On McKinney Music, “the best independent music magazine in the UK“, the music video for Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper’s “Burning Daylight”, the Netherlands’ official Eurovision entry, was shot on an LED Volume, offering a flexible approach.
ReadySet Studios
Today, ReadySet Studios announced that it provided extensive virtual production (VP) and in-camera VFX (ICVFX) services for the official Netherlands entry for the “Eurovision Song Contest 2023“, Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper’s “Burning Daylight” music video. One of the most-watched international television spectacles, the “Eurovision Song Contest 2023” finale airs on Saturday, May 13. (Extra info and viewing schedules are available here.)
Burning Daylight – VP/ICVFX Creative Brief
ReadySet Studios built physical sets of various locations in the video, including a restaurant, multiple versions of a living room with action taking place at various times of the day, and a nightclub scene with a small stage where the artists perform with virtual sets, in response to a creative brief from Bruut Amsterdam. A significant proviso for creation was that, when it came to shooting, “Burning Daylight” was still stringently private and couldn’t be leaked for any reason.
“Burning Daylight”
The underlying theme of “Burning Daylight” can be found in the investigation of two traumatic occurrences pertaining to the breakup of relationships. The project was directed by Gregory Samson, and Deniz Alkaç of Bruut Amsterdam was the executive producer.
Idse Grotenhuis, Managing Director of ReadySet Studios
The storyline running through “Burning Daylight” happens in various areas that, if utilizing conventional creation methods, would have expected the group to make multiple trips to numerous areas, explained Idse Grotenhuis, ReadySet Studios’ managing director. Their virtual art department was able to quickly change story locations thanks to filming on the LED volume, which also demonstrated ReadySet Studios’ agile storytelling approach and real-time, sustainable production solutions.
Gregory Samson, Director of “Burning Daylight”
Samson explained that he could modify content quickly and easily, exactly to his liking, working with the ReadySet Studios team. He said he would never have been able to shoot the video within budget if he’d had to build the sets traditionally. He had much more time to work with his actors and crew to create something beautiful without having to rush or travel.
Virtual Production Technology – Creating Credibility
Dennis Kleyn, founding partner and VP/VFX producer of ReadySet Studios, explained that because the team used a smaller physical set but could believably “sell” the full production value of larger locations, shooting the music video in virtual production solved logistical and creative efficiency issues. The whole virtual creation approach made it conceivable to shoot six areas inside a brief time frame, which prevented company moves and empowered the performers to capitalize on their time inside a solitary shooting area at the facility.
LED Volume Versatility
ReadySet Studios co-founder and chief production designer, Florian Legters, supervised planning and building the actual sets, including a brilliant central portal, with multiple doorways to connect the various virtual scenes the performers move in and out of.
About ReadySet Studios
ReadySet Studios, based in Amsterdam, is preparing for virtual creation (VP) and in-camera VFX (ICVFX) in the Netherlands. The 5500-square-foot facility, which provides services to feature films, episodic TV, and commercial productions, recently celebrated its first anniversary. It was co-founded with Planet X, the leading Dutch visual effects studio. ReadySet Studios provides creative professionals with optimized end-to-end visual effects and ICVFX production pipelines that are centered on innovation and sustainability by utilizing Planet X’s expertise in traditional VFX workflows, content creation, and the development of real-time render engines.