Pop Up and Shoot A 5G enabled virtual production prototype

This article, in the form of a case study, critically examines the creative, technological and infrastructural barriers to filmmakers working in virtual production (VP) when creating believable cinematic ICVFX seamlessly across distant ‘pop up’ and fixed site studios over 5G enabled networks. The project is the first UK proof of concept for 5G virtual production film-making. The Interdisciplinary project required a diverse team of professional filmmakers, on screen talent and researchers from a range of disciplines including: electronic systems engineers, real-time designers, creative technologists, game designers, visual effects, cinematics and business development all working as “a VP collective of specialists coming together” (David Grey 2024). The project was funded by the Tay 5G programme, StoryFutures and InGame and was nominated for Screen International’s Global Production Awards in the Virtual Production category at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Looking beyond the current ‘state of the art’ in VP filmmaking, the project sought to address one of the most critical engineering challenges in supporting development of future communications technologies for VP (such as 6G) by testing 5G real-time capabilities (as it is rolled out across the country) whilst showcasing the potential for mobile (pop up) VP studios on any site with a 5G connection.

The research team filmed a scene from the film ‘Artificial Escalation’ in which two White House defence analysts, holed up in a nuclear command bunker, watch helplessly as an A.I. created nuclear armageddon unfolds. The bunker ‘location’ was built in Unreal Engine and played out in real-time throughout the scene. Each actor was shot in separate VP studios 250 miles apart using two film crews: the Dundee ‘pop up’ studio at Abertay University (provided by VSS) was connected to the Tayside 5G Testbed and the Manchester fixed VP stage at Pathway Studios was connected to a 5G in-a-box system provided by research partner AWTG. The P.I. (Richardson) directed the action across the 5G network and was based at Pathway. Production company and VFX provider Space Digital (Media City, Salford) facilitated the project with production management and crewing.

The article examines the many challenges and opportunities encountered during filming from the perspective of the creatives involved. Outcomes point towards a novel, collaborative filming environment localised via pop-up VP studios. Production design / art direction teams are able to design and manipulate digital and real assets whilst working in close collaboration with other heads of departments. Positive outcomes are investigated from multiple viewpoints including those of the Director, DOP and other crew. New business models are hinted at which could enhance VP film production and lower barriers to entry thus allowing creatives to de-risk research, fail fast and better iterate in a collaborative, accessible and sustainable manner. As Asa Baily asserts “LED is best stored in a box and ready to be deployed when needed. Use it when it adds value to the production process”.