Silvertown Studios®, located in East London, is pioneering accessible virtual production for small to mid-sized creative teams. Emerging from the challenges of the pandemic, the studio transformed its expertise in live events into a full-service ICVFX stage, powered by a 2.5mm Absen LED wall, Unreal Engine based rendering systems, and the reliable VIVE MARS CamTrack.
“Our experience with the VIVE Mars CamTrack has been exceptional,” the Silvertown team shared. “It’s easy to deploy, integrates seamlessly with Unreal Engine, and we haven’t had a single glitch in all these years.”
Silvertown has proven the capabilities of Mars CamTrack in real-world environments, achieving complex, on-the-fly camera movements—including a 13-metre tracking shot—without signal loss or latency. For many producers, that performance redefines what’s possible in a compact studio setup.
But their mission goes beyond equipment. Silvertown provides hands-on guidance for clients new to ICVFX, from pre-production advice to on-set supervision. Whether it’s a high-concept commercial or a fast-turnaround branded video, the team demystifies the process of virtual production and shows how it can scale to any size.
“People assume ICVFX is only for big sci-fi movies,” they explain. “But we’re using it for everything from interviews and podcasts to music videos and narrative shorts. If you want to control your environment, save time on location, or iterate quickly, virtual production is a powerful tool.”
Preparation, they emphasize, is key. With dedicated time for previs and art department setup, even low-budget productions can take full advantage of real-time environments. The studio encourages first-time clients to treat the stage as a sandbox, experimenting freely to understand the full range of creative options.
🚀 VIVE MARS: Can you introduce yourself, your background, along with the story behind Silvertown Studios?
Silvertown Studios: Silvertown Studios was born out of the pandemic. Our original company, London Audio Visual was shut down due to lockdown restrictions and our team was looking for alternative ways to keep our company running!
During a regular lockdown ‘keeping in touch’ virtual meeting, one of our team (a huge film buff) mentioned how The Mandalorian was filmed using virtual production. It was this conversation that led to research into virtual production. We had the LED screens sitting in our warehouse and no exhibitions, events, or conferences to use them at, so after looking into the rules and regulations of lockdown, we set up a one-man band to transform one of our arches into a virtual production studio. Once this was ready, our client (who happened to be a Director and lover of VP) came in alone to run some tests, the rest, as they say, was history!
Post lockdown, Silvertown Studios began working with a bank of clients who wanted to use virtual production for commercials, music videos, and we continue to grow!
🚀 VIVE MARS: What has been your experience using VIVE Mars CamTrack?
Silvertown Studios: Our experience with the VIVE Mars CamTrack has been exceptional.
Its ease of use and adaptability allow us to scale productions efficiently. The compact design, reliable tracking, and seamless integration with Unreal Engine make it an invaluable tool for ICVFX.
The ability to handle complex camera moves without compromising tracking precision is one of the standout features. The system is very easy to deploy and calibrate compared to other solutions on the market. We are still amazed at how reliable the system is; it has been smooth sailing, and we have not experienced a single glitch in all these years!
🚀 VIVE MARS: Can you share your favorite or most unique project that utilized VIVE Mars CamTrack?
Silvertown Studios: One of our most memorable projects involved quite a long camera roll, approximately 13 metres from left to right. Initially, during this project, we were apprehensive as the tracking volume should not really extend 10 metres! Yet again, the Mars system exceeded expectations, consistently covering the full 13-metre run with no issues and no need to reposition the base stations.
🚀 VIVE MARS: How does Silvertown Studios support clients who are unfamiliar with ICVFX, and what steps do you take to ease them into the process?
Silvertown Studios: We understand that virtual production can feel overwhelming for those unfamiliar with it. Our team provides end-to-end support, starting with an introductory consultation to explain the process. We also offer on-set demonstrations, ensuring clients are comfortable with the technology. From pre-visualization to real-time production, we break down each step in plain terms, making the transition into ICVFX as smooth as possible. (Check out Jaeger-LeCoultre Case Study)
🚀 VIVE MARS: What reactions have you observed from first-time users of ICVFX?
Silvertown Studios: The moment clients see the magic of ICVFX, whether it’s real-time changes to backgrounds or how lighting syncs perfectly, they’re usually amazed. For many of our clients, it is a real game-changer, largely due to the creative and logistical advantages it brings to their productions.
🚀 VIVE MARS: What are some of the most common misconceptions producers or directors have about ICVFX, and how do you address them?
Silvertown Studios: One of the most common myths is that ICVFX is only for big-budget films. In reality, it is incredibly versatile. We have demonstrated our adaptability across a range of productions, from commercials to music videos. Another misconception is the idea that virtual production is complex or rigid. We demystify this by demonstrating its flexibility and cost-efficiency, especially when compared to traditional production setups.
🚀 VIVE MARS: What makes a successful collaboration between Silvertown Studios and a production team?
Silvertown Studios: The key elements of a successful collaboration between Silvertown Studios and a production team are planning! The best projects have allowed for time to prepare for the creation of environments, along with a pre-vis day, to test environments, along with the art department's set designs.
🚀 VIVE MARS: What types of Industries could benefit from using Virtual Production at Silvertown Studios? Corporate? Event? Podcast?
Silvertown Studios: Because virtual production gained prominence in genres like science fiction and fantasy, many producers assume it’s unsuitable for other types of storytelling. We have demonstrated our flexibility through past projects for a variety of genres.
For example, ICVFX is perfect for corporate videos, allowing brands to film in diverse virtual environments without leaving the studio. It’s equally effective for dramas, where subtle background changes can enhance the narrative without the need for a large physical set.
🚀 VIVE MARS: What advice do you have for creatives or businesses considering virtual production for the first time? How can they get in touch with Silvertown?
Silvertown Studios: Our top advice for creatives or businesses exploring virtual production for the first time is: don’t leave things to chance—meticulous planning is essential! If possible, build in a day to test and experiment with your environments in the studio. This allows your team to understand how the virtual production shoot will unfold and make any necessary adjustments. It’s also really important to collaborate with a team that has hands-on experience in virtual production. Since it’s a relatively new and evolving space, having dedicated in-house expertise - like we do at Silvertown Studios - means clients can approach their projects with confidence, knowing they’re supported by a team that truly understands the technology and the creative process. (Check out Anthony Joshua Case Study)
• 17m x 4m Curved LED Volume Absen Events & Entertainment LED Display 2.5mm
• Brainstorm Electronics Master Clock
• 2 Render Nodes with Dual GPU (NVIDIA A600ADA)
• Custom-built AMD Pro workstation running RTX 4090
• 5m x 3m Motorized LED Ceiling
• Brompton Technology Limited Processing
🔗 Official Website and Instagram
🔗 Email: info@silvertownstudios.co.uk
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🔗 Email: mars-partnership@vive.com
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