The new normal is virtual. So, why should moviemaking be any different? Xtreme Media’s LED video walls enable virtual production technology to bring complex locations to our TV screens at the click of a mouse. The world is changing with every wink, and our brains are accustomed to visual signals at breakneck speed now. Revolutionary changes are happening across all sectors, and cinema is no different. The most modern of all is virtual production, where the concept of a green screen is slowly making way for graphics that can be consumed through the camera itself and does not have to make their way to the post-production room. To cater to this, Xtreme Media, in association with Cineom and Famous Studios in Mumbai, came up with its first virtual production and pop-up R&D lab to revolutionize the art of filmmaking. With high-end LED video walls, it makes the camerawork smooth, and can also whip up any scene that the director wants to recreate. Virtual Production, two small words, have a million elements attached to the concept. It can produce VFX through the camera and involves a certain expertise in getting the reflections right on a subject in an indoor environment to capture finer pixels in real-time. This requires LED video walls. And the best partner for this is Xtreme Media and Cineom.

Before and After.

Previously, making a film with high-definition graphics required using a green screen, shooting at multiple locations, and then the post-production to VFX, where the green world would need to match the real world. The reel would then be composed, and data processing would start a complex procedure that required days to complete and a huge source of manpower to boot. With LED video walls, one can now avoid the green screen and bring locations to the studio with the help of codes. The plus point: Xtreme Media LED video walls are designed for this application and can be installed in any studio and do not require any special conditions. Another plus point: It takes a shorter time to install and has a long life. Xtreme Media specializes in creating cinema-quality video walls that offer high refresh, fine pitches and HDR. Their modern technology can help in producing a background that is so real that post-production work becomes a breeze.

The Virtual Versus Conventional Debate
Virtual production opens up a lot of avenues, both in terms of creativity and cost. While conventional production involves a dedicated crew, virtual production brings down the cost drastically. There are no exquisite locations involved as they can all be created on the big screen, saving time. It does not involve the transportation of data and files to multiple centres to be brought together into a composite whole. The visuals become more creative because coding can bring additional components to any scene to suit a director's needs. It saves a lot of post-production time. The only space where work increases is pre-production



In India and Abroad: A New Normal

A virtual production and pop-up R&D lab are making their way to India, Xtreme Media in association with Cineom team is first to do so. The technology used in the system includes a fine LED display, a good refresh rate, high-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging and an expert team to design and back it up. It takes care of content, production, and involves great brainstormers from Xtreme Media and Cineom. It has become an important aspect of the post-Covid world. Let's take an example: A scene in Paris needs at least 15 days to shoot, 10 days to plan, and 15 days for post-production. With LED video walls, the 40-day schedule can be brought down to just two. This is a comfortable option for actors as it saves time. As travelling is a strict "no" now, this ensures that work does not stop in the entertainment sector, and production is safely taken care of. Indians breathe entertainment. It is a daily form of medication for most of us. Indians consume every form of online content and are also always looking for newer avenues, constantly comparing things to international productions. Thus, the concept of the LED video wall has a very bright future in India and beyond. This is the future of moviemaking.

The Technicality of a Good LED Wall
There are, of course, many technical aspects involved in the shooting format once someone adapts to virtual production. It uses a 3-dimensional shot (For example, if one needs to shoot a bottle, it is the 3D shot of the bottle used to tweak the set) and the actor's perspective needs to match the background, with both of them moving in sync. There will always be a slight difference in the two components (the actor and the set) because of the LED's pixels. This is streamlined because the output depends on the LED’s pixel pitch, under the control of experts and designers. Xtreme Media LED walls are designed with TrueColor technology which is able to produce all grades of the colors in truest form resulting into very realistic output. Another feature which is much required is data and power redundancy, this ensures 0 failure rate. Shooting has cost implication and any delays impact overall production budget hence this is one of the most important feature for virtual pop up. For the entertainment sector, a good LED video wall is very important. Firstly, it must match the technical aspects of a good camera. Secondly, it must have the same octo-electric transfer functions as the camera sensor. The camera is sensitive to any kind of light on the set, so an HDR is important for the LED. A finer pixel pitch is better, and a higher refresh rate avoids flickering. The LED is important as most of the images, and virtual details are captured from it. It also allows creative freedom, as the director's vision can immediately be delivered on the set. LED display is one of the most vital components of a successful virtual pop-up, Xtreme Media is an expert of LED technology with on-ground team to ensure the shoot deadlines are met without any errors.

Conclusion

When the entire world is migrating to the virtual format, it is only natural for the entertainment sector to take recourse to the LED revolution. A video wall is the next best thing to bring visual delights straight from a studio to our TV screens and for a real-time transition between visuals on LED, with the help of good video processors. The combination of Xtreme Media and Cineom is the answer to all your movie making questions.