From prestige shows like Andor, to the latest big blockbuster action films, the use of LED volume walls are transforming the way that films and television are being made.

Those walls allow for images to be shown behind actors in high definition, replacing the use of green screens and expensive sets to create backgrounds for filming.

Bow Valley College unveiled their new digital entertainment production hub on May 26, which contains a state-of-the-art volume wall—one of only two in Western Canada—along with other advanced production technologies designed to make filmaking faster, easier, and less expensive.

Niko Florez, a virtual production studio specialist with Bow Valley College, along with being a filmmaker and director, said that the hub was bringing Calgary to the leading edge of creative production.

“It’s taking over the industry because it’s easier, is faster, also helps the actor and the director,” Florez said.

“It’s amazing for them. Like, it’s amazing for myself. I’m a filmmaker, and I love to have access to this technology here in Calgary so you don’t need to wait to go to LA, you don’t need to wait to go to Vancouver.”

He said the system allows for the reduction in post-production time because actors aren’t acting against a green screen, and actors themselves have images that they can react to instead of having to pretend.

“They can actually see it while they are shooting, so they have all the reflections on their body and glasses. Also, it’s good for the acting, because helps them to get intensity from the environment, monsters or whatever they want to do. It is the new way to do in-camera VFX,” Florez said.

The volume wall allows filming to occur 1.5 metres away from the wall without seeing individual pixels, which meets the Neflix technical standards for production resolution.

The hub also contains a Vicon Valkyrie motion capture system to allow for motion capture for films and video game production, a 3D audio system, a post-production area, and a dailies theatre.

Putting Calgary on the map for digital filming and post-production

Brad Parry, CEO of Calgary Economic Development, which also houses Calgary’s Film Commission, said that the production of the hub had been talked about for a number of years and that it was fantastic to finally see it open.

“Now we can convince companies and productions to come into the city, shoot in the city, but also finish in the city. That’s what this whole vision was about,” Parry said.

He said that OCIF invested up to $5.5 million for the project, in order to train 700 people, and create over 300 jobs at 125 companies.

“This one more tool for us to help support the industry itself, and it’s an incredibly competitive industry. Every jurisdiction around the world is looking to compete for production, but for us to have this kind of a studio set up now just puts us on the top of that list again,” Parry said.

He said the production hub would be open for both student training and for professional productions.

“When you talk to production studios or producers, when they know they have access to this kind of equipment, this kind of technology coming in makes it so much easier to close those kinds of deals and convince them why they should be putting their money in the city and investing in our in our film and TV sector,” Parry said.

Tori Romano, executive director for Alberta Media Production Industries Association, said that having the hub would allow for filmmakers to create and work on amazing projects without creative limitations.

“I think we are seeing quality productions happening here already, and this is just a further resource that’s just going to take that to the next level,” Romano said.

The fact that the hub is streamer ready, also meant would make for a unique selling proposition to companies wanting to create shows in Calgary, she said.

“I know that they see the value in the talent and the infrastructure we have. But I do think that the more that we can contribute to supporting this industry with infrastructure shows streamers that we’re taking this seriously, it’s going to keep helping,” Romano said.