WORLDCLASS VP, XR AND POSTPRODUCTION FACILITIES FOR UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY

In October 2024, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) in Christchurch, New Zealand, unveiled Kōawa Studios, a cutting-edge virtual production (VP) facility. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between UC’s Digital Screen degree students and the creative technology industry, encompassing film, sound production, animation, game development, and virtual production. A key factor in attracting commercial interest to Kōawa Studios is its state-of-the-art facilities, including a Virtual Production Stage powered by Brompton Technology’s Tessera LED video processors, delivering exceptional image quality and performance.

Kōawa Studios faced several constraints, including a 200-square-metre room with a five-metre-high ceiling and budget limitations. The initial Proof of Concept relied on a 270-degree screen – an industry standard – but this was beyond the project’s financial reach. At the same time, the team aimed to maximise camera shots and lighting effects to create immersive, high-quality visuals.

To overcome these challenges, Futureworks and ULA Group developed portable LED solutions that enabled realistic reflections, shadows, and dynamic environments, utilising:

• VuePix Infiled Curved Deep Black Virtual Studio Screen (14m x 4m) with a resolution of 7168 x 2048 pixels (over 14.6million of pixels), delivering exceptional clarity, colour, and contrast.
• Additional side screens used as lighting sources and reflections, comprising four VuePix Infiled AR Virtual Studio Screens on trolleys. Two have 3.9mm pixel pitch (2m x 2m), and two with 5.9mm pixel pitch (3m x 3m).
• The entire LED setup is powered by Brompton 4K Tessera SX40 LED video processors, paired with Brompton Tessera XD 10G data distribution units, maximising the potential of every LED.
• Other technologies include Unreal Engine workstations via NVIDIA Quadro RTX 600 X4 graphic cards for real-time render nodes, and Pixera workstations for stills and plates. Optitrack motion capture cameras and motive software and the EZ track camera tracking hub.

Genlock: Ensured perfect synchronisation between the LED screens and camera systems, eliminating visual artifacts.

ShutterSync®: Allowed precise tuning of the LED refresh rate to match camera shutter speeds, providing creative flexibility for cinematographers.

Extended Bit Depth: Delivered enhanced dynamic range, enabling more detailed and lifelike images.

ChromaTune: Enabled precise adjustments and corrections to the colours with 14-way Colour Corrector, Colour Replace and Colour Curves, in the incoming video signal.

The project required meticulous attention to detail to meet performance expectations and ensure on-time delivery. Flexibility was crucial as ULA Group navigated changes, provided detailed information, and offered both design and on-site support, including training. The installation, led by Futureworks and Gencom, was mostly straightforward. However, one significant challenge arose during the LED video wall installation due to the uneven floor of the converted dance studio. Despite initial challenges, once the first row was installed, the process proceeded smoothly. The design phase took six to seven months, while the build itself was completed in just a week.

The successful completion of Kōawa Studios has positioned UC at the forefront of virtual production in New Zealand. The facility offers students unparalleled opportunities to engage with industry-standard technology, while also attracting commercial projects to the university. The main wall of the VP studio boasts an almost 8K width, delivering unparalleled clarity, colour, and contrast. With the support and training provided by ULA Group and Brompton Technology, the VP Studio officially opened its doors in October 2024.