The concept of virtual production has quickly gained acceptance through the proliferation of LED in-camera visual effects (ICVFX) volume workflows. The initial phase of technology innovation and deployment has been led by feature film and high-end episodic series production by leading studios such as Disney and Warner Brothers.
Investment in LED volumes for ICVFX has been oversaturated from 2021-2023, leading to an environment where the availability of large and mega LED volumes outstrips the current level of demand to shoot video on these types of stages. Although the technology has received a lot of hype in the trade press, it should not be dismissed as a fad or gimmick because the use of LED ICVFX volumes can deliver meaningful cost efficiencies and creative advantages. As a result, the practice of shooting ICVFX on LED volumes will continue to develop as it becomes an established tool in directors’ and producers’ arsenal of techniques for creating video. Virtual production changes the production pipeline and involves the VFX department much more in pre-production and on-set.