of exciting football and sharing the passion of the players with a global audience. 

Magicbox Unveils Gen2 Mobile VP Superstudio™ with Mo-Sys StarTracker at NAB

Posted on by Claire

Last year, Magicbox launched the first Mobile Virtual Production Superstudio™, a semi-trailer designed to make motion picture technology more accessible to any content producer. Building on the success of their first-generation studio, Magicbox has recently announced the unveiling of their second-generation truck at the NAB Show (Las Vegas, 15-19 April 2023). 

Magicbox Unveils Gen2 Mobile VP Superstudio™

In addition to its fully enclosed design, the second-generation Mobile Virtual Production Superstudio™ by Magicbox includes camera tracking capabilities provided by Mo-Sys’ StarTracker. The initial set-up of StarTracker is fast and can maintain its calibration even as the shape of the truck is transformed. These features make the studio an ideal solution for content creators looking for a flexible and efficient way to produce high-quality productions. 

At the NAB Show, both the first and second-generation trucks will be showcased. The first-generation truck will be in the NAB Inspiration Zone stage in the Central Hall, while the second-generation truck will be used to demonstrate a wide variety of motion picture productions. The Gen 2.0 is large and can accommodate many people inside, making it ideal for a wide range of applications. 

Mo-Sys is revved up to be joining Magicbox for its NAB debut and will be present on booth C8045 to demonstrate StarTracker and discuss your enquires for virtual production solutions. 

Mo-Sys Showcases Innovative Hybrid Virtual Production at HPA Tech Retreat

Posted on by Claire

Mo-Sys Engineering recently showcased its hybrid workflow at the HPA Tech Retreat 2023, held at Rancho Mirage, CA.

Demonstration of Hybrid Virtual Production Workflow

This innovative hybrid approach offers directors and cinematographers the ability to produce content quickly and with great flexibility while unlocking significant cost savings.

The traditional approach to shooting final pixel (ICVFX) virtual production required a large LED volume, which can be prohibitively expensive.

Mo-Sys’ solution involves shooting wide shots against a green screen, with mids and close-ups shot in a small LED volume as illustrated above. This approach can significantly speed up production and provides a great opportunity to reduce costs.

By placing the green screen and smaller LED volume on the same stage, performers and technicians can move freely between them, creating a seamless production workflow.

It was an exciting opportunity for Mo-Sys to demonstrate this innovative solution at HPA Tech Retreat. If you missed it, be sure to get in touch with the team to learn more about how this technology can benefit your production. Contact Mo-Sys.

Mo-Sys Academy Celebrates 2nd Birthday

Posted on by Claire

Mo-Sys’ Academy was established in 2021 with the clear aim of filling the growing skills gap around Virtual Production. As the Academy reaches its second anniversary, hundreds of industry professionals have upskilled to meet growing demand and stay ahead, and Mo-Sys’ VP knowledge has been shared with universities and teaching staff, who have left empowered to produce the VP Technicians of tomorrow.

Mo-Sys Academy students

Led by Juliette Thymi and Dominic Smith, Senior VP Technicians and experienced Virtual Production Producers who continue to work on projects for Netflix, ITV and BBC. Mo-Sys’ Academy aims to build students confidence and provide valuable hands-on practical experience, priding itself on a friendly, collaborative learning environment for all skill levels.

The team got off to an award-winning start in 2021. Students of the inaugural Virtual Production Practical Summer School, an intensive six-week course, quickly went on to win multiple awards at the University of Greenwich’ BAFTA styled film and television GRAFTAs for their short film, Balance.

The Academy was also the first of its kind to partner with universities, helping them to develop in-house Virtual Production curriculums and opening the doors to lecturers who attended the successful ‘Teach the Teacher’ program.

Speaking of his time at the Academy, Nicholas Glean, Senior Lecturer in Video and New Media at the University of Sunderland added “This two-week course was brilliant! From the first day to the last it was packed with information and fantastic knowledge delivered by welcoming and friendly tutors in Juliette and Dominic. This was supported by experts who came into our sessions and helped us reach another level of understanding. I cannot recommend this course enough.”

As demand grew, Mo-Sys expanded the Academy and now runs courses from its Los Angeles Refinery, which itself was established to provide a unique VP testing facility for cinematographers and where content producers can de-risk and refine their virtual production concepts, allowing them to experiment with new techniques and workflows.

To celebrate the Academy reaching its 2nd birthday, Mo-Sys is today announcing several new course dates in addition to a limited special offer. For each StarTracker ordered from 8th March and shipped before 28th April 2023, Mo-Sys will provide 1x FREE place on a 5-day Technician course (UK or USA), to be taken during 2023.

All of the latest course information can be found at https://www.mo-sys.com/mo-sys-academy/ and enquiries should be directed to academy@mo-sys.com.

StarTracker Sales enquiries should be sent to info@mo-sys.com.

Mo-Sys Academy Celebrates 2nd Anniversary
Mo-Sys Academy Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

Mo-Sys showcases new approach to hybrid virtual production workflows at HPA

Posted on by Claire

Mo-Sys Engineering will demonstrate a new hybrid approach to final pixel (ICVFX) virtual shooting at the HPA Tech Retreat (booth 720, Innovation Zone, Mission Hills Rancho Mirage, 20 – 23 February 2023).

Hybrid Virtual Production Workflow

This innovation gives directors and cinematographers great flexibility and can significantly reduce costs without compromising quality in any way. To give directors the freedom to create a cinematic experience including wide shots and close-ups in final pixel LED virtual production, up until now you needed a very large LED volume which is expensive to implement. Mo-Sys’ solution is to shoot wide shots against a green screen, and the mids and closer shots in an LED volume which can now be much smaller. 

For this approach to work, the image quality has to be precisely matched, and the director needs to be able to switch immediately from one to the other to meet production workflows and timescales. With the green screen and smaller LED volume on the same stage, the lighting can be matched and the performers and technicians can move freely from one to the other. 

Underpinning this is a unified system for content serving and camera tracking. Mo-Sys StarTracker is widely recognized as the leader in precision camera and lens tracking for movie and television production. VP Pro XR is the company’s powerful LED content server solution, built as a plugin which sits natively within the Unreal Engine, and tied closely to StarTracker to ensure perfect synchronization, and even focus pulls between real and virtual objects. 

“The industry is learning how best to use virtual production and is keen to use the benefits within practical production workflows and budgets,” said Michael Geissler, CEO of Mo-Sys. “We have taken the largest exhibition booth at HPA to show how practical it is to use multiple techniques in a single scene, so the actors and crew can work through the shots as they would do on a physical set. This is a real game-changer in the viability of virtual, final pixel production.”

Mo-Sys brings CGI avatars to life for Netflix Dance Monsters

Posted on by Claire

Mo-Sys is a world leader in image robotics, virtual production and remote production solutions. With over 25 years’ experience, Mo-Sys holds an enviable position as production partner to high-profile prime time entertainment shows and live sports broadcasts. The Mo-Sys product range spans turnkey LED virtual studio system integration, remote heads and broadcast robotics, mechanical and optical camera tracking for augmented reality and Virtual Production, and on-set visualization.

Mo-Sys brings CGI avatars to life for Netflix Dance Monsters
Dance Monsters Virtual Production

Mo-Sys is proud to announce its involvement with Netflix latest hit Dance Monsters, a powerful heart-warming competition where amateur dancers are disguised as CGI avatars competing to win $250,000. The creative vision behind the show pushed the boundaries of possible and led technology partners to adopt a collaborative, knowledge sharing approach to overcome complex challenges and develop workflow improvements to achieve ambitious goals. 
 
The resulting show successfully pioneers the use of performance capture for dancers, targeted onto avatars for a live audience. The ground-breaking combined use of technology meant contestants could see themselves in real-time as their Monsters, empowering them to push past personal inhibitions and perform with confidence, immersing singers into their character and the overall creative concept. 
 
Mo-Sys deployed VP Pro, its complete solution for virtual production with a full suite of creative tools embedded directly within Unreal Engine for augmented graphics, virtual sets and mixed reality. The team also utilised Mo-Sys’ award-winning StarTracker optical camera tracking to precisely track the position of six moving cameras, and deliver live compositing. The resulting camera and lens data was combined with the Motion Capture data in Mo-Sys VP Pro and Unreal, to render the monsters in AR live on stage. 

James Uren, Mo-Sys Technical Director explains: “It has been a real pleasure to work with Lime Pictures on this technically challenging project. The early collaboration across all technology partners to deliver a world-class production has been key to the success of Dance Monsters.”

James adds “A total of six Mo-Sys VP Stations  – synchronised on-set Virtual Production rendering carts were used. One for each camera chain and one for recording and backup. Mo-Sys recorded the movement of the cameras, lenses and lights, so the Monsters could be re-rendered at an even higher quality in an automated post-production pipeline.” 
 
Mo-Sys’ VP Stations reveal some impressive production numbers; 856 takes amounting to 20 full days of recordings and 40 million key frames of data. And the result was the ability to have a Live preview of the show with AR ‘monsters’ on a real stage, allowing the production team to film complex camera sequences of dances and interviews, with all data recorded and delivered to post-production to enable an automated re-render pipeline. 
 
Mo-Sys is delighted to learn that Dance Monsters has been nominated for the 2023 Producers Guild of America Innovation Award which recognises production of noteworthy, impactful new media programs that significantly elevate the audiences viewing experience. We wish our friends and colleagues at Lime Pictures every success at the PGA Awards ceremony. 

Watch now on Netflix.

Mo-Sys Unleashes Storytelling Creativity at new XR LED Studio

Posted on by Claire

Mo-Sys had the pleasure of attending PLAZAMEDIA GmbH’s grand opening of their new Extended Reality (XR) LED studio, briX|woRk on February 10th. Mo-Sys was one of the presenters at the event, showcasing the tools available to help storytellers unleash their creativity.

briX|woRk LED studio Grand Opening

As a leading provider in image robotics, virtual production and remote production, Mo-Sys is uniquely positioned to offer both a Cinematic XR solution (VP Pro XR) and the leading camera tracking solution in the market, StarTracker. With these tools, Mo-Sys can deliver new innovations in on-set real-time production and solve existing LED/XR challenges.

One of the Key features showcased by Mo-Sys at the event was Cinematic XR Focus. This feature of VP Pro XR allows filmmakers to pull focus between real and virtual elements in an on-set real-time shoot, making it a major creative storytelling solution when using an on-set real-time LED volume.

We are proud to have been a part of this incredible event. With the new XR LED studio, there are now even more possibilities for innovative and sustainable productions for film and production companies, broadcasters, advertising companies, and event and creative agencies. 

To see our presentation at the event, check out the video below.

VP Pro 5.1.0.2

Posted on by Claire

We’re excited to share the new minor release of VP Pro 5.1.0.2. Shipping now, this update includes new performance improvements, making it the best version of VP Pro yet.

Release notes:

  • UI and UX improvements to all panels
  • Updated documentation including XR and Lens Tweaker
  • Lens Tweaker improvements and graphing tool for Near-Wide tweak
  • Improved shadow and reflection controls
  • NearTime rendering support for 5.1 (NearTime license)
  • Erizos integration for 5.1 including nDisplay (VFX license)
  • Improved VFX workflow integrations for Nuke and Maya (VFX license)
  • Improvements and fixes to external keyer integration (VFX license)
  • XR internal compositing support (XR license)
  • XR debug views (XR license)
  • Improved XR compositing of forward objects (XR license)

Customers wishing to access these features should download the update from Mo-Sys here.

Take your production to the next level with Mo-Sys at ISE 2023

Posted on by Claire

Mo-Sys is a world leader in image robotics, Virtual Production and remote production solutions with over 25 years’ experience. We are a production partner to high-profile prime time entertainment shows and our technology is routinely deployed on Hollywood film projects.

Mo-Sys at ISE 2023

More recently, Mo-Sys successfully delivered a major LED Virtual Studio for the live broadcast of 64 FIFA World Cup games over 29 consecutive production days. Our skilled team is uniquely positioned to guide you from concept to delivery, with expert on-site project management.

We are excited to announce our collaboration with four technology partners at ISE 2023 (Fira Barcelona, 31 January – 3 February).

Visitors to ISE will find us on the LG Electronics booth (Stand 3K200) where we will demonstrate StarTracker, our market leading inside-out camera tracking solution as used in the production of Netflix’s latest hit Dance Monsters, the BBC’s BAFTA TV Award winning talent show Strictly Come Dancing and ITV’s unique prime-time quiz show Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win.

StarTracker will also be on display at the Alfalite booth (Stand 6H310), where we will showcase Virtual Production solutions for corporate applications. The boardroom virtual scene will be powered by Mo-Sys’ award-winning VP Pro XR LED content server solution and Mo-Sys’ Cinematic XR Focus is set to immerse visitors as we rack focus between real world foreground objects and virtual assets placed deep within the scene.

Absen (Stand 3N300) is set to show one of the most impressive Virtual Production demonstrations at ISE 2023. The virtual scene will be powered by Mo-Sys VP Pro XR and Mo-Sys’ StarTracker which will track from retro-reflective markers placed on the floor. Our demonstration of Mo-Sys Cinematic XR Focus will empower filmmakers to shoot more creative shots while saving valuable time and enhancing their storytelling.

NovaStar (Stand 3B850) will demonstrate LED Virtual Production with an impressive forest scene which is set to be powered by Mo-Sys VP Pro XR with StarTracker providing rock-solid camera tracking. This demonstration serves to underline the rapid growth in interest in LED volume Virtual Production within the film, television and corporate industries. 

Mo-Sys staff will be available on all the partner stands throughout ISE 2023 where we will be happy to demonstrate our solutions and discuss your enquires for complete LED Virtual Studios from concept to delivery.