UK - Distortion Studios, specialists in virtual production, recently opened the doors of its new Bristol-based studio, backed by an in-house team of immersive digital arts specialists. The space, home to a cutting-edge studio stage complete with the latest and most trusted virtual production technology, can be utilised by anyone looking to shoot virtual production content, as well as serving as a training and community hub.
“At Distortion Studios, we want to play a part in upskilling the next generation of industry professionals locally,” remarks Nick Diacre, technical director at Distortion Studios. “So, we’re looking to invite technical people in and run training in the space, alongside the usual studio hire. Remaining technologically agnostic was therefore important to us.”
Diacre first encountered SP by Stage Precision in the software’s early beta phase, which coincided with his exploration of XR setups using Disguise technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. “SP slotted into a gap when we needed to take our productions to the next level and be more versatile,” recalls Diacre. “With SP we didn’t need to programme custom code from scratch to build integrations anymore. This was a game-changer."
Having been an avid user and contributor to the evolution of the software ever since, Diacre has designed the VP workflow at Distortion Studio based on Stage Precision. Distortion’s commitment to remaining platform-agnostic allows for adaptability to different tools and technologies based on project and client requirements. With Stage Precision at the centre of operations, Distortion Studios can switch between platforms, software, and systems.
The multifaceted functionality of SP serves as a ‘Swiss army knife’ for Distortion’s VP studio, capable of managing complex workflows from handling and visualising camera tracking data to controlling switches and calibrating lenses. This level of control allows the studio to cater to various camera setups and configurations, in turn, giving clients a ‘no limits’ playground for creativity.
"Sometimes, being tied into a product ecosystem can be expensive and annoying – Stage Precision takes that problem away," explains Diacre. “Because the software is platform-agnostic, there are no constraints on the technology we can use as there are many proprietary systems. This allows us to focus on creative execution rather than technical limitations or coming up with workarounds when someone wants to use a different camera.”
Having previously relied on programming to experiment with and process data, the Distortion team have found the no-programming environment that SP offers to be quick and flexible. “SP gives you multiple ways to approach problems and data, continues Diacre. “It creates a world where we don’t need to rely on programming. We can quickly debug stuff, take data out and verify it. We can control any parameter or function from SP.” For example, Distortion uses SP’s seamless integration with Stream Deck to control camera positions and lighting functions to create quick and easy system controls.
