UNIT has announced the opening of. a new virtual production (VP) department at its London headquarters.
Teaming up with director Nick Jones and producer Phil Tidy, the creative production house said the new facility significantly expands its offering, aiming to provide users with a new production option that also helps meet sustainability targets.
Combining traditional art department sets, live-action filming and real-time 3D CGI displayed on large-scale LED screens, immersive environments are created and captured live ‘in camera’, said the company, lowering costs, expediting production and driving communications efficiencies.
UNIT Virtual Production enables difficult or unattainable real-world environments to be shot in the studio, reducing the need for set transitions and location moves. Multiple locations can be shot in a single day without complex logistical requirements, helping to conserve resources.
Phil McCluney, executive producer at UNIT, said, “One of the key selling points for clients of virtual production is the environmental factor. Drawing upon the resources of organisations such as Green The Bid and AdGreen, UNIT can measure and collate data that will give clients important information on the amount of carbon emissions their project produces. We are committed to being leaders in this area by making our productions as low carbon as possible and promoting environmentally conscious filmmaking practices.”
Leading the project are Nick Jones, who began working with virtual production in 2020 and has shot over 57 days of virtual production on various stages and Cannes Lions-winning producer Phil Tidy. UNIT’s co-founder and owner, Adam Luckwell, commented, “UNIT is thrilled to have Nick Jones and Phil Tidy leading our new virtual production department. They are super creatives dedicated to their craft and committed to utilising the unlimited creative potential that virtual production can bring to our client projects.”
