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Out of this world Located in west London’s studio hub, MARS Volume is the virtual production expert with many projects in its portfolio A n Apple TV+ miniseries and a Nike advertisement may seem like they have nothing in
common, but they both rely on virtual production, made possible by the team at MARS Volume. Based in west London and created by Bild Studios, MARS Volume is the premier destination for any production that’s looking to shoot in virtual production – from Hollywood blockbusters to high- end television series, or music videos to car commercials. Boasting its own LED stage and supporting production facilities, MARS can handle projects of any budget, size or scope – including Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air and Nike’s 2023 sportswear campaign. Compare and contrast Versatility is key to the MARS Volume team, who can support both in-house and off-site VP projects. In partnership with Lux Machina, MARS sent experienced staff – including lead Unreal operator Cameron Bishop – to aid in creating Masters of the Air . “This was a large production and VP a niche skill set,” he recounts, adding that the cast and crew were spread across two volume stages. “We ended up leading the operation of the second stage and offering additional support to the first,” he describes. “MARS Volume also created any bespoke tools the production required. “In contrast, the Nike shoot was on set at MARS Volume, utilising our state- of-the-art 26x5m LED volume stage. We optimised the Unreal Engine content creation to ensure it would perform on a VP stage at the required frame rate.” Shot on MARS’ volume, Bishop continues: “We provided all VP roles, making sure the production went smoothly and Nike achieved its desired outcome.”
LIFE ON MARS A 12,000 sq ft facility, MARS Volume houses a 26x5m LED wall, full ceiling and a dedicated multi-use production space
environment.” Additionally, while the projects followed similar workflows, they differed in their use of Unreal Engine, as well as their camera- tracking systems. “We adapted to the intricacies of each to deliver a successful shoot in both regards,” states Bishop. Mission-critical In four short years, MARS Volume has solidified its position as an industry leader in virtual production. The MARS team brings years of professional expertise across film and high-end TV. “We’ve worked hard to provide a VP facility that is fully optimised for what producers want,” says Joanna Alpe, CCO of MARS Volume. “We now see repeat customers from major streamers, cementing to us that VP & MARS Volume are now an industry essential.”
BUILDING WORLDS Cameron Bishop on-set at MARS Volume, leading the operation of the stage and providing Unreal expertise
Despite MARS Volume being involved with both, the work varied considerably, “with the VP team on Masters of the Air reaching 40, including the Lux team, while Nike was just six,” explains Bishop. “Our team is familiar with both large and small teams, being agile to the shoot
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