In recent years, the media and entertainment industry has seen a significant shift towards sustainable practices, with virtual production emerging as a game-changer. Sustainability certification for productions and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements for businesses make it crucial to reduce travel and associated environmental costs.
Pixotope has worked with multiple clients to achieve significant cost reductions both environmentally and financially, making us an ideal choice for environmentally conscious productions.
Here’s a look at how Pixotope contributes to a greener production process.
Traditional broadcast productions often require the construction of elaborate sets, which involve significant resource use and waste. From wood and metal to paint and other materials, set construction is resource-intensive. Once used, they’re either transported and stored or broken up and recycled or destroyed. By leveraging Pixotope, productions can create detailed virtual sets that eliminate the need for physical construction, thereby reducing material waste and the environmental impact associated with transporting and assembling these sets.
Shooting on location often involves transport and travel, which contributes massively to carbon emissions. This includes not only the travel of on-screen talent and crew but also the transport of equipment and sets.
Virtual production with Pixotope allows for the creation of photorealistic environments that can simulate various locations without leaving the studio. This significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with location shoots, promoting a more sustainable production model.
NRK thanks to virtual production, is now using just one bus instead of two when going to cover some live football matches and they have been able to achieve substantial cost and environmental savings.
"We have currently cut production with 36 flights, 24 overnight stays, 195 travel hours and 4,430 kilometers (2752 miles) of driving time spread over three different matches…
With 25 football weekends during the year, these climate and cost reductions amount to a good deal."
Source: https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/virtual-production-small-budget-1235236717/
Traditional lighting setups for physical sets require substantial energy consumption. Virtual production, however, relies on LED screens and virtual lights within software like Pixotope, which can be far more energy-efficient. Additionally, virtual production often consolidates various stages of production into a single studio setup, leading to further energy savings. Power used for these LED stages is in a controlled environment and electricity can be from renewable sources or more easily offset.
Digital assets created within Pixotope can be reused across multiple territories and different projects, reducing the need to create new sets and props for each production. This reusability extends the life of digital materials and decreases the environmental impact associated with the continuous creation and disposal of physical assets. Elements can be changed out easily for localisation without the need for local resources or travel.
Pixotope’s cloud licensing platform even allows for a follow-the-sun style approach to licenses so that your licenses can be used in multiple locations or continents based on need. A license used at 6pm in London can be used later in the day in NYC without duplication of costs. Remote collaborating teams also benefit from this flexibility, able to share licenses to build and test.
Physical productions generate considerable waste, from set materials to costumes and props. Virtual production significantly lowers this waste by using digital equivalents. With Pixotope, the only waste produced is digital, which is far less impactful on the environment compared to physical waste. This aligns with the broader goals of reducing landfill contributions and promoting sustainability in the entertainment industry. Our software-only approach leads to you controlling your own render engine hardware, enabling better control of upgrades, servicing and end-of-life. You’re no longer locked into restrictive vendor hardware without easy upgrade routes.
Pixotope supports remote collaboration, allowing teams to work together from different locations. This reduces the need for travel and the associated carbon emissions. In a post-pandemic world, this capability not only fosters safer working conditions but also aligns with environmental goals by minimizing the need for commuting and flights.
A great example: Earlier this year, NEP The Netherlands leveraged advanced virtual production technology to manage camera tracking remotely during the debut event of the E1 all-electric speedboat racing series. The Pixotope camera-tracking system was installed on-site in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while the graphics engine operated from NEP's headquarters in Hilversum, The Netherlands, over 5,600 kilometers away. This arrangement enabled NEP to oversee the production from their fully equipped studio in Hilversum, rather than relying on a limited OB truck or makeshift on-site setup. Read the full article.
"We are incredibly pleased with the outcomes of our collaboration with Pixotope. Their camera tracking solutions allowed us to harness the full potential of remote production, resulting in substantial reductions in on-site crew and equipment. This not only cut down our travel and logistical expenses but also underscored our commitment to environmental sustainability. Additionally, the streamlined workflow afforded us greater agility in addressing last-minute changes or technical challenges, ensuring a seamless broadcast for the E1 Series."
Daan Zeestraten, Manager of Graphics Operations at NEP The Netherlands
By adopting Pixotope and other virtual production tools, the industry signals a commitment to sustainable innovation. This encourages further development of eco-friendly technologies and practices within the sector. As more productions embrace these tools, it sets a precedent and encourages others to follow suit, driving industry-wide change towards sustainability.
Pixotope is more than just a powerful tool for creating stunning visual effects and immersive environments; it’s a step forward in making the entertainment industry more sustainable. By reducing the need for physical sets, minimizing location shoots, improving energy efficiency, and promoting the reuse of digital assets, Pixotope helps lower the environmental impact of media production. As the industry continues to prioritize sustainability, the adoption of virtual production platforms like Pixotope will play a crucial role in achieving these environmental goals.
Embracing virtual production is not just a technological advancement but also an ethical choice that supports the health of our planet. The shift towards sustainable production practices, facilitated by tools like Pixotope, is paving the way for a greener and more responsible entertainment industry.
If you're looking to elevate your broadcasting, film, or streaming projects while embracing sustainable practices, explore the innovative features of Pixotope. Reach out to our team to learn how this cutting-edge technology can enhance your production.