UK - CVP will be holding its third annual Production Technology Showcase this year at four different locations in Europe and the UK. The events of this year’s expanded programme kick off on Thursday 5 October at CVP’s European HQ in Brussels, before moving on to be hosted in Glasgow, Manchester, and Bristol during November.
The CVP Production Technology Showcase provides a platform for visitors to explore the latest production solutions, technology, and insights across a wide range of the company’s products and services, from engineering and repairs to finance and technical advice. This year’s showcase includes ARRI ALEXA 35, DJI Ronin 4D, RED Komodo X, Blackmagic and the latest releases from the Sony Cinema Line and Canon’s EOS range.
Workshops will run throughout the day - across two days in Manchester and Bristol - and the focus will be on real-world case

Australia - Sydney-based TDC is at the forefront of the virtual production market. The Australian company, established since 1981, owns and operates purpose-built VP facilities in Sydney, supported by a team of experts. The team can partner with a production from concept to completion, while providing a deep knowledge of the processes and technology needed for video display, real-time rendering platforms, server hardware, playback platforms, camera tracking, remote connectivity, and content delivery.
It has delivered large scale virtual production facilities for TV, commercials, corporate films and blockbuster movies including Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder and hit psychological thriller Mercy Road, which was Australia’s first fully virtual production shoot. Mercy Road was released in Australia and the US in August, 2023.
VFX supervisor Andrew

UK - Since its opening in 1929, Rhodes House has been an Oxford landmark, a historic Grade II listed country house in the heart of the city. Known for high profile events and visitors, the need for modernisation was recognised and the venue embarked on a comprehensive £38m refurbishment journey, which culminated in creating a technologically advanced modern conference and convening centre, that fosters connectivity and collaboration.
Darren Gatenby, senior consultant at Hewshott Consultancy, has been lead technology consultant on the project since its inception five years ago. The goal was to establish the premier events and conferencing venue in Oxford, catering to educational events, weddings, and corporate functions. Darren closely collaborated with the client and stakeholders to meticulously craft a design that fulfilled all requirements.
Incorporating a number of

Belgium - For nearly a century, Van Marcke, the Belgian family business and international wholesaler of industry-leading brands for sanitary, heating, and renewable energy solutions, has been providing products and services that offer sustainable comfort to its customers.
Earlier this year, it unveiled an entirely digital showroom at its Van Marcke Lab in Antwerp. Despite its compact size of just 80 m², this concept and experience store uses Leyard Europe VEM-series screen walls to empower visitors to create their personalised bathroom. The LED displays, provided and installed by Ocular, a technology company specialising in immersive and interactive installations, enables visitors to digitally assemble their dream bathroom, visualise it in life-size scale, and bring it to life in 3D within their own bathroom space with the guidance of an interior consultant.
Charlott

USA - All of it Now (AOIN), a virtual art department and in-camera VFX integration solutions provider, never shies away from pushing the boundaries of creativity. Coachella 2023 proved to be the perfect canvas for their latest artistic endeavour, which involved crafting augmented reality (AR) experiences to captivate one of the most demanding audiences on the festival circuit.
AOIN turned to Stage Precision’s SP software, a powerful data and control management software they had used before, but now hoped to deploy on a much grander scale.
As the sun rose on Coachella 2023, AOIN faced several challenges. The project brief included enhancing the main stage livestream broadcast to create a new augmented reality platform for artists including Gorillaz, Bad Bunny and Blackpink.
As a central component of Coachella's 2023 marketing campaign, Coachella introduced the "

UK - TV, broadcast and event lighting rental specialists, Version 2 Lights has announced a management realignment to support its continued growth.
Day-to-day operational responsibilities will be assumed by technical manager Sam Crook, warehouse manager Darren Gale, general manager Emma Gale and rental manager Joe Marter. This will form the Version 2 senior management team, who will take on ownership of daily operations at V2 HQ.
Crook and Marter have been well-known industry figures, and long-term trusted collaborators for nearly two decades both at Version 2 and the previous blueprints Aurora Lighting and London Light. The company also reports that Emma Gale has recently accepted the responsibilities of company secretary.
Founder, Nick Edwards will return to a key account role, project managing and supporting LDs, producers and production managers who will dra

Germany - intoPIX and Lawo have announced that .edge users can now benefit from the intoPIX TICO-XS codec to encode and decode JPEG XS-compressed streams.
As the media industry increasingly leverages the benefits of IP-based remote and distributed production workflows, the challenge it faces is pushing a relentlessly growing amount of data through a fibre optic pipe with a fixed bandwidth while preserving broadcast-grade quality.
Support for the lossless JPEG XS compression technology in HD, 3G and UHD video-format resolutions will allow users of Lawo’s .edge Hyper-Density SDI/IP Conversion and Routing Platform to encode, process and decode compressed SMPTE ST2110-22 IP streams.
Lawo’s aim is to provide broadcasters with the ability to leverage compressed streams as and when required in order to accelerate high-quality distributed content creation. JPEG XS su

UK - Stage Sound Services, who offer full production and equipment services from their 50,000 sq.ft HQ in Cardiff, were recently tasked to support Freshwater UK, a marketing and events agency, with the technical realisation of this year's Unite the Union Policy Conference in Brighton.
The Policy Conference is the main decision-making body of the union, held every two years and made up of around 700 lay members from Unite's 19 sectors and 10 regions and equality structures.
One of the visual highlights of the conference was a 24m wide AV Stumpfl Vario projection screen.
“A key requirement for this year’s conference was a large 'super wide screen', to provide a flexible format for conference images, screen relays and presentations, as well as to achieve a modern fresh look,” explains Stage Sound Services director Phil Hurley.
The Vario frame concept fol

Singapore - As the largest content creator and national media network in Singapore, Mediacorp operates a suite of TV channels, radio stations, and multiple digital platforms.
Year after year, Mediacorp assumes the role of the central hub for the country's biggest celebration of content and talent in the local entertainment industry. This year's event, the 28th edition of Star Awards, was themed Beyond | Celebrations, and was reimagined as a star-studded concert. It featured a line-up of Singapore's finest talents and regional superstars, joining forces for a night of glamour, excitement, and celebrations.
Oceanus Media Global (OMG) worked with Mediacorp to create the opening segment and after credit scene for the award ceremony using their Futurealistic Studio, with a high-tech LED volume powered by Brompton Technology LED processing.
Founded in 2020, OMG is a cr

UK - JL-Group, technical production partner to the television, film, live events and exhibition industries, has appointed Eddie Dias in a newly created role as head of department (film & drama) to support the growth of its commercial offering to DOP’s, television, film & drama production companies, studios and beyond.
Well-known in the world of film and television drama for over 30 years, Eddie has helped shape the sector’s visual landscape with his innovative and pioneering spirit.
Dias’ influence has left an indelible mark on some of the most beloved dramas and films, including titles such as Casino Royale and The Bodyguard. His career has seen him work as in senior roles for the likes of VFG, AFM, Panalux, Cinelease, Lightnlight and Prolight Direct.
In his new role, Dias will be instrumental in supporting JL-Group in nurturing new

UK - University of the Arts London (UAL) has signed the first deal to install Sony’s new Crystal LED, Verona displays, to create a state-of-the-art, research-grade virtual production stage.
In June 2023, University of the Arts London (UAL) announced the development of a specialist Virtual Production (VP) research volume - via its Fashion Textiles and Technology Institute (FTTI) - to create capacity for innovative, trans-disciplinary practice-led research in VP/XR textiles and dress.
To support this new facility, UAL went looking to outfit a space with a robust yet cutting-edge, future proof display solution. Research and university requirements pointed them towards display solutions that would provide value over an extended lifespan while delivering the highest possible colour accuracy and detail.
UAL worked with Lux Machina, specialists in display technology,

UK - Green Hippo’s London-based manufacturing operation is reporting high demand for its range of Hippotizer Media Servers and is ramping up production to meet orders.
The team says the first quarter of 2023 saw a huge rise in sales across all Hippotizer models, including the flagship Tierra+ MK2 and high performance Boreal+ MK2. Most orders are coming in from the rental and staging sectors of the industry.
The recent launch of the Hippotizer v4.8 software update, which packed in a host of new and upgraded features designed to power-up real-time media manipulation, playback and mapping, drove sales.
Major enhancements of the new software included Show Manager, facilitating complete control of multiple productions and installations at once and an upgraded Timeline feature and the Shape tool which introduced Dockable Windows, aiding customisable workspace managem

The Netherlands - Nestled in Amsterdam's Jordaan neighbourhood lies the Noorderkerk Church, a remarkable 17th-century Protestant church renowned for its architectural beauty and design. Over the past year, this church’s usually neutral atmosphere has been transformed into a mesmerising 360-degree world of colours. With the help of 38 Digital Projection projectors, it now tells the story of how Rembrandt van Rijn’s paintings inspired Vincent van Gogh’s greatest works.
Vincent meets Rembrandt: The Untold Story, which opened in 2022, will be captivating visitors until 2027 with this audiovisual spectacle. By seamlessly combining visuals with a compelling audio narration of van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo, the exhibition reveals the influence Rembrandt had on van Gogh's artistic journey.
The idea to create an immersive experience of how Rembrandt played

Europe - Blue-i Group, known for their work on live events and theatrical productions like Disney’s Aladdin - El Musical in Madrid, Tina Turner - das Musical in Stuttgart and the Les Misérables European tour, has recently invested in five Pixera four RS media servers.
The investment follows a long-term growth strategy, that included last year’s opening of a new office and warehouse facility in Belgium to enable the Blue-i Group to expand their services in mainland Europe.
Ethan Forde, Blue-i Group’s European sales director, comments, “Our whole team is excited to begin our journey with AV Stumpfl’s Pixera system. We chose the powerful RS servers to give us the maximum performance, which we know our clients will want to fully utilise on their projects. We're seeing more demand for high bandwidth networking, real time rendering and high bi

The Netherlands - Solid State Logic is set to launch the Tempest Control App at IBC 2023 (stand 8.B81). Delivering full control of the System T production platform from a software application, Tempest Control App presents the next step in virtualised control solutions for live-to-air broadcast audio, says SSL.
Delivering full control of all mix, routing, monitoring, setup and automation functions, including the entire suite of next-gen immersive production tools, Solid State Logic’s new Tempest Control App (TCA) brings to the market ‘an unprecedented level of production flexibility and operational adaptability for broadcasters of all sizes’.
TCA is a robust and highly scalable control solution for key broadcast audio applications including remote production, newsroom production, backup scenarios or anywhere a physical control surface is not required. TCA utilises

UK - Built around the theme of ‘Frame Your Control, Bringing Immersion Into Frame’, ChamSys’ exhibit at PLASA Show 2023 engaged enthusiastic crowds of attendees with innovative products and ideas designed to help them take their creative visions to new heights.
Visitors got an up close and personal look at products like the MagicQ MQ500M Stadium, a standout console that seemed to be everywhere at Glastonbury earlier this year and is currently making waves touring with the likes of Ed Warren for Mumford & Sons, and Will Thomas on Bonobo’s Fragments Tour.
Also garnering attention was the ChamSys MagicQ Compact series, including the new MagicQ Compact Connect, a lightweight USB control surface that connects to a PC or Mac to deliver robust and flexible control of lighting, media, and LEDs. Visitors were universally impressed with this product, which is

UK - In step with the welcome return of the British summer, PLASA Show made a triumphant return to the Grand Hall of Olympia London from 3-5 September, spanning a third more floor space with a striking 28% increase in visitors.
Lee House, operations director for Ambersphere Solutions, says: “I was struck by a sense of nostalgia and excitement - PLASA Show has made a triumphant return! The hall was bustling with a diverse array of exhibitors and, most importantly, visitors who were eager to engage in meaningful conversations about their technological needs for the present and future. It was a jam-packed, unforgettable three days that left us eagerly anticipating what next year will bring."
Tom Mowat, hire account manager for Encore, concurs: “PLASA Show 2023 was absolutely incredible. It was fantastic to see the whole of the hall used by exhibitors. The attendance a

Germany - Stage Precision has announced the latest release of its flagship software, SP version 1.1.0. This update introduces a variety of powerful features and integrations designed to streamline workflows and enhance user control.
One of the key features of SP version 1.1.0 is its revamped Camera Calibration. Recently trialled on a project for the Gamers 8 event in Saudi Arabia, the new workflow redefines the calibration experience and is ideal for all virtual production setups, including green screens, LED walls and augmented reality.
"We've made it much simpler and faster to calibrate a lens profile and align a tracking system,” explains Axel Lambrecht, CTO of Stage Precision. “This will further reduce reliance on manual measurements and enable much of the camera and lens calibration workflows to be handled offsite, allowing more time for fine-tuning onset and

USA - ARRI has opened a compact, multipurpose studio facility. Located at ARRI’s premises in New York City in the heart of the East Coast studio landscape, ARRI Studio New York provides cost-effective production infrastructure with access to ARRI’s camera and lighting systems. The turnkey studio configuration with space for live audience is designed as a production environment for corporate videos, interview-style setups, town-hall presentations, educational and training clips, fashion shoots, and music videos.
Built around a curved LED wall with image-based lighting design, ARRI Studio New York offers an efficient, user-friendly introduction to virtual production with in-house creative and technical support. The new facility enables advertising and commercial clients to embrace the full potential of the technology, such as reducing costs and carbon footprint by avoiding

Slovakia - The Leyard VDS Series is Leyard Europe's latest LED technology using Chip on Board (COB) technology. COB LED technology is becoming increasingly popular and Leyard Europe has developed the VDS Series to provide a state-of-the-art visualisation solution.
Using this technology allows the display to achieve extremely wide viewing angles and high contrast ratios while maintaining a very high power / efficiency ratio. The VDS Series also comes packed with the latest 5G technology for easy installation and cabling.
Available in 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8mm pixel pitch models, all of which are fully installable and serviceable from the front, the VDS Series features a 27" 16:9 cabinet and is perfect for Full HD, 4K and 8K setups.
All this, combined with a protective layer and EMC Class B certification, makes it suitable for those public spaces such as airports, t

The Netherlands - This year's International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) will see Brompton Technology demonstrating an array of pioneering LED video processing solutions as well as offering product demos, panel sessions, and technology masterclasses throughout the show.
Focused on driving future innovation, Brompton will showcase its latest TrueLight technology, along with other industry firsts, Frame Remapping and ShutterSync. All of this will be available at the Brompton Technology booth 3.B23, which the company will be sharing with one of UK’s leading suppliers of video technology, White Light.
TrueLight builds upon Brompton’s Dynamic Calibration technology to empower panels with extra emitters, such as RGBW, to be fully per-pixel colour-calibrated and ensure colour accuracy is maintained at all times. Users retain complete control over the RGB to RGBW conversi

Australia - The first Australian feature film to be entirely shot using Virtual Production premieres internationally this month. Mercy Road is an unrelentingly tense psychological thriller from Tracks director John Curran.
Teaming up with Australian filmmaker Alex Proyas’ (The Crow, Dark City) Arclight Films and virtual film production company, Heretic Foundation filmed the in-car and select outdoor scenes for the 85-min drama using the LED Volume stage at the purpose-built TDC Studios in Sydney, Australia.
Working from a script by Chris Pelletier and Jesse Heffring and starring Luke Bracey (Point Break, Hacksaw Ridge, Elvis), Mercy Road is a white-knuckle ride about a man who is pushed to the limits of his sanity to protect his beloved daughter.
To realise his vision, Curran and cinematographer Ross Giardina (Gold<

Saudi Arabia - Fully established as a legal entity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, global crewing specialist Showforce, a division of the Spendlove Group, has announced ambitious plans for expansion in the country. The company has opened an office in Riyadh with business development manager Zachariah Smith relocating to spearhead the operation.
Initially accompanied by experienced members of the Middle East operations team, Smith will lead the charge in bolstering local crew numbers, growing its talent pool and securing new clients.
The office will deal with all enquiries and bookings along with recruitment, training and accreditation to ensure that the impressive standards of service that Showforce is globally renowned for are maintained.
Showforce’s chairman and founder Ian Spendlove comments: “KSA presents us with an exciting opportunity for growth. The

UK - The winners of this year’s PLASA Awards for Innovation were announced last night at PLASA Show at Olympia London. The awards, run in association with LSi magazine, are respected industry-wide for celebrating future-focussed technology that improves safety, efficiency and performance through new methods and materials.
40 products were entered this year, with the judges ultimately awarding eight products, including one highly coveted Gold Award. This year’s judging team comprised 12 independent technical specialists from a wide array of backgrounds, chaired once again by chartered engineer and LSi columnist, James Eade.
The winning products and judges’ comments are listed below:
Astera, PlutoFresnel: The judges said that the versatility of this battery powered Fresnel-come-profile is unmatched and it will

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