Augmented Reality Studio Opens In London

new purpose built augmented and mixed reality studio, opened its doors this month, offering industries a high tech alternative to using green screens. 

The XR studio has been built using the innovative XR platform MARS, who create virtual 3D environments, mapped onto an LED stage which allows presenters, performers and actors to blend seamlessly into a photo-real or imaginary virtual environment, all in real time.

Bild Studio have previously worked on live experiences and high end productions for the likes of  Beyoncé and Cirque du Soleil and combined with MARS’ technology, which marries video game engines, camera-tracking technology, mixed reality workflows and LED screens to create its performance stage and studio, makes the augmented reality sound stage an experience that is one of its kind. 

Dr James Fox, a British art historian and BBC presenter worked with the creative team at The Experience Machine and the technical and production teams at Bild Studios to produce Masterpiece, a 3D representation of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks painting.

The painting was recreated by extracting 3D geometry with detailed layers of texturing added which was partly handmade and partly AI-generated which would accurately resemble brush strokes just like in the painting. 

Once the 3D scene had been created, it was imported into Unreal Engine, a game engine which rendered in real time based on the position of the physical film camera on the MARS stage.

Founder and Director of The Experience Machine (TEM), Christopher Pearson, commented on  “Masterpiece” stating: 

“Access to high-end XR platforms such as MARS alongside advances in game engine software has opened the opportunity to craft narrative journeys from an entirely new perspective; the inside of an artwork.”

Pearson continued: 

“Considering the painted canvas as an environment that a viewer can walk into has never been more possible. Working closely with Dr James Fox we have been able to reimagine how a painting could exist as a 3-dimensional world. This process has allowed the technology to reveal insights into the painting that have never been considered before.”

Bild Studios co-founder, David Bajt explains: 

“…we have been working hard behind the scenes to develop the world’s leading XR production technologies and know-how, working with globally renowned musicians, entertainers and presenters to break beyond the physical dimensions of the traditional film location, event venue or broadcast studio, through realising the full potential of XR”.