This studio represents an unprecedented opportunity in Lithuania, offering video creation technology that has already gained popularity in Hollywood. "Faux Real Studio" is established in the premises of the VILNIUS TECH Creativity and Innovation Center "LinkMenu fabrikas" – a 650 sq.m. hangar. It is expected that the studio and its technology will open up an entirely different experience in film and video content creation in Lithuania.
"In the technology of virtual production, digital environments transport creators into new realities. And all of this without stepping out of the film set," introduces the new possibilities Mantas Tamulionis, Head of the Digital Laboratory at VILNIUS TECH "LinkMenu fabrikas."
"Faux Real Studio" is situated in the premises of the VILNIUS TECH Creativity and Innovation Center "LinkMenų fabrikas" – a 650 sq.m. hangar. It is anticipated that the studio and its technology will revolutionize country’s film and video content creation experience.
According to M. Tamulionis, the boundary between real and artificial realities is reflected in the studio's name.
"The word 'faux' comes from the French language and describes something fake but striving to appear real. Combined with the word 'real,' the name removes that separation between the real and the imagined, and so does the virtual production studio," explains M. Tamulionis, the significance of the studio's name.
What is virtual production technology?
According to specialists from VILNIUS TECH "Faux Real Studio," virtual production encompasses a set of advanced technologies. This includes high-resolution LED screens, software for creating virtual environments (commonly using the "Unreal Engine" engine), virtual reality glasses, motion capture, camera tracking, and other technologies.
"All these technological components working harmoniously create a possibility to integrate physical and digital elements in real-time. This reduces travel, transportation, post-production costs, saves time, and reduces the carbon footprint," says the Head of the Digital Laboratory at VILNIUS TECH "LinkMenu fabrikas."
Origins of the technology trace back to Hollywood
According to Leonardas Zilinskas, a virtual production expert at VILNIUS TECH "Faux Real Studio," the first signs of virtual production in Hollywood began to develop in the mid-20th century, with perhaps the most recognizable examples appearing in later James Bond films.
"Dedicated Bond fans will remember the early films and scenes where James Bond drives a car, and the view through his windows changes. It was the projection of real (but pre-recorded) environments using projectors. This was done to avoid complex filming in real traffic conditions," says L. Zilinskas.
The essence of modern virtual production technology is similar but much more innovative. By combining real-time computer graphics with traditional film production technologies, immersive and realistic video content is created in various environments without having to leave the film set.
According to L. Zilinskas, today's technology enables generating a virtual environment entirely from scratch. Furthermore, the computer-generated graphics can be manipulated by changing its perspective, trajectory, lighting, other details – all the visuals within it.
"This allows video creators to produce a product that is not limited by time or space," says L. Zilinskas.
Possibilities of VILNIUS TECH "Faux Real Studio"
According to the studio's team, the premises at VILNIUS TECH "LinkMenu fabrikas" provide the necessary space, lighting, and the place able to facilitate the technical and creative teams.
However, M. Tamulionis, the Head of the Digital Laboratory at VILNIUS TECH "LinkMenu fabrikas," is convinced that the advantage of "Faux Real Studio" is not only its spacious premises but also the technology as well as specialists working in the studio. The studio's facilities have already been tested – it was recently used for filming a part of the series by Swedish production. The studio's technology and the creation of virtual environments were utilized in the filming of the music video for the song "Viskas bus gerai" performed by the band "Antikvariniai Kaspirovskio dantys."
"The studio stands out with its state-of-the-art technologies – a high-resolution LED screen, innovative camera tracking technology, intuitive lighting, and other aspects. When combined, these technologies are used to create limitless and infinite worlds that could be used in movies, advertisements, tv series, music videos, and television," says M. Tamulionis.
New learning experience
VILNIUS TECH "Faux Real Studio" was established not only to provide virtual production services to national and international creators but also to train future specialists.
"Europe is rapidly challenging Hollywood – many of the world's largest film studio creators, such as HBO and Netflix, come to Europe solely to take advantage of virtual production services," says M. Tamulionis. According to Dr. Lina Peciure, the director of VILNIUS TECH "LinkMenu fabrikas," in a few years with the constant growth of the virtual production industry, the demand for specialists capable of working with these technologies will be even greater.
"At VILNIUS TECH, we aim to create a new learning experience where students not only practically learn to work in a virtual production studio but also have the opportunity to practice when professional filming takes place in the studio. This will ensure not only invaluable experience for students but also help them make new contacts and professional connections," says Dr. Lina Peciure.
For more information about the new virtual production studio, visit here.
The text was prepared by VILNIUS TECH "LinkMenu fabrikas."
The acquisition of studio equipment is financed by the European Regional Development Funds under "Digital Innovation Centres" call No. 01.2.1-LVPA-K-857-01.
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