Project Overview

This advanced facility is designed for both academic and commercial purposes. It provides students with access to the best tools in the industry, and serves external clients who require high-quality production facilities.

The project features four main spaces: the green screen, foley, black box, and virtual production studios. Each studio combines live action footage with computer generated environments, audio and sound effects, demonstrating how virtual production technology provides another layer of flexibility, which traditional productions do not.

The facility is the result of a collaborative effort between Creative Technology Systems Integration (CT SI), Arri, and consultants Drama by Design, together, creating a space that pairs advanced hardware with innovative workflows, supporting NTU’s vision of combining educational and commercial applications.

Project Objectives

The Virtual Production Studio has been specifically designed to help students prepare for careers in the creative and media industries. Students gain real-world experience with camera tracking, lighting, and real-time post-production with hands-on learning and guidance from a team of experienced industry professionals. These experiences will allow students to become skilled in areas like filmmaking, TV production, and advertising, promoting collaboration between creative and technical fields.

Aside from its educational purpose, the studio is also available as a professional-grade production environment for external clients. Offering resources for film, commercial, and digital content creation, NTU’s facility will attract commercial projects, generating sustainable funding to ensure it stays at the forefront of technological advancements. This approach solidifies NTU’s reputation as a leader in virtual production within both academic and industry spaces.

Our purpose at Creative Technology has always been to share, educate and inspire. Our partnership with NTU allows us to do just that and I’m excited and positive for the journey to come. Engaging and sharing with not only today’s practitioners but more importantly the future generation is a must for anyone working in the technology environment. – Tom Burford, Director of Technical Services, Creative Technology.

The LED Wall

At the centre of the studio is a four-metre-tall curved Absen PR1.9 LED wall, serving as a dynamic backdrop for live-action shoots and computer-generated environments, enabling integration of virtual and physical elements. the PR1.9 is a premium display solution renowned for its ultra-high-resolution visuals and versatility. With a 1.9mm pixel pitch, the wall delivers exceptional image clarity, vibrant colours, and a wide colour gamut.

It’s energy-efficient design supports sustainable production practices, while its brightness levels ensure visual impact in any lighting condition.

We are proud to support NTU in their mission to combine educational and commercial excellence, and we look forward to seeing the innovative projects that will be created in this remarkable facility.” – Debbie Zheng, Managing Director AbsenLive UK.

“Following in-depth camera testing, the Absen Pixel Reality series was chosen as the best choice LED display solution for Nottingham Trent University’s virtual production studio.” says Liam Winter, Head of LED at PSCo.

“Designed specifically for the demands of in-camera virtual production workflows, Absen Pixel Reality incorporates cutting-edge LED technology to deliver exceptional image quality. It’s electronics are engineered to maximise the powerful in-camera and colour control features of the Brompton Tessera LED processing platform.

These features include Brompton Tessera HDR, Dynamic Calibration, 3D LUTs, Shuttersync, Frame Remapping, Hidden Markers, Puretone, Thermacal, Dark Magic, Extended Bit Depth and HFR+.

Together, the Absen PR1.9 LED display and Brompton  Tessera form a best-in-class solution, ensuring that Nottingham Trent University’s virtual production facility is equipped with the most advanced LED display technology and technical support to deliver industry-grade results.”

ROE RGBW Wild Walls

Supporting the main LED wall are two ROE Visual Carbon CB5 RGB-W Wild Walls, on customised mobile units. These side walls provide an added layer of depth and flexibility, allowing users to create immersive virtual environments. With adjustable RGB–W colour settings, the Wild Walls create realism, supporting a wide range of production requirements. Their mobile design allows for easy repositioning, catering to the needs of both academic and commercial projects.

NTU’s studio is the first of its kind to implement these full-spectrum LED panels, designed to deliver an unparalleled level of colour accuracy, especially in skin tones. With the panels installed, students at the NTU will have access to technology at the forefront of the virtual production industry, enabling a unique and realistic production experience that is entirely up to date with what is being developed and used in the field.

“We are thrilled to see the next generation of creators develop their skills in such an innovative setting,” said Jonathan Sheard, Managing Director at ROE Visual UK. “By supporting institutions like NTU, we’re nurturing talent and contributing to a future-ready industry workforce.”

Brompton Processing

To maintain a uniform LED processing system throughout the NTU studio, we deployed Brompton’s Tessera SX40 4K LED video processor alongside the Tessera XD 10G data distribution unit.

 This setup eliminates inconsistencies that can arise from using multiple processing manufacturers, ensuring optimal colour accuracy, brightness uniformity, and real-time video management across all displays.

With high-speed data distribution, redundancy features, and precise calibration capabilities, Brompton’s technology plays a crucial role in delivering a professional-grade virtual production environment.

“ROE was the first of our panel manufacturer partners to develop an RGBW panel powered by Brompton’s TrueLight® technology,” says Patrick Goodden, Brompton’s Technical Sales Manager (UK and Ireland). “TrueLight maintains full per-pixel colour calibration and gives users complete creative control over the panel’s colour output. Adding additional broad-spectrum LED emitters in a controllable way significantly improves colour rendition in situations where the LED panels are providing illumination for virtual production and XR applications, providing various elements, particularly skin tones, costumes, or props, with increased realism. We are delighted to see this innovative technology in action at the University.”

ARRI Lighting Technology

ARRI lighting fixtures, including SkyPanel and Orbiter models, are the backbone of the studio’s lighting system. The SkyPanel series provides soft, even lighting for virtual backgrounds, while the Orbiter offers adjustable colour temperatures and effects to meet diverse creative requirements.

The lighting system is managed through an IP-based network, ensuring precise control over every component. This setup supports quick adjustments during shoots, improving workflow efficiency while maintaining professional-grade lighting quality.

Motorised ARRI Rigging System

The studio features a motorised rigging system designed by ARRI, which delivers unparalleled precision and efficiency in lighting setups. Four SkyHoists positioned at the centre of the ceiling frame and four ACTA Hoists around the perimeter ensure flexibility and stability for complex lighting arrangements.

This system integrates advanced safety features, including soft start/stop functionality, overload protection, and unequal weight distribution alerts. Customised power and data distribution across the rigging system further enhance efficiency, reducing setup times and allowing for clean transitions between scenes.

ARRI Cameras

The studio uses industry-leading ARRI cameras to deliver exceptional image quality. The ARRI ALEXA 35 camera is used for virtual production, offering unparalleled dynamic range, natural skin tones, and rich detail.

The ALEXA Mini LF camera is dedicated to the Green Screen Studio, ensuring cinematic-grade footage across the entire facility. Both cameras are fully integrated with the studio’s lighting and tracking systems, enabling easy operation.

Following its launch, the new facility has become a key part of the student experience, and is now being used regularly across a range of video and photography projects.

From filmmaking and advertising to experimental media and fashion shoots, the space supports a number of creative applications. By offering access to production technology in a real-world environment, NTU has set a new standard in media education, bridging the gap between classroom learning and professional productions.

Image credits:

Katie Dawson (Film Lecturer, BA Filmmaking, NTU), Natalie Summers (BA Costume Design Graduate, NTU), Stephanie Brown (BA Costume Design Graduate, NTU), Phyllis Ruse (MA Animation, NTU), BA Fashion Knitwear and BAFashion Photography, Matthew Robertson & Adam Whitehouse (Technical Team Leaders, NTU), Andrew Stone (Drama by Design),Light and Sound International. BA Fashion Knitwear and BAFashion Photography