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Virtual Production Capabilities: Cutting Filming Costs and Time


On the evening of October 24th, professionals from the film, advertising, television, and public relations industries gathered on a film set where traditional techniques were replaced by cutting-edge virtual production technology. This set was the “Faux Real Studio” at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), which hosted the event and studio opening showcasing the virtual production technology.


Guests experienced firsthand the filming process and the nuances of creating with virtual production. The studio’s creative team—comprising a cinematographer, producer, and director—showed how this technology is reshaping their workflows. The event concluded with a live performance by artist Gabrielius Vagelis and a preview of his music video “Vienu ritmu,” filmed at “Faux Real Studio.”


Gabrielius Vagelis' and a preview of his music video “Vienu ritmu,” filmed at VILNIUS TECH “Faux Real Studio.”


Flexibility and Streamlined Content Creation


The creative team at VILNIUS TECH “Faux Real Studio” emphasized that the primary goal of virtual production is to streamline the content creation process.


Producer Rūta Račaitė explained that virtual production can cut project costs and filming time by 30-50%, depending on the project's scale and the technology used.


Producer Rūta Račaitė explains the advantages of virtual production.


“Virtual production reduces the need for physical sets, travel, and logistics, making film production more sustainable. Researchers around the world are continually finding new ways to optimise these processes, with the potential to save up to 50% of time and costs by shortening both pre-production and post-production phases,” she adds.


Blending Real and Digital Worlds


Attendees were introduced to the tech behind virtual production, as studio specialists showcased how LED screens, Unreal Engine, motion capture, and camera tracking work seamlessly together, blending physical and digital elements in real time.


Virtual production expert Leonardas Žilinskas highlighted that the technology allows for the creation of entirely new digital environments and can turn real objects into virtual ones with impressive detail using techniques like photogrammetry.


Virtual production expert Leonardas Žilinskas.


“This lets the film and advertising industries achieve outstanding image quality and experiment with visuals even before filming begins,” L. Žilinskas noted.


Unlimited Creative Potential


L. Žilinskas pointed out that virtual production offers virtually unlimited creative possibilities.


“By creating virtual environments, filmmakers can bring to life both fantastical and realistic worlds in real time. This technology gives complete control over lighting, atmosphere, and even physics, adding much more flexibility to the creative process,” he said.


Cinematographer Džiugas Šėma echoed this sentiment, stating that virtual production gives cinematographers full control over lighting, colours, and mood.


“We can adjust lighting in real time and create visual effects that enhance storytelling. For example, we can extend the golden hour as long as needed without any changes in light, giving actors and the creative team more time to work,” D.Šėma explained.


He also noted the smoother collaboration that virtual production brings to the creative process.



Cinematographer Džiugas Šėma.


“Virtual production allows cinematographers and directors to see the final shot in real time and experiment directly on the LED screen with angles and lighting. It eliminates the need to explain how a scene will look after green screen effects—directors can instantly see the exact result,” said D.Šėma.


Director Ričardas Matačius agreed.


“On set, the director’s work is closely connected with the rest of the team. Setting up lights, preparing props, and repositioning cameras can take a lot of time, and the longer it takes, the less time there is for rehearsing with actors, retakes, and exploring different shots. With virtual production, directors have more freedom to experiment, choose locations, set atmospheres, and make complex visual decisions that would sometimes be impossible on real sets,” said R.Matačius.



Director Ričardas Matačius.


The Importance of Research and Development


Producer Rūta Račaitė concluded by stressing the vital role of ongoing research and development in advancing virtual production technology. Research is key to addressing challenges around sustainability, efficiency, and standardisation.


“VILNIUS TECH ‘Faux Real Studio’ has been operating for just over a year, so it’s too soon to call ourselves experts. More accurately, we’re pioneers—learning, discovering, sharing our knowledge, and bringing creative video projects to life,” R.Račaitė said.




Watch Gabrielius Vagelis' music video “Vienu ritmu,” filmed at VILNIUS TECH “Faux Real Studio.”


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