Wouldn't you like to be in Woodstock?
Wouldn't you like to be in Woodstock?

Ulster County already sounds great, but wait, wait thereâs more!
The Hudson Valley, and Ulster County in particular, is home to jaw dropping nature, gram-worthy shopping, vibrant communities, and countless restaurants with farm-fresh food and cozy and exciting spaces.
Weâre fond of a little town called Woodstock. Maybe youâve heard of it?
Called the “Most Famous Small Town in the World,” Woodstock, New York is where the 1969 music festival famously took place. Say “Woodstock” and the legendary Summer of Love concert immediately springs to mind.
The nationâs oldest arts and crafts colony, Byrdcliffe, which dates back to 1903 is in Woodstock. While you can still get Woodstock-era beads, tie-dye, and glitter, these days youâre more likely to find modern art, jewelry, and clothing in the Village Green, at the center of town, as well as restaurants and plenty of live music venues that keep the scene thriving.

Want to pamper yourself a bit between days on location or after your production (or during)? Woodstock has you covered all the way from cute BnBs to the Tibetan Buddhist monastery that is next to our Overlook Mountain trailhead â¨. Anyway, thereâs something for everyone in your cast and crew (and YOU of course).
If youâre looking for a snack or a drink, pop into Good Nightâ one of our favorites and the best in the area. The vibe is après ski lodge meets gin joint lounge (the couches are to die for). We recommend the East Coast oysters for a real taste of old New York in the Hudson Valley, (our personal fav is the Crispy Shrimp with Shishito Peppers).
Letâs talk soon about Ulster County!
Learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun đ
Need Production solutions and support?
A New Hybrid Virtual Production Workflow
A New Hybrid Virtual Production Workflow
At Cobalt, you know weâre always trying to figure out next-level cost-effective efficiencies đ We feel a âHybridâ Virtual Production workflow, which combines different production methods, may be the answer. Small to medium budget projects and corporate content producers are under increasing pressure to create more-for-less with the current state of the film industry and economic issues, at large.
The origin of hybrid Virtual Production lies in the need to blend traditional and modern techniques to maximize efficiency and creativity.
Hereâs the thing⌠Many people mistakenly use Virtual Production as a synonym for LED wall filming. In reality, Virtual Production can cover everything from LED walls to green screen, blue screen and much more.
So, when talking about Virtual Production, there is a misconception that its rise in popularity will mean that LED walls are going to take over from green screen production. Not true at all. They believe that huge LED volumes will be required to film what they need, when in fact, if you MIX smaller LED walls with green screen, then you donât need a huge volume to shoot big projects, at all. With a Hybrid Virtual Production workflow, it can all be achieved within a relatively small space, without splashing out on big expensive volumes.
Hybrid Virtual Production Workflow
Virtual Production for small and mid-range budgets has been somewhat neglected in all the LED Virtual Production hype, yet these are the types of projects that would benefit the most from what it has to offer by increasing production value within the same budget. Virtual Production thrives on constraints. The moment youâre limited by budget or location, VP kicks in â and thatâs where it gets highly efficient. It is a powerful tool which can enable production in seemingly far away and exotic locations, which would break most budgets.
For example, when filming with LED volumes, you need to bring set builders in to create a seamless joint between the real-world studio and virtual scene displayed on the LED wall, and then you canât have natural shadows⌠That means your digital advantage of switching from one scene to the next for super fast production is now out the window. You have to build the floor for every different scene, which complicates things and is the opposite of what people expect with LED wall filming, which has a reputation for being more efficient.
This is why a lot of LED wall demos are actually done with sand as you can pour it out and move it quickly for easy set building. But we canât just keep filming on beaches and deserts or far away planets⌠When people look back on work filmed in Virtual Production, Iâll bet theyâll know it was shot between 2021-2022 just by noting the sand used for the floor!
With green screen, on the other hand, you can film the floor as itâs part of the scene you want, along with the shadows cast, making it look more realistic. Easy freakinâ peasy.
Looking at the advantages and disadvantages of both styles of filming, it would make sense to use each for its benefits. Thatâs why we tend to like a Hybrid Virtual Production workflow which combines the two â filming on green screen for wide shots where youâll need to film the floor, and then switching to LED volumes in the same studio for mid and close-up shots đ
LED walls work really well for this, particularly if your actor is wearing glasses or something reflective, which in green screen causes a green colour spill, (this can be removed by the more experienced Director of Photography like what our Alex Fernbach did for our latest NBC project). Green spill is much more forgiving in wide shots where youâre further away from the actors. In LED, it just reflects the scene spill around them which is more realistic.
So your actors are shooting on green screen, and once they move over to the LED wall in the same studio, someone can prepare the green screen and its foreground props for the next scene. It all just creates further efficiency on set and throughout production.
All these misconceptions and misunderstandings mean that there is some further education needed within this space. And thatâs not surprising seeing as this is a fairly new way of filming. Not only that, itâs a completely new workflow, which through preparation and pre-production, drastically reduces post production and filming time. In fact, much of what has historically been considered âpost workâ is now done in PRE production and finished during actual production shoot days.
Want to learn more about Virtual Production and how to use it?
FAQs about âCobalt on the Roadâ MOBILE Virtual Production.
Itâs our MOBILE Virtual Production capability we bring to you anywhere, along with our top-flight crew and equipment. Check out: Virtual Production: Top 3 Things Every Producer Should Know.
So many line items can be slashed:
- Travel for talent and crew
- Location scouting, permits and fees
- Elaborate physical sets
- Weather days
See how âCobalt on the Roadâ can bring you:
Our Virtual Stage frees your imagination to create 3D sets that wouldnât be possible or financially feasible, otherwise. You can shoot anywhere from the bottom of the Ocean to Mars at an incredible level of detail. Whatâs more, nothing has to push to post, if you so choose. You can tinker with lighting, color, composites and visual effects in real-time as your talent interacts authentically with their environment. With âCobalt on the Roadâ you can have this at YOUR doorstep.
Virtual Production Cobalt Stages was the 1st company to bring Virtual Sets to the East Coast in 2016. Our VP tools are fully integrated into a plug-and-play workstation that assures complete reliability, bullet proof performance for either final pixel compositing, or, with our 4-4k recorders, all conceivable elements for a traditional post finish.
Motion control Weâve been doing MoCo and precision playback for about 25 years⌠Wherever you are, youâll continue to have convenient access to our comprehensive inventory of motion controlled equipmentâ the largest and most diverse on the East Coast.
Our Motion Control accessories include turntables, sliders, high speed sleds and XY tablesâall curated to facilitate rapid design engineering and construction. We build in equipment redundancies to eliminate downtime, and we stock a vast inventory of components for creating custom rigs that ensure efficient effects for production.
Cobalt Tech has always prided itself on being âtoolset agnosticâ. In fact, we are production advisors. We listen first, and then assemble the most appropriate tools in our arsenal to facilitate each and every project.
Cobalt never shrinks away from the challenge. In fact, we LOVE puzzles! Our last project, âJimmy Fallonâs Holiday Seasoning Spectacularâ required us to bring not 1, but 3, fully tracked and mapped camera rigs to an outside stage in NYC for our clients convenience.
Cobalt is By Producers, For Producers. We leverage our Industry experience to make everything you need easily accessible, so you can focus on what mattersâdoing your best work. Weâre committed to creating the most comfortable, convenient, cutting-edge, and cost effective experience.
Helping producers problem-solve their projects is one of our specialties. We believe in taking the time to listen, and weâre quick to offer innovative and practical solutions to save your production time, money, and stress.
Want to learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun.
Need Production solutions and support?
New York Doubles Down on Film & TV Production.
New York Doubles Down on Film & TV Production â and Weâre Ready to Roll
Itâs official: New York just made the best film tax incentive in the country even better.
With the signing of the FY2026 State Budget, NY State just gave a big greenlight to a stronger, smarter, and more competitive NYS Film Tax Credit Program. From faster payouts and new indie support to expanded VFX, scoring, and post-production benefits, these updates are a massive win for productions across the board.
Hereâs whatâs new and worth celebrating:
Quick Highlights:
    ¡ New Indie Support: The Empire State Independent Production Program brings a dedicated $100M fund with faster credit access for indie filmmakers.
        ¡ Production+: A first-in-the-nation incentive giving recurring productions an extra 10% backâif you spend $100M+ across multiple projects in NY.
        ¡ Musical Scoring Bonus: Record with five or more musicians in NY? Thatâs another 10% back.
        ¡ Post & VFX Perks: New thresholds make it easier to qualify for post, VFX, and animation incentivesâspend just $500K or 10%.
      ¡ Above-the-Line Boost: NY removed the per-person cap on ATL expenses, giving you more flexibility without blowing past 40% of total costs.
And yesâit all adds up to more projects, more jobs, and more reasons to shoot in New York.
Lights, Camera, Empire State
Film and TV production is already back in action across the state:
¡ Hallmark and the NFL are teaming up in NY.
¡ Only Murders in the Building is back at it.
¡ Apple TV’s Your Friends and Neighbors, Netflixâs Zero Day, and The Penguin all wrapped major projects across the boroughs and beyondâbringing hundreds of millions into local economies.
Our Take: Â They know whatâs up.
You know who REALLY knows whatâs up? Â
Netflixâs “The Four Seasons” is shooting Upstate for the extra 10% “Upstate Bumpâ making their tax credits 40% (as opposed to NYC at 30%).
FOX TV’s âBest Medicineâ (US Version of the UK show called âDoc Martinâ) is also taking advantage of the perks of Upstate, too.
Anddddd⌠Paul Ruddâs shooting a feature Upstate đ
Cha-ching đ°Â Cha-ching đ°
Want to know more or how to apply for these updated tax credits? Â
Got questions?Â
FAQs About Cobalt Tech
At our house or your house?
We provide green screen/ blue screen technology (cost-effective for wide shots), LED wall displays (ideal for reflective surfaces and interactive lighting), and hybrid approaches that balance creative vision with budget constraints.
Your choice. You can opt for a Traditional Workflow where final compositing happens in post-production, or you can go straight to Final Pixel (where the finished composite is generated live as you film).
Our consultative approach includes explaining all available options, helping you weigh the tradeoffs, and providing ongoing support throughout the production processâregardless of your experience level.
As producers ourselves, we focus on achieving your goalsânot selling you the flashiest technology. We work as partners to find solutions that enhance your storytelling within your budget.
Want to learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun.
Need production solutions and support?
Summerâs Heating Up in Ulster County
Summerâs Heating Up in Ulster Countyâand Weâre Loving It
Here in Ulster County, the days are getting longer, the greens are getting greener, and the energy? Itâs dialed all the way up. Whether youâre basking in the golden-hour light of the Shawangunks or vibing out at a local festival, this corner of the Hudson Valley is summerâs secret sauce.
Weâre lucky enough to call this place home, and it never stops inspiring usâfrom the moss-covered boulders of the Mohonk Preserve to the creative pulse running through every corner of Kingston and Woodstock.
Natureâs Calling, Loud and Clear
Thereâs something kind of cinematic about Ulster County. Maybe itâs the way the sun filters through the trees on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, or the sheer drama of the cliffs at Minnewaska. Samâs Point? Otherworldly. The Gunks? A rock climberâs paradise. Itâs no wonder more and more productions are heading north for a backdrop that practically directs itself.
But even if youâre not scouting locations, the outdoors here offer plenty of actionâhike it, bike it, paint it, shoot it. Just donât forget your bug spray (we keep it classy, but we keep it real).
So, Whatâs Happening This Season?
Whether you’re local or just passing through, Ulster Countyâs summer calendar is stacked. Here are a few events we’re marking on our calendars:
Phoenicia Festival of the Voice â Aug 1â3
Opera, gospel, and musical theater under the stars? Yes, please. This tiny town gets loud (in the best way).
Ulster County Fair â July 29âAug 3
A classic with carnival rides, agricultural shows, and deep-fried everything. Held in New Paltz, itâs fun for the whole crew.
Food Truck Fiesta â Monthly on May 20, June 17, July 15, Aug 19 & Sept 16
Live music, cold drinks, and your pick of food trucks. Itâs the chillest way to spend a Thursday night in Bloomington.
Good Life Market + Party â July 26
A one-day event packed with local makers, music, and sunshine at the Griffin House. Come for the vibe, stay for the vintage finds.
Still Dreaming?
We get it. With this much natural beauty and creative fuel in the air, itâs hard not to get swept up. Whether you’re storyboarding your next shoot, location scouting, or just looking for a fresh weekend escape, Ulster Countyâs got you.
And heyâif you need a base camp, Cobalt is just around the corner.
FAQs About Cobalt Tech
At our house or your house?
We provide green screen/ blue screen technology (cost-effective for wide shots), LED wall displays (ideal for reflective surfaces and interactive lighting), and hybrid approaches that balance creative vision with budget constraints.
Your choice. You can opt for a Traditional Workflow where final compositing happens in post-production, or you can go straight to Final Pixel (where the finished composite is generated live as you film).
Our consultative approach includes explaining all available options, helping you weigh the tradeoffs, and providing ongoing support throughout the production processâregardless of your experience level.
As producers ourselves, we focus on achieving your goalsânot selling you the flashiest technology. We work as partners to find solutions that enhance your storytelling within your budget.
Want to learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun.
Need production solutions and support?
The Tao of Cobalt
Cobaltâs balance.
Yin and Yang ~
And why it matters to your production

Symmetry in Studio Life
In the Eastern tradition, harmony happens when opposite forces are in balanceâyin and yang, dark and light, hot and cold, productivity and creativity. To make the Cobalt experience as harmonious as possible for everyone who works here, we try to strike the ideal balance of yin and yang elements. For example, while our turnkey soundstage is keenly focused on hardware and technology, we balance those aspects with a layer of warm hospitality, comfort, and calm.
Itâs a Yang Thang
We offer so many tools that weâve been compared to a Swiss Army Knifeâthink networked monitors, motion control rigs, and grip gear for days… even a scissor lift and wood shop! If itâs solid and hard-edged, weâve got you covered. Whether itâs mechanical, like our MoCo tools, or digital, like our amazing Virtual Production Systemâitâs here at Cobalt. So, how do we balance out the industrial feel of our technical toolbox?
The Yin Within
The essence of any production is people, so we include amenities that make the space feel human. Throughout the studio, essential oil diffusers remind everyone to breathe and be mindfulâan effortless way to boost creativity and productivity on set. Lavender for heart-opening and anti-anxiety… Lemon for a little pep in your step. You get to choose! To bring out the best in your talent, Cobaltâs hair, makeup, and wardrobe area has salon-quality styling tools, as well as robes & slippers for a spa-like vibe. Last but not least, Cobaltâs client suite is a comfortable, private oasis with chill leather couches and a networked Video Village for optimal connectivity. Thereâs even a massage chair! When ordering lighting and grip supplementals before your shoot, why not order a supplemental massage and show your clients how much they matter?

Self-Care to Go
Kara also has a degree in Health Sciences and has launched a USDA Certified Organic skincare brand, Kara Care Skin Food, which has earned multiple awards and has been featured in Elle, Redbook, and Organic Authority. Kara’s passion for holistic therapies was a driving force behind Cobalt’s transformation into a green facility.
Don’t forget to ask Kara for a sample of her Skin Food!
Want to learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun.
Need production solutions and support?
Big News for NY Film & TV: New Tax Credit Boosts Are Here
Big News for NY Film & TV: New Tax Credit Boosts Are Here
If you produce in New Yorkâor youâve been thinking about itâthis is the moment youâve been waiting for.
Last week, Governor Hochul officially signed the FY2026 NYS budget, and itâs packed with some major wins for the film and television industry. The stateâs already-strong Film Tax Credit Program just got a serious upgrade with a new focus on keeping productions rolling in New Yorkâand making it even more attractive to stay here.
Key Highlights:
- New âProduction+â Bonus: Extra 10% incentive for companies spending $100M+ across multiple projects (5% for indies at $20M+).
- $100M Indie Fund: Fast-tracked credit access through the new Empire State Independent Production Program.
- Above-the-Line Flexibility: Cap removed for individual talent, with guardrails to manage overall costs.
- Program Extended to 2036: Plus faster credit payoutsâno more multi-year tiers.
- More Support for Music, VFX & Post: New incentives for scoring, lower thresholds for VFX/animation, and streamlined post-production access.
Hereâs What It Means
Two brand-new programsâProduction+ and the Empire State Independent Production Programâare set to shake things up. These arenât just tweaks to existing policies; theyâre next-level incentives built to reward loyalty, support indie filmmakers, and streamline the process of turning tax credits into working capital.
The Production+ program gives an extra financial edge to companies that commit to recurring projects in the state, and it levels the playing field for indie shops by offering a lower spending threshold.
Meanwhile, the Empire State Independent Production Program gives $100M in support to help independent productions monetize their credits fasterâa much-needed boost for the folks who often operate without studio backing.
This is all part of a bigger push to keep New York competitiveânot just with other states, but with global production hubs. These new incentives are designed to keep crews working, soundstages booked, and the creative economy thriving.
Whatâs Next?
The rollout will take shape over the coming months as new regulations, guidelines, applications, and website updates go live. For now, the message is clear: New York is all-in on Film and TV.
Want to stay ahead of the updates? Subscribe to the MPTV newsletter or reach out directly with questions at (212) 803-2328 or filmcredits@esd.ny.gov.
FAQs About Cobalt Tech
At our house or your house?
We provide green screen/ blue screen technology (cost-effective for wide shots), LED wall displays (ideal for reflective surfaces and interactive lighting), and hybrid approaches that balance creative vision with budget constraints.
Your choice. You can opt for a Traditional Workflow where final compositing happens in post-production, or you can go straight to Final Pixel (where the finished composite is generated live as you film).
Our consultative approach includes explaining all available options, helping you weigh the tradeoffs, and providing ongoing support throughout the production processâregardless of your experience level.
As producers ourselves, we focus on achieving your goalsânot selling you the flashiest technology. We work as partners to find solutions that enhance your storytelling within your budget.
Want to learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun.
Need production solutions and support?
How a turnkey soundstage saves you time and money.
How a turnkey soundstage saves you time and money.
BY KARA VEDDER
How do you want to spend your timeâbeing creative? or managing minutia..? With an âempty warehouseâ soundstage, you can spend your precious time sourcing lights, lenses and folding chairs. A better alternative might be working with a turnkey soundstage.
Hereâs why leveraging your soundstageâs onsite offering helps you stay under budget, and spend more time on what matters most:
THE WORK.
Save time and money TWICE.
Using a turnkey soundstage protects your production against wasted time and money, upfront, by sparing you some of the sourcing. Then, you save AGAIN, onset, by being âpreventativeâ⌠At a turnkey stage, you are aligning yourself with vendors who have already thought through & prepared for last-minute emergencies that can occur. Even better, the spur of the moment rigging pinch, it helps if a studio has rigging components available. Having these last minute capabilities, keeps you from needing to put your production on pause. Seriously, what happens if someone has a creative idea in the middle of lighting design?? It really helps if you can just âgrab somethingâ from the in-house inventory…
Start from scratch? Really?
More tools and amenities, onsite, also means a lot less to worry about. If youâre shooting food, donât construct a kitchen. Find a soundstage that has one! If youâre making a film, shoot where thereâs more of what you need, long-term. How about ample production space, office supplies and generous internet bandwidth, to start? If youâre building a practical set, donât rent another entire space to do it. Find a place with a woodshop if you’re building a physical set. If youâre building your set, virtually, find a place that has VSet ready to go. And if youâre working with celebrity models or actors, see what amenities are offered for talent. Comfortable chairs, robes, and slippers really DO make a difference.
Use more, pay less.
We saved the easiest for last! The simplest way to save on below-the-line expenses is by working with a turnkey studio, and taking advantage of economies of scale. In addition to comparing what tools and amenities are offered, in-house, ask what kind of package deals each soundstage has to offer. You can save exponentially on time and money by negotiating a volume discount.
The Takeaway
Itâs simple. Your soundstageâs onsite resources shouldnât be an afterthought. When you factor in the time and labor of sourcing, transport and last-minute surprises, it almost always makes sense to work with a one-stop shop that offers more of what you need.
ABOUT KARA VEDDER
 Stages Owner and President Kara Vedder has spent most of her career working in television, film, photography, and commercial production as an actress and producer. This experience inspired the creation of Cobalt Stages, a by-producers, for-producers turnkey soundstage in Hoboken, N.J., and now Woodstock, NY, offering state-of-the-art production solutions, onsite and on location.
Want to learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun.
Need production solutions and support?
Weâve Pioneered Virtual Production for a DecadeâLetâs Catch You Up.
Weâve Pioneered Virtual Production for a DecadeâLetâs Catch You Up.
Key takeaways:
- Cobalt Stages has been at the forefront of Virtual Production since 2015, when we introduced the emerging technology to the East Coast.
- Virtual Production pushes cinematic boundaries, opening up creative possibilities and stretching budgets.
- You can choose your Virtual Production workflow, either Traditional (where the final compositing happens in post) or Final Pixel (which generates live, finished composites while you film).
- We take a consultative approach to help you get started or go next-level. Weâre here to share our love of Virtual Production with producers at any stage – beginners and seasoned pros, alike.
Based on a Presentation for the Woodstock Film Festival by Kara Vedder, President of Cobalt Stages, and Partner, Alex Fernbach:
Cobalt Stages has been leading the charge in Virtual Production since 2015, when we brought the tech to the East Coast. It wasnât exactly a warm welcomeâindustry vets pushed back with the classic, âBut weâve always done it this way.â Change is tough. But we stuck with it because we saw what Virtual Production could do. Eventually, we boiled it all down to three words: pushing cinematic boundaries. And honestly? Thatâs what itâs all about. The creative freedom is realâeven on a shoestring budget. (Trust us, as producers, weâve lived those trade-offs.)
Virtual Production opens up new possibilities like:
- Staging your story anywhere imaginable-âpast, present or future.
- High production value on a shoestring budget.
- No more weather days, or chasing the sun.
- Shooting entire projects on stage in a controlled environment.
- No more travelling cast & crews.
- Fewer box trucksâŚ.. Loading & unloadingâŚ.
What Is Virtual Production?
Virtual Production integrates computer-generated environments with live action, allowing filmmakers to see the composite in real-time, during the shoot. This creates a seamless blend between physical and digital elements, giving directors unprecedented creative freedom and control.
Virtual Production: LED Volumes & Chroma Key Screens
Time to bust a major misconceptionâŚ. Virtual Production isnât synonymous with LED volumes. LED walls are an option, not a requisite. Chroma key screens work just fine in most cases. In fact, you can take a Hybrid approach using green screen for wide shots and LED walls for close-ups. If youâre shooting highly reflective live action elements (like cars or sparkly wardrobe) this is where LED walls really shine (pun intended ;)).
LED volumes and green/ blue screens are just tools. All of them work with the Virtual methodology. Our system handles BOTH LED & green/blue screen.
Workflows in Virtual Production
Choose your Virtual Production workflow; either Traditional where the final compositing happens in post, or Final Pixel, which generates live finished composites while you film.
With Final Pixel, you can expect to spend more time in planning and pre-production, but you wonât have post to worry about.
Where to Find Budget-Stretching Virtual Assets
Creating virtual environments doesn’t mean building everything from scratch. There are plenty of online marketplaces where you can find ready-made 3D models for a fraction of what a physical set would cost:
- TurboSquid
- Unreal Marketplace (FAB)
- Scans Factory
Check out this Soviet Bunker for $10.
Image from TurboSquid.com.
You can hardly get a breakfast sandwich for $10 these days.
Speaking of Cost Savings
We saved the budget convo for last because cost-savings can turn off producers who equate it with cutting corners on quality. We founded Cobalt as a âBy Producers, For Producersâ company, so we get that.
Virtual Production can help you achieve the quality you want, while stretching the budget you have, allowing you to eliminate expenses like these where you think it makes sense:
- Location scouting
- Travel
- Permits
- Security
- Weather days
Virtual Production in Action, Brought to You by Cobalt Stages
Take a deeper dive into the elements of Virtual Production, and get ideas for your next project.
- Jimmy Fallonâs Christmas Spectacular: 3 cameras, 12 sets, dozens of A-listers – shot in 3 days
- Hackerland Episodes 36 & 37: 10 scenes, 4 countries – shot in 3 days
- LG commercial: Virtual home set, minimal practical elements – shot in half a day
FAQs About Cobalt Tech
At our house or your house?
We provide green screen/ blue screen technology (cost-effective for wide shots), LED wall displays (ideal for reflective surfaces and interactive lighting), and hybrid approaches that balance creative vision with budget constraints.
Your choice. You can opt for a Traditional Workflow where final compositing happens in post-production, or you can go straight to Final Pixel (where the finished composite is generated live as you film).
Our consultative approach includes explaining all available options, helping you weigh the tradeoffs, and providing ongoing support throughout the production processâregardless of your experience level.
As producers ourselves, we focus on achieving your goalsânot selling you the flashiest technology. We work as partners to find solutions that enhance your storytelling within your budget.
Want to learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun.
Need production solutions and support?
Cobalt on the Road: We Bring Virtual to You, Anywhere.
Cobalt On The Road:
We Bring Virtual to You, Anywhere.
Key takeaways:
- Our capabilities include the production tools everyoneâs talking about: Virtual Production and Robotics.
- What truly sets Cobalt apart is our consultative approach. Itâs important to us to help filmmakers confidently tell their stories without creative compromise.
- We continually expand our mobile offerings, and remain committed to making advanced production technologies accessible to seasoned professionals and first-timers, alike.
As film and television producers ourselves, we know that adaptability isn’t just beneficial in our industryâit’s essential. And, we bring next level technology + creative support to your doorstepâliterally.
Get the Production Tools Everyoneâs Talking About â Delivered to You
Virtual Production
The latest addition to our “Cobalt on the Road” offerings is Virtual Production. This technology integrates computer-generated environments with live action, allowing directors and cinematographers to see the composite as they shoot.
Our Virtual Production setup can work with either:
- LED volumes – excellent when you have a lot of reflective surfaces, like cars or shiny costumes, or need interactive lighting
- Green screen or blue screen technology – typically best suited for wide shots where actors are seen grounded to the floor
Motion Control Technology
Motion control (MoCo) is a precision robotics system that can be put to work on practical or virtual sets. It enables identical, repeatable camera movements, taking production value to the next level when:
- An actor needs to play multiple characters in the same scene
- Operating an impossible to execute shot
- You want to control the flow of time around a subject
- Shooting multiple celebrities with different schedules, in the same scene
Our MoCo systems can transform a static shot into a dynamic, cinematic experience without the telltale signs of visual effects at work. It enables repeatable, robotic precision that feels hand-crafted.
Expert Production Consulting Comes With!
What truly sets Cobalt apart is our consultative approach đ
Weâre not here to sell you the flashiest technology. Weâre here to understand your goals, and advise you on your options. Pros, cons, trade offs – warts and all. We believe itâs important to work with clients to develop the absolute best solution to realize their creative vision without losing sight of financial realities.
As we continually expand our mobile offerings, we remain committed to making advanced production technologies accessible to filmmakers at every level. Whether you’re a seasoned director shooting on location, or tackling your first Virtual Production, Cobalt on the Road comes to you with knowledge to share, choices to weigh and the support of fellow producers who actually get it.
FAQs About âCobalt on the Roadâ
A mobile production service that brings advanced filmmaking technologiesâincluding Motion Control and Virtual Production and EFX Supervision (when needed)âdirectly to your location, anywhere.
It enables identical, repeatable camera movements that allow actors to play multiple characters in the same scene, ensures perfect consistency across takes, and enables complex visual effects with frame-perfect camera positioning.
We provide green screen and blue screen technology (cost-effective for wide shots), LED wall displays (ideal for reflective surfaces and interactive lighting), and also use “hybrid” approaches that balance creative vision with budget constraints.
Our consultative approach includes explaining all available options, helping you weigh the tradeoffs, and providing ongoing support throughout the production processâregardless of your experience level.
As producers ourselves, we focus on achieving your goals, not selling you the flashiest technology. We work as partners to find solutions that enhance your storytelling within your budget.
Want to learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun.
Need production solutions and support?
Virtual production is NOT expensive
Virtual production is NOT expensive.
With any cutting-edge tech in film, thereâs an expectation that it will initially be the preserve of big-budget Hollywood blockbusters. In the case of Virtual Production, this is a misconception further cemented by the ubiquity of examples such as The Mandalorian and Dune: Part Two.
Reordering your pipeline to save massively in post.
While itâs true that Virtual Production is widely used in Hollywood, its usefulness doesnât end there. In reality, the technology offers cost savings which will appeal to any production team! Think of it as a re-ordering of the overall production process; your 3D computer graphic assets are now prepared in full quality in pre-production, and your post-production compositing is the shoot itself. The saving is the reduced post-production time and the removal of on-set errors.
Earlier, easier, safer creative decisions.
Also, the ability to make creative decisions earlier on in the process, will result in cleaner takes given that actors are present while those calls are being made, as opposed to fixing costly errors in post (or, even more inconveniently, with re-shoots). On top of that, virtual scouting eliminates the cost of travel and indeed our carbon footprints.
AGAIN: Saving time and saving money.
The true magic of Virtual Production, however, lies in the fact that it is not a cheap substitute for âthe real thingâ â it is simply an alternative. As a report from Deloitte noted, âHollywood may be reaching the limits of efficiency using the traditional production methodology. The mindset and toolset of Virtual Production can support not only better creative outcomes, but also potentially significant time and cost savings.â
And in this instance, whatâs true for Hollywood is true for the rest of the industry, too. It’s certainly been true for us at Cobalt đ
Learn about Virtual Production
and how to use it?
Cobaltâs got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Letâs have some fun đ