DNEG Teams Up with Dimension Studio to Launch New Division: DNEG 360

DNEG has just taken a huge leap forward in the world of virtual production with the launch of DNEG 360, in partnership with Dimension Studio, and it's pretty exciting news for anyone interested in the future of filmmaking. For those who might not be familiar, DNEG is a powerhouse in visual effects, having worked with the likes of Denis Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan. And now, they’re stepping things up even further with this new division that’s all about offering cutting-edge pre-production and virtual production services. 

As part of this big move, they’ve also unveiled two of the largest LED volume stages on the planet—one in London and the other in Rome. These stages are going to be a game-changer for virtual production, and DNEG and Dimension are giving us a sneak peek at their capabilities with a behind-the-scenes video called *The Evolution of Virtual Production*. Spoiler: it’s impressive.

The partnership between DNEG and Dimension isn’t exactly new—they first teamed up in February 2021 to offer virtual production services. But with the launch of DNEG 360, they’re expanding that collaboration to cover everything from visualisation and content creation to full-blown virtual production and post-production services. In other words, they’re now offering clients a seamless, end-to-end solution for their projects, whether it’s a feature film, episodic TV, a music video, or even an ad campaign.

One of the most impressive things about DNEG 360 is the sheer scale they’re working at. Their London studio, for example, boasts two massive LED stages. Stage One is equipped with a 20-meter by 8-meter curved LED wall made up of 1,600 panels, four wild walls, and even a retractable LED ceiling. Stage Two is designed for performance capture, vehicle shots, and volumetric capture, making it incredibly versatile. Over in Rome, their LED stage at the iconic Cinecittà Studios includes a 24-meter by 8-meter LED volume and a 25-meter rotating platform for quickly moving sets around. It’s all about making virtual production more efficient and less risky for filmmakers.

Steve Griffith, the Managing Director of DNEG 360 and Dimension Studio, put it best when he said, “DNEG 360 is the only end-to-end, real-time powered service provider operating at this kind of scale anywhere in the world.” The team has already racked up over 800 virtual production shoot days and delivered thousands of shots, which means they’ve really had the chance to refine their approach. The result? A streamlined digital production process that allows clients to work smarter, not harder, from pre-production all the way to the final delivery.

Since their initial collaboration in 2021, DNEG and Dimension have worked on some major projects like 'Masters of the Air' (Apple TV+), 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' (Netflix), 'Devotion' (Sony Pictures), and even 'The Muppets Mayhem' (Disney+). And with DNEG 360 now fully operational, it sounds like there’s a lot more on the horizon.

Namit Malhotra, DNEG’s Global CEO, is clearly excited about the possibilities, saying that DNEG 360 reinforces the company’s position as a leader in technological advancement. With their cutting-edge real-time technologies and virtual production techniques, DNEG is not only helping filmmakers push creative boundaries but also making the production process more efficient and cost-effective.

In short, DNEG 360 is shaping up to be a major player in the future of entertainment production, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what they come up with next.