‘House of the Dragon’ technology behind Bristol University’s world-first facility

Instead of green screens, actors and directors can now see dynamic LED backdrops where stories take place. 

The new virtual production stage will use computer generated imagery (CGI) to help create these imagined worlds, installed alongside a one-of-a-kind 35 seat Smart Cinema that can measure what the audience is feeling.

The new multi-million pound facility will be built in Bristol’s Temple Quarter and is set to open in Autumn 2024.

According to the partners, the facility has been designed to allow those in the creative industries to experiment and innovate alongside internationally renowned academics, to change the way the film, TV and games are created, broadcast and experienced by everyone. 

“The partnership with Lux Machina is a critical element in our mission to combine world leading research and teaching with the latest in production facilities,” Oscar De Mello, Operations Director of MyWorld, Bristol University, said in a statement. 

“Our Experimental Studio and Smart Cinema will enable a huge variety of partners, from global leaders like Netflix and Amazon to Bristol’s amazing indie and freelancer community, to access the tools, data and talent they need to safeguard and grow their businesses, to develop and validate new technologies and create new content.”