Virtual production smart studio in Toronto to open this spring

The recently announced partnership between Dark Slope, the virtual production and spatial gaming company, and SideFX Software includes a material investment towards the launch of an advanced virtual production smart stage in Toronto.

The smart studio is set to open in the spring of this year and features a 75’ LED volume with feature-film quality hardware and an AI-enabled pipeline.

The LED Volume will be a specialised virtual production setup that using curved LED screens to create an immersive digital environment (this enables CGI content to be integrated with live action footage in real time). The AI enabled pipeline will be integrated from pre- to post-production and is set to support on storyboarding, virtual environment creation, real time rendering and editing.

The studio will use Dark Slope's proprietary tools and workflow innovations, integrating feature-film grade hardware with expertise in spatial technologies to enhance production efficiency, reduce costs associated with traditional shoots, and provide creative flexibility.

SideFX Software specialise in the development of 3D animation and visual effects software for use in film, commercials, and video games and are makers of the popular Houdini software, which has been used by studios such as Weta, Disney, Pixar, DNEG, Framestore, EA, Blizzard, Ubisoft and more.