The emergence of virtual production – a research agenda

Virtual production is increasingly seen as a way to make film and television more efficiently by harnessing the power of game engines to create unique locations and sets, offer directors more flexibility, and to cut carbon emissions. But while the technologies at the centre of virtual production are not new, their combination into filmmaking pipelines is in its infancy and the field is evolving fast. Indeed, so rapid is its evolution that pinning down what virtual production is, or might become, is a challenge in itself. What is clear, however, is that the approach is seen as an important element of filmmaking that is here to stay. In this article, we outline the emergence of virtual production and constituent technologies to pin down its current form. We also examine the emergent orthodoxies about what virtual production can do, what it can’t do and what it might allow filmmakers to do in the future. We finish the article by outlining a research agenda for further work on virtual production for scholars interested in its technologies, impact on working practices, how it might impact equality, diversity and equality agendas, and its implications for existing and emerging skills gaps across the film and TV industry.