4Wall and ZeroSpace Partner with disguise to Launch Virtual Production Accelerator in NYC
4Wall Entertainment and ZeroSpace are partnering with disguise to bring the disguise Virtual Production Accelerator training program to New York City. This initiative will empower aspiring filmmakers and industry professionals with the skills needed to excel in the rapidly evolving world of virtual production. The Virtual Production Accelerator will provide an immersive and comprehensive on-set learning experience for participants of all skill levels. Leveraging the expertise and facilities of 4Wall and ZeroSpace, the program will combine classroom training with practical principal photography, enabling trainees to gain hands-on experience and an accurate simulation of the demands faced on real film sets.
“Our goal is to revolutionize virtual production and equip the next generation of filmmakers with the necessary expertise to harness its full potential,” says Addy Ghani, Vice President of Virtual Production at disguise, who spearheads the program. “Currently, finding experienced professionals in this field is a challenge. We are confident that, with our in-depth understanding of the technology and studio workflows, we can empower participants to become proficient in virtual production.”
Participants of the Virtual Production Accelerator program will have access to state-of-the-art production facilities at ZeroSpace’s headquarters in Brooklyn. Over the course of a week, the program will offer unique learning opportunities that are not readily accessible to most, providing trainees with the tools and knowledge to create cinematic content on a large scale. By the program’s conclusion, participants will possess the expertise required to leverage virtual production techniques, granting filmmakers complete creative freedom and control over their projects.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with disguise and ZeroSpace on this pioneering initiative,” says VP of Special Projects at 4Wall, Mathew Leland. “By bringing the Virtual Production Accelerator to New York City, we aim to cultivate a thriving community of virtual production professionals, enabling the city’s entertainment industry to thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape.”
ZeroSpace CEO Jon Kreutzer says, “disguise is an integral part of the work we do at ZeroSpace, integrating an array of emerging technologies to create groundbreaking workflows. We are honored to be collaborating with our partners at 4Wall and disguise to further our joint initiative to become a hub of knowledge-sharing and education to empower the VP community.”
With their shared commitment to empowering the next generation of virtual production professionals, 4Wall and ZeroSpace, in partnership with disguise, are poised to revolutionize the way storytelling and filmmaking are approached. The Virtual Production Accelerator will play a vital role in preparing participants to navigate the ever-expanding possibilities of virtual production and shape the future of the entertainment industry. This is the third deployment of the Virtual Production Accelerator, after disguise launched the program in Los Angeles in November 2022 and the UK in May 2023. For more information about the Virtual Production Accelerator program held in New York City and how to apply, please join the mailing list at this link: https://web.disguise.one/43BA967. Learn more at www.4wall.com and www.zerospace.co.
Vū and Unilumin Embark on Strategic Partnership
Vū, an emerging force in shaping the growing virtual production market with an expanding global network of Vū-operated/affiliate studios, an evolving set of software tools, and a expert team, announced in early June that it is entering into a strategic partnership with Unilumin, an industry leading manufacturer of LED display products. The two companies are embarking on several initiatives to advance virtual production technologies, services and practices in 2023 and beyond. As a result of this partnership agreement, Vū and Unilumin will begin jointly designing and developing specialized LED panels for virtual production. These new virtual production technologies will leverage the combined expertise of both companies and will focus on production-critical features such as increased color accuracy up to Rec. 2020, a wider range of refresh rates, and capabilities for remote operations and diagnostics. Key to these new jointly developed technologies is the integration of Megapixel processing, which will enable the panels with several new innovations specifically designed for the Virtual Production market that leverage Vū’s new Virtual Studio Platform. Vū and Unilumin expect their first jointly developed LED panels to ship later in 2023, with more details to be announced at that time.
“As the world’s largest LED manufacturer, Unilumin is well known for their innovations in LED display technology and have already made significant contributions to the virtual production industry,” said Tim Moore, CEO of Vū. “We see an opportunity to dramatically improve the performance of LED panels for on-camera use cases and eliminate the common issues seen with the legacy LED technology that is being used today.”
“Unilumin has built our company’s foundation on innovation and partnership. As we grow our presence in the virtual production space, we were drawn to Vū’s market leading growth and strategic vision,” said Nicholas J. Fazio, CEO of Unilumin North America. “This collaboration brings together an all-star team of scientists, creatives, technologists and thought leaders that will inevitably create and develop market leading products in the years to come,” added Fazio.
Vū and Unilumin also teamed up at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) tradeshow in April, creating the ‘Virtual Production Central’ education space on the show floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center. With the massive interest for virtual production education, Vū and Unilumin hosted a series of talks, panels, and product demonstrations, creating significant value-add to NAB attendees and the brands and innovators who are powering the virtual production revolution. The two partners assembled a multi-day agenda of panel discussions moderated by industry leaders and influencers, and offered several virtual production-related tech demos and announcements from Vū, Unilumin and various partners.
Vū and Unilumin again partnered, along with Mark Roberts Motion Control (MRMC), a Nikon Group company, at InfoComm in June in Orlando to demonstrate for attendees the newly designed “Unreal Ride | A Virtual Production Experience,” which the three also hosted at NAB. The activation provided a first-hand look at how Virtual Production works. Attendees got to experience a blend of the physical world and the virtual world through a combination of the latest innovations in virtual production technology, including advanced Unilumin LED panels, a motion-controlled camera, camera tracking, virtual environments created with Unreal Engine, and lighting optimized for virtual production. The Unreal Ride originally debuted at the NAB as an immersive futuristic motorcycle ride through wildly created virtual worlds. While at InfoComm, the Unreal Ride was a two-person experience where participants were able to ride in a Jeep, instead of on a bike, going through newly created virtual worlds including a jungle scene specifically designed for InfoComm 2023. Learn more at www.vu.network and www.unilumin.com.
Absen’s Neptune Series Surpasses 50,000 Panels Sold in Six Months
Absen’s Neptune (NT) series has achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing the sale of 50,000 panels in six months. Designed for rental and staging applications, the NT series is perfect for applications including xR stages, floor-mounted displays, and cube-shaped displays. It delivers a high refresh rate up to 3,840 Hz, high brightness up to 4,000 nits, lightweight panels, hassle-free installation options, advanced safety features, and weather-resistant properties. The NT Series, which comes in two panel sizes—500 x 500 mm and 1,000 x 500 mm—and three pixel pitches—2.6mm and 2.9mm for the indoor-rated versions, and 3.9mm for the exterior-rated product, improves visibility in outdoor settings while reducing eye strain, making it ideal for use in bright lighting conditions. Its modular design enables easy installation and maintenance, making it a cost-effective solution. Absen maintains an extensive inventory of over 40,000 panels—equivalent to 10,000 square meters of the NT series in stock, guaranteeing fast delivery to meet project deadlines. Learn more at www.absen.com.
