“UStream Revolutionizes Filmmaking with Groundbreaking Virtual Studio at ARR Film City”
On September 22, 2024, UStream will formally open its doors at ARR Film City, Chennai, as a technology-driven, full-service virtual production studio. Created to mark the beginning of a new age in Indian cinema, the studio is the brainchild of software entrepreneur Sridhar Santhanam and Academy Award–winning composer AR Rahman.
The studio has an amazing LED volume wall that lets production creatives work with digital assets like a live-action team, only in real-time. Thanks to its state-of-the-art setup, UStream is able to lead the way in virtual production on a worldwide scale. It allows digital world capture, real-time visualisation, performance capture, simulcam integration, and in-camera visual effects (ICVFX).
Superior Functionality and Expandable Framework
With an ultra-responsive render architecture built for real-time 3D settings, UStream’s flagship LED wall—a towering 40 feet by 20 feet display—is supported by a 1.9 pixel pitch. Accelerating the realisation of creative projects, the 7,000 square foot studio is outfitted with image-based lighting, camera tracking technologies, and state-of-the-art playback and colour grading systems. The studio is also getting ready to grow; plans call for an extra 20,000 square feet of production space.
Filmmakers have access to the studio’s on-site post-production suites, which facilitate the entire production process, from pre-production to post-production. The scalability of UStream’s render nodes makes it possible to effortlessly manage even the most intricate applications.
Unparalleled versatility is yours in this studio thanks to its integrated camera-tracking system, moveable LED skylight, and LED side walls. All aspects of manufacturing are supported by the facility’s engineering workshop, production workstation, and equipment storage.
Efficient Process for Real-Time Teamwork in the Cloud
In keeping with its innovative spirit, UStream is working on a revolutionary camera-to-cloud procedure that will provide filmmakers global access to dailies in real time. Directors, editors, visual effects teams, and post-production vendors can all work together in real-time using this cloud-integrated technology, which speeds up production timeframes.
In addition, a state-of-the-art solution for organising, retrieving, and evaluating production assets is provided by UStream’s cloud-based visual effects and asset management system. Using this method can greatly improve production efficiency by reducing delays in file and asset transfers.
Flexible Work Areas
Several advanced production options are available with UStream, in addition to the LED volume wall. Among these, you’ll find a variety of virtual spaces tailored to different types of creative needs, such as tech-scouting areas, enhanced performance-capture volumes, simulcam setup, and specialist location-scouting areas. A VIP viewing space is available at the venue, giving visitors, executives, and filmmakers a front-row seat to the action as it happens.
In order to generate photorealistic three-dimensional sceneries from a small collection of still images or movies, UStream will soon have state-of-the-art miniature scanning, 3D printing, and Gaussian splatting capabilities.
In the heart of Chennai, there is another, more intimate LED stage that can accommodate smaller, more intimate plays while yet providing the same cutting-edge technology. Expanding UStream’s capabilities to accommodate projects of varying sizes, this new facility will focus on short-form content, music videos, and corporate productions.
Collaborations on a Global Scale to Foster Innovation and Talent
With the goal of improving virtual production in India, UStream has partnered with industry heavyweights in artificial intelligence and visual effects. Specifically, CG Pro will help bring in foreign talent and provide state-of-the-art visual effects training, while AI film tech companies such as Vu, Dimension5, and Cuberic will supply AI-generated backgrounds, bringing local movies up to international standards in terms of quality and inventiveness. In addition, UStream will collaborate closely with global VFX artists and studios to raise the bar for Indian production quality.
An International Centre for Creativity: ARR Film City
Local and international projects alike will find the perfect setting at ARR Film City, which is located on a vast 100-acre site just outside of Chennai. Private housing for crews of varying sizes is available in the film city, in addition to UStream’s state-of-the-art virtual production stage, a world-class music recording studio created by Musical Genius AR Rahman, and a secondary stage perfect for conventional filmmaking and set creation. Here, filmmakers have access to state-of-the-art facilities in one convenient spot, allowing them to devote their full attention to their projects.
Stream is poised to become a global icon for filmmakers thanks to its innovative combination of technology, imagination, and teamwork.
What uStream Is
Filmmakers can take use of cutting-edge XR solutions at uStream, a virtual production studio that offers a full range of services. Art, design, virtual asset development, visual effects, digital intermediate, and AI-enhanced Previz are just a few of the services offered by the studio. For both domestic and foreign productions, uStream can build high-quality virtual sets using cutting-edge technology such as LED walls, camera-to-cloud workflows, and scalable post-production solutions. Through its training programs, uStream Labs, the studio also seeks to cultivate virtual production talent for the future.